How many watts do appliances use?

Typical power of common household appliances and what each one costs per hour and per month. Tap any appliance for its full calculator.

Official EIA data · August 2026

Appliance	Typical power	Per hour	Per month*
Electric oven	3,000 W	$0.54	$4.09
Central air conditioner	≈ 2,517 W (3-ton)	$0.46	$109.72
Space heater	1,500 W	$0.27	$65.38
Pool pump	1,500 W	$0.27	$65.38
Electric kettle	1,500 W	$0.27	$0.82
Hair dryer	1,500 W	$0.27	$1.39
Microwave	1,200 W	$0.22	$1.63
Window air conditioner	≈ 727 W (8,000 BTU)	$0.13	$31.70
Mini-split heat pump	≈ 600 W (12,000 BTU)	$0.11	$26.15
Dehumidifier	450 W	$0.08	$29.42
Game console (PS5, Xbox)	200 W	$0.04	$3.27
Desktop computer	150 W	$0.03	$4.90
TV	100 W	$0.02	$2.72
Ceiling fan	50 W each	$0.01	$2.18
Light bulbs	9 W each	$0.00	$1.47
Christmas lights	7 W each	$0.00	$2.29
Refrigerator	617 kWh a year	—	$9.34
Chest or upright freezer	570 kWh a year	—	$8.63
Electric clothes dryer	3 kWh per load	—	$11.80
Electric water heater	2,706 kWh a year	—	$40.95
Electric car	35 kWh per 100 mi	—	$63.56
Hot tub	1,963 kWh a year	—	$29.71
Dishwasher	1.3 kWh per cycle	—	$4.09
Washing machine	0.5 kWh per load	—	$2.36
Mini fridge	270 kWh a year	—	$4.09

At the U.S. average of 18.16¢/kWh (August 2026). *Per month with the example use on each appliance's page (hours a day, loads a week…). Typical label ratings: the label on your own unit is always more accurate.

Work out any device

Wattage

Hours per day

Days per month

days

Find the watts on the label or nameplate. If it only lists amps, multiply by the voltage: most U.S. outlets are 120 V, large appliances 240 V.

Electricity rate

EIA average residential price, August 2026. Your bill shows your exact rate.

Cost to run this device per month

$5.45

30 kWh at 18.16¢/kWh (U.S. average)

Per hour of use: $0.18
Per day of use: $0.18
Per year (same use every month): $65.38

Power draw

1,000 W

1 kW

Energy per year

360 kWh

if used like this all year

Full details Costs in every state, real-world usage, formula and tips

Watts, kilowatts and kilowatt-hours

Watts measure how much power a device draws at a moment. Your bill charges for energy, in kilowatt-hours (kWh): 1 kWh is 1,000 watts used for one hour. So the cost depends on both the wattage and how long the device runs.

Appliances with a thermostat or a compressor, like refrigerators, freezers, heaters and air conditioners, switch on and off, so their average draw is lower than the rating on the label. For those, the yearly kWh on the yellow EnergyGuide label is the most useful number.

How to measure the real wattage

A plug-in electricity usage monitor (about $20 to $40) shows the actual watts and kWh of anything that plugs into a 120 V outlet. Leave it connected for a day or a week to see the real use of a fridge or a dehumidifier.

Quick answers 4 common questions

How many watts does a refrigerator use?

A modern refrigerator draws roughly 100 to 250 W while its compressor runs, but it cycles on and off. The best number is the kWh per year on its EnergyGuide label: the average main refrigerator in U.S. homes uses about 617 kWh a year (EIA RECS 2020).

How many watts does a TV use?

A typical LED TV uses about 50 to 150 W depending on size and brightness. Big, bright screens and game modes use more.

How do I convert watts to kWh?

Multiply watts by the hours of use and divide by 1,000. A 1,500 W heater running 2 hours uses 3 kWh.

How do I find the watts if the label only shows amps?

Multiply amps by volts. Most U.S. outlets are 120 V, so a device rated 10 A draws up to about 1,200 W. Large appliances such as dryers and ranges use 240 V.

Sources

Last reviewed November 2, 2026. Rates refreshed automatically when EIA publishes a new month.

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These are estimates. State rates are EIA averages (total residential revenue ÷ kWh sold), so they include fixed monthly charges spread across usage; your own price per kWh, time-of-use rates and taxes can differ. Real appliance use depends on the model, settings, climate and habits.