Electricity Cost Calculator
How Electricity Costs Are Calculated
Electricity cost equals Wattage times Hours Used divided by 1000 (to convert to kilowatt-hours) times the electricity rate per kWh. For example, a 100-watt light bulb used 8 hours per day at $0.12/kWh costs about $2.88 per month. Understanding this formula helps you identify energy-hungry appliances and reduce your electricity bill. Continue your calculation with the Budget Calculator, or check the Fuel Cost Calculator.
Common Appliance Wattage
LED bulb: 10W, laptop: 50W, TV: 100-200W, refrigerator: 150W (average), dishwasher: 1800W, electric oven: 2500W, central AC: 3500W, space heater: 1500W, washing machine: 500W, hair dryer: 1500W.
Practical tips
Use this tool as a quick planning aid, then review the result in context. For home, utility, password, or project estimates, small input changes can make a noticeable difference. When the result affects safety, budget, or security, choose the more careful option and verify the important details before acting.
What real-world problems does this solve?
This tool is useful for quick planning at home, work, or study. It helps you make a rough estimate before buying materials, checking usage, creating a password, or comparing practical options.
Where does this calculation matter most?
The Electricity Cost Calculator is built for people who want a fast answer without losing context. It keeps the calculation simple, shows the result clearly, and helps you understand what the number means before you use it in a real decision.
This calculator is designed to make a specific everyday calculation faster and clearer. It gives a structured result so you can compare options, check assumptions, or plan the next step with less manual work.
How to calculate electricity cost for any appliance
Electricity is billed in kilowatt-hours (kWh) — the unit of energy equal to one kilowatt of power used for one hour. To find the cost of running any appliance, you need three values: the appliance's wattage (W), how many hours per day you use it, and your electricity tariff (cost per kWh in ₹).
Daily cost = (Wattage ÷ 1000) × Hours per day × Cost per kWh
Monthly cost = Daily cost × 30
Example — Air conditioner (1.5 ton, 1500W) at ₹8/kWh, 8 hours/day:
Daily = (1500 ÷ 1000) × 8 × 8 = 1.5 × 8 × 8 = ₹96/day. Monthly = ₹96 × 30 = ₹2,880/month
Typical wattage of common household appliances
- Air conditioner (1.5 ton): 1,200–1,800W depending on star rating and type (split vs window)
- Refrigerator (250L frost-free): 150–250W
- Washing machine: 500–2,000W (heating models much higher)
- Ceiling fan: 50–75W
- LED bulb: 7–12W (replacing a 60W incandescent)
- Geyser/water heater (15L): 2,000–3,000W
- Microwave oven: 800–1,500W
- Television (43-inch LED): 80–120W
- Laptop: 40–80W
- Electric iron: 1,000–2,500W
Electricity tariffs in the United States — what you pay per unit
Electricity tariffs vary by state, distributor, and consumption slab. India uses a tiered/slab tariff system — the more you consume, the higher the rate per unit on the additional consumption above each threshold. Typical ranges (2026):
- First 100 units/month: ₹3–₹5 per unit
- 101–300 units/month: ₹5–₹7 per unit
- Above 300 units/month: ₹7–₹12 per unit
Check your electricity bill or your state DISCOM's tariff schedule for the exact slabs applicable to your connection type (domestic LT, commercial, agricultural).
BEE star ratings and energy savings
The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) star rating system rates appliances from 1 to 5 stars. A 5-star rated 1.5-ton AC uses approximately 30–40% less electricity than a 1-star model of similar capacity. The upfront cost difference is recovered through electricity savings within 2–4 years. For high-usage appliances (ACs, refrigerators, washing machines), star rating is one of the most cost-effective investment decisions available.
Reducing your electricity bill — practical steps
- Switch to 5-star rated ACs and refrigerators — the largest electricity consumers in most homes
- Replace all incandescent and CFL bulbs with LED (75–85% less electricity for the same light output)
- Set AC temperature to 24–26°C instead of 18–20°C — each degree increase saves approximately 6% on AC electricity consumption
- Use geysers on demand rather than keeping them on standby
- Wash clothes in cold water where possible — heating water accounts for 80–90% of washing machine electricity
- Run dishwashers and washing machines at full loads
Standby power: the silent electricity thief
Devices left on standby consume 5–15 watts continuously. A TV on standby: ~0.5–2W. A game console: 0.5–10W. A microwave with clock: 3–5W. A laptop charger plugged in without laptop: 0.1–0.5W. Across a household, standby power typically accounts for 5–10% of the electricity bill. The solution: multi-plug power strips with a master switch, or smart plugs that cut power on a schedule.
