Appliance running cost
What an appliance costs to run per hour, day, month or year.
A year
£547.88
£1.50 a day · £45.66 a month
- Per hour
- £0.50
- Per day
- £1.50
- Per week
- £10.50
- Per month
- £45.66
- Energy per day
- 6 kWh
- Energy per year
- 2,192 kWh
Show workings
- Power2000 W = 2 kW
- Energy per day2 kW × 3 h = 6 kWh
- Cost per day6 kWh × 25p = £1.50
- Cost per year£1.50 × 7 days × 52.18 weeks = £547.88
How it works
Energy used (kWh) = power in kilowatts × hours of use. Cost = kWh × your price per kWh (the "unit rate" on your bill). A 2,000 W heater is 2 kW, so an hour uses 2 kWh.
The power on an appliance's label is its maximum; things with thermostats (fridges, ovens, heaters on a timer) don't draw it all the time, so real costs are often lower. Standing charges aren't included, since you pay those whatever you use.
Worked example
A 2 kW heater for 3 hours a day uses 6 kWh. At 25p per kWh that's £1.50 a day, £10.50 a week, or about £548 a year if used every day.
Questions
Where do I find my price per kWh?
On your bill or in your supplier's app, listed as the unit rate. In the UK it's set by your tariff; the Ofgem price cap gives the typical figure for standard variable tariffs.
Where do I find an appliance’s wattage?
On the rating plate or sticker (often underneath or on the back), in the manual, or in the product listing. For the most accurate figure, a plug-in energy monitor measures real use.
Is it cheaper to boil a full kettle?
No. Energy is roughly proportional to how much water you heat, so boil only what you need.