Electricity Bill Calculator
US average is around $0.14/kWh. Check your latest bill for your actual rate.
Optional — enter an alternative rate to compare what your bill would be on a different tariff
Enter Your Appliance Details
Add at least one appliance with its wattage and daily hours, enter your electricity rate, and your estimated bill will appear here.
How to Use the Electricity Bill Calculator
Choose Your Input Mode
Select Appliance Mode to build a list of your devices and see a cost breakdown by appliance. Select Meter Reading Mode if you have your meter readings and want to calculate your bill directly from kWh consumed. Appliance Mode is best for understanding which devices are costing the most; Meter Reading Mode is best for verifying or predicting your actual electricity bill.
Enter Your Appliances or Meter Readings
In Appliance Mode, use the preset dropdown to select a device type — the typical wattage will be filled in automatically. You can override the wattage with your device's actual rated power (shown on the label or in its manual). Enter how many hours per day you typically use each appliance. Add more appliances using the Add Appliance button. In Meter Reading Mode, enter your previous and current meter readings and the number of days in the billing period.
Enter Your Electricity Rate
Enter your electricity rate per kWh. You can find this on your electricity bill — look for the energy charge or tariff rate, typically shown in cents per kWh. Optionally add your fixed monthly charges (customer charge, distribution charge) and any applicable tax rate to get a more complete bill estimate. The US national average is approximately $0.14/kWh, but rates vary widely by state and utility.
Review Your Cost Breakdown and Compare Rates
Your results show estimated daily, monthly, and annual costs, plus a donut chart of your bill components. In Appliance Mode, the appliance table shows which devices cost the most. Enter an alternative rate in the comparison field to instantly see how much you would save by switching to a cheaper tariff. Your estimated annual CO2 emissions are shown based on the US EPA grid average.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find my electricity rate per kWh?
Your electricity rate per kWh is shown on your electricity bill, usually labeled as the energy charge, tariff rate, or supply rate. It is typically expressed in cents per kWh — for example, 14.2 ¢/kWh. Be aware that your effective rate may be higher than the listed energy charge because fixed fees, distribution charges, and taxes are spread across your kWh usage. To find your effective all-in rate, divide your total bill amount by the total kWh used in that billing period. In the United States, rates vary from about 10 cents per kWh in states like Louisiana and Oklahoma to over 25 cents in California and Hawaii. The national residential average is approximately 14 cents per kWh as of 2024.
What uses the most electricity in a home?
In a typical US home, the top electricity consumers are: heating and air conditioning (45–50% of electricity use), water heating (14–18%), large appliances like the refrigerator and clothes dryer (13%), lighting (9–12%), and electronics and other devices (the remainder). Air conditioning is by far the single largest seasonal expense in warm climates. Electric water heaters and clothes dryers are the next biggest individual appliances. The refrigerator is notable because it runs continuously, making its total consumption significant even though its wattage is relatively low. Switching from an older refrigerator to an Energy Star model can save $100 to $150 per year on electricity.
How is electricity consumption calculated from wattage?
Electricity consumption in kilowatt-hours (kWh) is calculated as: kWh = (Watts ÷ 1,000) × Hours Used. For example, a 100-watt TV running for 5 hours per day uses (100 ÷ 1,000) × 5 = 0.5 kWh per day. Over a 30-day month, that is 15 kWh. At $0.14 per kWh, the monthly cost is $2.10. For appliances that cycle on and off (like a refrigerator), the wattage rating represents peak draw — actual consumption is usually 30 to 50 percent of the rated wattage for cycling appliances. Appliance labels show the rated wattage, but you can measure actual consumption with a plug-in power monitor (Kill-A-Watt or similar) for a more accurate figure.
How can I reduce my electricity bill?
The most impactful ways to reduce electricity costs depend on what is driving your bill. For cooling and heating: raise your air conditioner setpoint by 1–2°F (or lower your heat setpoint), use ceiling fans to feel cooler without lowering the AC, seal air leaks around doors and windows, and ensure adequate attic insulation. For water heating: lower the water heater temperature to 120°F, add an insulating blanket to an older tank water heater, and consider an upgrade to a heat pump water heater (2–3x more efficient). For appliances: run the dishwasher and clothes washer with full loads, switch to cold-water washing, and clean the dryer lint filter before every load. Replace incandescent or halogen bulbs with LED equivalents, which use 75 to 80 percent less energy.
What is a standing charge or fixed charge on my electricity bill?
A standing charge (called a customer charge, service charge, or distribution charge in the US) is a fixed monthly fee that appears on your electricity bill regardless of how much electricity you use. It covers the utility's cost of maintaining the grid connection to your home, metering, and customer service. In the US, this charge typically ranges from $5 to $20 per month. In the UK, standing charges are usually 25 to 60 pence per day. The standing charge means that even if you use very little electricity in a month, you still pay a minimum amount. When comparing electricity tariffs, consider the total cost including the standing charge, not just the per-kWh rate — a tariff with a lower per-kWh rate but higher standing charge may cost more at low usage levels.
What is a time-of-use electricity tariff and how does it affect my bill?
A time-of-use (TOU) tariff charges different rates for electricity depending on the time of day and sometimes the day of the week or season. Peak hours (typically 4 pm to 9 pm on weekdays in the US) are charged at a higher rate — often 25 to 40 cents per kWh — while off-peak hours (overnight and weekends) are charged at a much lower rate, sometimes as low as 5 to 8 cents per kWh. TOU tariffs incentivize shifting energy-intensive activities like running the dishwasher, clothes washer, and electric vehicle charging to off-peak times. Households with flexible schedules and EV charging needs can save significantly on TOU tariffs. This calculator uses a single flat rate per kWh — to model TOU pricing, calculate peak and off-peak usage separately and sum the results.