The cheapest time to run appliances in India
Most Indian state DISCOMs (distribution companies) charge time-of-use rates or tiered slab rates — not time-of-use pricing like the UK or US. However: using appliances at night (10 PM–6 AM) reduces grid strain and some commercial/agricultural tariffs are structured to incentivise off-peak use. More importantly, running the dishwasher and washing machine during the day avoids peak grid demand periods that can cause voltage fluctuations damaging to sensitive appliances.
India electricity tariff tiers: how your bill is calculated
Most Indian states use a tiered/slab tariff structure where higher consumption is charged at higher rates. Example (Delhi BSES Yamuna, approximate 2026): 0–200 units: ₹3/unit; 201–400 units: ₹4.50/unit; above 400 units: ₹6.50/unit. A household using 450 units pays: (200×3) + (200×4.50) + (50×6.50) = ₹600 + ₹900 + ₹325 = ₹1,825 + fixed charges and taxes. This tiered structure means your per-unit cost increases significantly once you cross a threshold — use this calculator to find your specific tier.
High-consumption appliances: monthly cost at India rates
| Appliance | Wattage | Daily Use | Monthly Units | Cost at ₹6/unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air conditioner (1.5 ton, 3-star) | 1,500W | 8 hours | 360 units | ₹2,160 |
| Water heater (geyser) | 2,000W | 30 min | 30 units | ₹180 |
| Refrigerator (230L, 5-star) | 150W avg | 24 hours | 108 units | ₹648 |
| Washing machine (7 kg, 5-star) | 500W | 1 hour | 15 units | ₹90 |
| LED TV (55 inch) | 100W | 6 hours | 18 units | ₹108 |
Frequently asked questions about electricity cost
How do I find my appliance's wattage? Check the label on the back or bottom of the appliance, the user manual, or the product specifications. Appliances with heating elements (geysers, ovens, irons) have the highest wattages. Appliances with motors (fans, compressors in AC/fridge) have moderate wattage but run for longer hours.
What uses the most electricity in a typical Indian home? Air conditioning typically accounts for 40–60% of a summer electricity bill. Refrigerators are the next largest consumer (running 24 hours), followed by water heaters and washing machines. Lighting and entertainment (TV, laptops) are relatively small contributors.
Is solar power worth it for a home in the United States? For most homes with rooftop access and electricity bills above ₹3,000–4,000/month, rooftop solar with net metering offers payback periods of 5–7 years and generates returns of 12–18% annually thereafter. Government subsidies under PM-Surya Ghar further improve the economics.
How much electricity does an air conditioner, TV, or refrigerator use?
| Appliance | Typical Wattage | kWh/day (8hr use) | Monthly Cost ($0.15/kWh) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central air conditioner (3 ton) | 3,000–4,000 W | 28 kWh | $126 |
| Split AC, 1.5 ton | 1,200–1,800 W | 12 kWh | $54 |
| Electric water heater | 3,000–4,500 W | 4–5 kWh | $18–22 |
| Clothes dryer | 4,000–6,000 W | 5 kWh (per cycle) | $22 |
| Dishwasher | 1,200–2,400 W | 1.5 kWh (per cycle) | $7 |
| Refrigerator (modern) | 100–400 W | 1.5–2 kWh | $7–9 |
| Desktop computer | 200–500 W | 2–4 kWh | $9–18 |
| Laptop | 25–100 W | 0.4–0.8 kWh | $2–4 |
| LED TV (55 inch) | 60–100 W | 0.5–0.8 kWh | $2–4 |
| LED bulb | 8–15 W | 0.1 kWh | $0.45 |
| Incandescent bulb (equivalent) | 60–100 W | 0.5–0.8 kWh | $2–4 |
| Washing machine | 500–1,000 W | 1 kWh (per cycle) | $4 |
| Microwave oven | 700–1,500 W | 0.1 kWh (per use) | $0.50 |
| Electric oven | 2,000–5,000 W | 2–3 kWh | $9–14 |
| Phone charger | 5–25 W | 0.05 kWh | $0.22 |
Sources & References
Sources: US EIA — Average household energy consumption; BEE India (Bureau of Energy Efficiency) — appliance star ratings and wattage; IEA — World Energy Outlook 2024.
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