Energy Cost Calculator
Calculate the running cost of your household appliances. See costs per hour, day, week, month, and year based on current UK electricity rates.
UK typical rate is 24.5p (as of March 2026)
Per Hour
p88.2
Per Day
p34.3
Per Week
£2.40
Per Month
£10.44
Per Year
£125.20
Add Common Appliances
Your Appliances
| Appliance | Wattage (W) | Hours/Day | Daily Cost | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| p18.4 | £5.59 | £67.07 | ||||
| p9.8 | £2.98 | £35.77 | ||||
| p6.1 | £1.86 | £22.36 |
Cost Breakdown
💡 Money Saving Tips
- Switch to LED bulbs (use 75% less energy)
- Use the eco-mode on washing machines and dishwashers
- Turn off standby features on electronics
- Use a timer on heating and hot water
- Keep fridges and freezers well-stocked
- Close doors when heating rooms
- Use a pressure cooker to reduce cooking time
Top Energy Consumers
Kettle
274 kWh/year
£67.07
TV
146 kWh/year
£35.77
Washing Machine
91 kWh/year
£22.36
Wattage, Hours and the Real Cost of Running an Appliance
Every plug-in appliance has a wattage on the label. Divide by 1,000 to get kilowatts, multiply by hours of use, and you have the kWh consumed. Multiply by your unit rate (around 28p/kWh in the UK in 2026 for most domestic standard tariffs) and you get the running cost. A 3,000 W kettle on for 15 minutes a day uses 0.75 kWh, which is roughly 21p; over a year that adds up to £77 in tea alone.
The calculator runs this maths for a list of appliances at once. The defaults (kettle, TV, washing machine) are starting points; tap an appliance from the common list to add it, or type your own with custom wattage. Typical hidden costs include the tumble dryer (3,000 W for an hour is 84p per cycle) and the electric shower (8,000 W for ten minutes is over a pound a wash for one person).
Where the Real Savings Hide
Most households focus on the kettle and the lights, but the biggest savings are in heating, hot water and the appliances that run continuously. A fridge-freezer at 150 W running 24/7 is 1,314 kWh a year and roughly £370 at 28p/kWh; a 10-year-old model can run 50 percent more than a modern A-rated one. An old halogen oven or plug-in heater used for an hour a day in winter often outweighs every other plug appliance in the house combined.
Standby loss adds up too. Phantom loads from set-top boxes, smart speakers and games consoles can eat £50 to £80 a year. The calculator helps you spot the worst offenders. For the whole-house breakdown rather than appliance by appliance, [Home Energy Cost Calculator](/home-energy-cost-calculator) takes a longer list of weekly hours and totals the bill.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much electricity does a UK home use?
Ofgem's typical domestic consumption value (TDCV) sits at around 2,700 kWh per year for a low-use household, 3,800 kWh for medium and 5,500 kWh for high. At 28p/kWh that is £756, £1,064 and £1,540 respectively. A heat pump or electric heating roughly doubles those figures.
What appliances cost the most to run?
Tumble dryers, electric showers, electric heaters and immersion heaters top the per-hour cost list. Always-on appliances (fridges, freezers, routers) top the per-year list because of sheer hours. Combined, white goods and heating typically account for 60 to 70 percent of a UK electricity bill.
Is it cheaper to use the oven or the air fryer?
Air fryers usually win for small portions: 1,500 W for 20 minutes is 0.5 kWh, roughly 14p. A 2,000 W oven needs 10 minutes to preheat plus 30 minutes to cook, so 1.3 kWh and 36p. For a full Sunday roast feeding four, the oven is more efficient per portion. For one person reheating a piece of chicken, the air fryer is half the cost.
How accurate are these running cost estimates?
Within about 10 percent for plug-in appliances with steady draw. Less accurate for appliances that cycle (fridges, freezers, electric heaters with thermostats), where actual consumption is roughly half the rated wattage averaged over a day. For the most precise reading, plug an energy monitor (a £15 device like a Belkin Conserve) between the appliance and the socket.
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