Which Appliances Cost the Most to Run? The Complete List
Your electric bill is a mystery until you know what each appliance actually costs. Here is every common device ranked.
The top electricity consumers in a typical home: central AC ($60-150/month in summer), water heater ($30-50/month), clothes dryer ($10-20/month), space heater ($45-60/month if used daily), EV charger ($30-60/month), and pool pump ($30-80/month). Refrigerators run 24/7 but are efficient: only $5-10/month for a modern model.
The Formula
Watts / 1,000 × hours per day × electricity rate = daily cost. A 1,500-watt space heater running 8 hours at 16 cents per kWh costs $1.92 per day. That is $57.60 per month — more than most people realize. A 10-watt LED bulb running 8 hours costs $0.013 per day, or 39 cents per month. This is why switching from 60-watt incandescent to 10-watt LED saves $15-20 per bulb per year.
Biggest Savings Opportunity
Your thermostat. Every degree you adjust saves 1-3% on heating/cooling, which is 40-50% of your bill. Setting AC to 78 instead of 72 saves $10-30/month. A programmable thermostat that adjusts when you are asleep or away saves $100-200/year automatically.