Appliance Running Cost Calculator UK
This appliance running cost calculator helps you estimate how much common household appliances cost to run in the UK. It is useful for checking daily, monthly and annual electricity costs, comparing appliances, and spotting where small usage changes could reduce your bills.
If you want to know how much it costs to run a kettle, washing machine, TV, fridge, dehumidifier or other electrical appliance, this calculator gives a practical estimate based on wattage, usage time, quantity and your electricity unit rate.
What this calculator includes
- Power draw in watts for each appliance while in active use.
- Hours per day and days per week to estimate electricity use over time.
- Quantity if you run more than one of the same appliance.
- Standby watts and standby hours for appliances that still draw power when not in use.
- Electricity unit rate in pence per kWh, so you can tailor the estimate to your tariff.
- Daily, weekly, monthly and annual cost estimates for easier budgeting.
How it works
Appliance energy use is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh). This calculator converts the wattage of each appliance into kWh based on how long it runs, how often it is used, how many units you own and any standby power you include. It then multiplies that usage by your electricity rate to estimate the running cost.
Why your results may vary
This tool gives a useful estimate, but your real electricity costs may differ because appliance efficiency changes over time, labelled wattage may not reflect actual draw, tariffs can change, and some households use time-of-use pricing or off-peak rates. Seasonal behaviour and real-world usage patterns can also make a noticeable difference.
Who this calculator is for
- Households trying to cut electricity costs and identify expensive appliances.
- Anyone comparing whether a newer appliance could be cheaper to run.
- People budgeting for higher-use items such as heaters, tumble dryers or dehumidifiers.
- Anyone checking whether standby electricity use is adding more to the bill than expected.
Appliance cost examples
- A high-power kettle may cost only a few pence per boil, but repeated daily use still adds up over a year.
- A washing machine with frequent weekly cycles can be one of the more noticeable appliance costs in a household.
- A fridge or freezer may have low hourly usage, but because it runs all year it can still make a meaningful annual contribution.
- Devices left on standby for long periods may look insignificant individually, but several together can increase total electricity spend.
Important note
This calculator provides estimates only and is not a supplier bill recreation. Real costs can differ because of tariff changes, direct debit smoothing, discounts, meter accuracy and actual household behaviour. Use the calculator above to compare appliance running costs and test different usage scenarios.