Energy label calculator
Convert annual, per-cycle or per-100-cycle energy labels into 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
220.0 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: From a label to an electricity budget
These fixed teaching inputs are separate from the editable calculator above and are not current tariff or product claims.
- Inputs
- An assumed 50kWh per 100 corresponding test cycles; four cycles per week.
- The working
- 50 ÷ 100 = 0.5kWh per test cycle; multiply by 4 × 365 ÷ 7 for annual kWh.
- The result
- Annual electricity: £26.07. For a different appliance with 220kWh/year on its label, use that annual figure directly: £55.00. Do not apply cycle frequency to an annual figure.
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How this calculator works
For kWh/year, use the value directly. For kWh/100 cycles, divide by 100 then multiply by cycles per week × 365 ÷ 7. For kWh/cycle, multiply by annual cycles. Check the units: label schemes vary across appliance types and jurisdictions.
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 convert kWh per 100 cycles into a running cost?
Divide the label figure by 100, multiply by the corresponding number of cycles, then multiply by your electricity price per kWh. Keep the test programme, load and capacity comparable; a rating letter alone is not an annual bill.
Why do weekly cycles not change an annual-label estimate?
An annual kWh figure already represents a defined year of test use, so this tool uses it directly. For an older annual dryer label, use documented per-cycle data instead if you want to model your personal number of loads. Refrigeration labels are also annual figures under defined test conditions.