Appliance Running Cost Calculator UK: what does it cost to run?
Enter the power of an appliance and how long you use it to see the cost per use, week, month and year. Priced at the Ofgem price cap, or at your own rate.
- Official sources cited
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Your details
Look for 'W' on the appliance's label or in its manual. 1,000 W is 1 kW.
How long it runs each time you use it. Use 24 for something that is always on.
Use 7 for every day. Use 0.5 for once every two weeks.
Starts at the Ofgem price cap average, 26.32p, for 1 October 2026 to 31 December 2026. Use the rate on your own bill if you know it.
Your result
Cost per year
£192.14
| Step | Amount |
|---|---|
| Energy per usePower ÷ 1,000 × hours per use | 2 kWh |
| Cost per useEnergy per use × price per kWh | 52.64p |
| Cost per weekCost per use × times per week | £3.68 |
| Cost per monthCost per year ÷ 12 | £16.01 |
| Cost per yearCost per use × times per week × 365 ÷ 7 | £192.14 |
| Energy per yearEnergy per use × times per week × 365 ÷ 7 | 730 kWh |
Based on 2,000 W for 1 hour, 7 times a week, at 26.32p per kWh (the Ofgem price cap average, 1 October 2026 to 31 December 2026). A year is 365 days.
How to use this calculator
- Enter the appliance's power in watts. You will find it on its label or in its manual.
- Say how many hours it runs each time and how many times a week you use it.
- The price starts at the Ofgem price cap average. Change it to the rate on your own bill if you know it.
- If the appliance has an energy label showing kWh per cycle, switch to "kWh per use" instead.
How the running cost is worked out
Electricity is sold in kilowatt-hours (kWh). One kWh is 1,000 watts used for one hour. To find the kWh an appliance uses, divide its power in watts by 1,000 and multiply by the hours it runs.
Multiply the kWh by the price per kWh to get the cost. We start with the Ofgem price cap average, 26.32p per kWh for 1 October 2026 to 31 December 2026. For example, a 2,000 W appliance running for 1 hour uses 2 kWh, which costs 52.64p at that price.
The weekly, monthly and yearly costs scale that up. A year is 365 days, so using something every day is 365 uses, and using it three times a week is 3 × 365 ÷ 7 uses.
- Energy per use (kWh) = power in watts ÷ 1,000 × hours per use
- Cost per use = energy per use × price per kWh
- Cost per year = cost per use × times per week × 365 ÷ 7
- Cost per month = cost per year ÷ 12
Worked examples
An appliance of 2,000 W, 3 hours at a time, 5 times a week
Higher-power appliance used on weekdays.
Cost per year
£411.72
| Step | Amount |
|---|---|
| Energy per usePower ÷ 1,000 × hours per use | 6 kWh |
| Cost per useEnergy per use × price per kWh | £1.58 |
| Cost per weekCost per use × times per week | £7.90 |
| Cost per monthCost per year ÷ 12 | £34.31 |
| Cost per yearCost per use × times per week × 365 ÷ 7 | £411.72 |
| Energy per yearEnergy per use × times per week × 365 ÷ 7 | 1,564.29 kWh |
A 100 W light left on 5 hours a day
A low-power appliance used every day.
Cost per year
£48.03
| Step | Amount |
|---|---|
| Energy per usePower ÷ 1,000 × hours per use | 0.5 kWh |
| Cost per useEnergy per use × price per kWh | 13.16p |
| Cost per weekCost per use × times per week | 92.12p |
| Cost per monthCost per year ÷ 12 | £4.00 |
| Cost per yearCost per use × times per week × 365 ÷ 7 | £48.03 |
| Energy per yearEnergy per use × times per week × 365 ÷ 7 | 182.5 kWh |
An appliance that uses 1.1 kWh a cycle, 4 cycles a week
Using the energy label figure instead of watts.
Cost per year
£60.39
| Step | Amount |
|---|---|
| Energy per useThe energy you entered | 1.1 kWh |
| Cost per useEnergy per use × price per kWh | 28.95p |
| Cost per weekCost per use × times per week | £1.16 |
| Cost per monthCost per year ÷ 12 | £5.03 |
| Cost per yearCost per use × times per week × 365 ÷ 7 | £60.39 |
| Energy per yearEnergy per use × times per week × 365 ÷ 7 | 229.43 kWh |
What one hour of use costs at different power ratings
Cost of running an appliance for one hour at 26.32p per kWh (Ofgem price cap average, 1 October 2026 to 31 December 2026).
| Power (watts) | Energy per use | Cost per use |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0.1 kWh | 2.63p |
| 500 | 0.5 kWh | 13.16p |
| 1,000 | 1 kWh | 26.32p |
| 1,500 | 1.5 kWh | 39.48p |
| 2,000 | 2 kWh | 52.64p |
| 3,000 | 3 kWh | 78.96p |
Running all day, every day: cost by power
The cost of an appliance that runs 24 hours a day for a whole year at 26.32p per kWh.
| Power (watts) | Energy per year | Cost per month | Cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8.76 kWh | 19.21p | £2.31 |
| 5 | 43.8 kWh | 96.07p | £11.53 |
| 10 | 87.6 kWh | £1.92 | £23.06 |
| 50 | 438 kWh | £9.61 | £115.28 |
| 100 | 876 kWh | £19.21 | £230.56 |
| 200 | 1,752 kWh | £38.43 | £461.13 |
Where to find an appliance's wattage
Look for a rating plate or label on the appliance, usually on the back, underneath or inside the door, or check the manual or the maker's website. The power is shown in watts (W) or kilowatts (kW). If it shows only volts and amps, multiply them: UK mains is about 230 volts, so 5 amps is roughly 1,150 W.
