Appliance running cost
Turn watts and hours of use into daily, monthly and annual electricity costs.
Reference: Ofgem GB average Direct Debit rate, 1 October–31 December 2026: 26.32p/kWh. Checked 8 November 2026. Use your own bill; regional and payment-method rates differ, and Northern Ireland has a separate market. Annual costs hold the entered rate constant; they are not a forecast. Standing charges are excluded. For time-of-use tariffs, calculate each rate's consumption separately and add the costs.
Your estimated running cost
273.8 kWh per year · 26.32p per kWh
An estimate, not a meter reading. Actual use varies with settings, load and thermostat cycling.
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Home Cost Wise - User-entered estimate, not a bill or product test. Rates and usage can change. Source and method: www.homecostwise.co.uk/methodology/
Worked example: Seasonal electric heating
These fixed teaching inputs are separate from the editable calculator above and are not current tariff or product claims.
- Inputs
- 2,000W, two full-power hours a day, 20 weeks × seven days = 140 days.
- The working
- 2 × 2 × 140 = 560kWh. 560 × £0.25 = annual seasonal cost.
- The result
- £140.00 over the entered season, or £11.67 spread over each calendar month. A thermostat-controlled heater need not draw full input for every elapsed hour.
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How this calculator works
Annual kWh = watts ÷ 1,000 × hours per day × days per year. This assumes constant power during use. For thermostatically controlled appliances, use measured energy or an energy label instead.
Cost in pounds = energy in kWh × electricity rate in pence ÷ 100. Monthly costs are annual costs divided by 12; daily costs are divided by 365. These are averages over a year. Calculations retain precision until display rounding.
Get a more useful estimate
Read our step-by-step guide to measuring appliance electricity before treating a nameplate rating as a measured average.
Start with the rate on your bill and energy information for your exact model. A plug-in energy monitor can help measure suitable plug-in appliances; follow its safety instructions and power limits. Do not apply full-power wattage for 24 hours to a cycling fridge or freezer.
What is excluded?
The day/night comparison includes the standing charges you enter; appliance-only tools exclude them. Gas, water, detergent, maintenance, discounts and purchase costs are excluded unless the tool explicitly asks for a purchase premium. Usage and tariffs can change. The reference tariff covers Great Britain and does not represent Northern Ireland or every contract.
Read our sources and assumptions →Common questions
How do I calculate the cost of running an appliance?
Divide input watts by 1,000 to get kilowatts, multiply by hours of use, then multiply by your electricity price per kWh. At 25p/kWh, a 1,000W appliance operating continuously for two hours costs 50p. Enter the rate on your bill for your own estimate.
Can I use rated watts for a fridge or a thermostat-controlled heater?
Rated watts multiplied by time describes constant input. Fridges and thermostats cycle, so measured kWh or the exact energy-label figure is more useful. Use our energy-label calculator for annual or per-cycle consumption.