Washing machines, dishwashers and TVs also carry an energy label. It shows the energy used per 100 cycles (washing machines and dishwashers) or per 1,000 hours (TVs) (Energy Saving Trust). Divide the label figure by 100 for one cycle and use the kWh-per-use option.
A plug-in energy monitor shows what an appliance really uses. That is the most accurate way, because many appliances do not draw their maximum power all the time.
Rated power and real use
The wattage on the label is usually the most the appliance can draw. A heater with a thermostat, a fridge or a washing machine switches its heating or motor on and off, so it can use less than that figure for the full time. Use the hours it is actually running or heating for a closer estimate, or measure it with a plug-in monitor.
Appliances that are always on
For something that runs all day, enter 24 hours and 7 times a week. For example, a 100 W appliance running all day, every day uses 876 kWh a year and costs £230.56 a year at 26.32p. The table below shows other power ratings.
Standby power is small for each device but runs every hour of the year. Check the label or measure it with a plug-in monitor to see whether it is worth switching off at the wall.
The price we use: the Ofgem price cap
Ofgem sets the energy price cap every three months. From 1 October 2026 to 31 December 2026 the average electricity unit rate for people who pay by Direct Debit is 26.32p per kWh (Great Britain average, single-rate meter) (Ofgem). There is no VAT on electricity from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027, so that rate has no VAT in it.
Your own price can be different. It depends on your region, how you pay, whether you are on a fixed deal and your tariff. If you know your unit rate from your bill, enter it in the price box.
Why the standing charge is not included
The standing charge (54.83p a day on the same price cap average) is a fixed daily cost. You pay it whether or not you use an appliance, so running one adds only the unit rate cost, and that is all this calculator counts.
An estimate, not a bill
The result is an estimate. It assumes the appliance draws its stated power for the hours you enter and that the price stays the same all year. In practice the price changes every quarter and appliances vary in how much they use.
Frequently asked questions
How do I work out how much an appliance costs to run?
Divide its power in watts by 1,000, multiply by the hours it runs to get kWh, then multiply by your price per kWh. For example, 2,000 W for 1 hour is 2 kWh, and at 26.32p per kWh that costs 52.64p.
How much does a kWh of electricity cost in the UK?
From 1 October 2026 to 31 December 2026 the Ofgem price cap average is 26.32p per kWh (Great Britain, Direct Debit, single-rate meter). Your own rate may be different: check your bill.
How do I find the wattage of an appliance?
Check the label or rating plate, the manual or the maker's website. For washing machines, dishwashers and TVs, the energy label gives kWh per 100 cycles or per 1,000 hours. Read more.
How much does it cost to run an appliance 24 hours a day?
A 100 W appliance running all day, every day uses 876 kWh a year and costs £230.56 a year at 26.32p per kWh, which is £19.21 a month. Enter your own wattage above for other appliances.
How much does it cost to run a tumble dryer, dehumidifier or washing machine?
It depends on the model, so check its label rather than rely on a typical figure. If a dryer or washing machine uses 4.5 kWh a cycle, a cycle costs £1.18 at 26.32p per kWh, and three cycles a week cost £185.27 a year. Use the "kWh per use" option with your own label figure.
Does the standing charge affect what an appliance costs to run?
No. The standing charge is a fixed daily cost you pay whether or not you use the appliance, so only the unit rate counts. Read more.
Why does the electricity price change?
Ofgem updates the price cap every three months, so the unit rate changes with it. There was also a change to VAT on electricity from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027. This page uses the rate for 1 October 2026 to 31 December 2026.
How are the weekly, monthly and yearly costs worked out?
The cost of one use is multiplied by the times per week for the weekly cost. The yearly cost uses a 365-day year, and the monthly cost is the yearly cost divided by 12.
Is this the exact cost of running my appliance?
It is an estimate. Appliances rarely draw their full rated power all the time, and your price may differ from the price cap average. A plug-in energy monitor gives the most accurate figure.
Sources
- Ofgem: Energy price cap unit rates and standing charges
The electricity unit rate and standing charge (Great Britain average, Direct Debit) for each price cap period, and the VAT change on electricity.
- Ofgem: Energy price cap update from 1 October 2026 (summary of changes)
The cap level for 1 October to 31 December 2026 and the reduction of VAT on electricity.
- Energy Saving Trust: Home appliances and energy efficiency ratings
What the energy label shows for washing machines, dishwashers and TVs (energy per 100 cycles or per 1,000 hours).
This is an estimate for guidance only, not financial or legal advice.
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