What does it cost to run?
Any appliance, your state's real electricity rate — cost per hour, day, month and year. 50 appliances, 51 states, updated September 2026.
typically 750–1,500 W (most run at 1,500 W on high) · default assumes 6 hours/day on high during cold months
Uses about 9.0 kWh/day at 15.6¢/kWh (Texas). National average would be $46.24/month.
The big spenders
Monthly cost at the national average (16.9¢/kWh), typical usage.
typically 750–1,500 W (most run at 1,500 W on high)
3,000–4,000 W while the compressor runs (3-ton unit)
2,500–4,000 W
100–250 W while the compressor runs (modern 20 cu ft)
300–700 W under load
1,500–6,000 W heating; ~300 W circulating
Cost by state
Same appliance, very different bill — residential rates span 11.2¢ to 42.1¢/kWh.
Understand the bill itself
Guides that separate the folklore (unplug your toaster) from the finance (fix the water heater setting).
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👕 Dryer vs Air DryingPer-load dryer math at real electricity rates, what a year of air drying actually saves, the winter catch with indoor racks, and the hybrid routine that keeps towels soft.
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🚿 Your Water Heater Is 15% of the BillThe second-biggest energy user in most homes: what standard vs heat-pump water heaters cost monthly, the free 120°F fix, timer strategies, and when replacement genuinely pays.
⏰ Time-of-Use Electricity PlansThe TOU decision made honest: how peak/off-peak spreads work, which households win (shiftable loads) and lose (daytime AC), and the three appliances that decide the whole answer.
🔥 The True Cost of Running a Space Heater (Hourly, Monthly, Honestly)The winter bill-shock appliance: exact hourly and monthly costs at real rates, why every 1,500W heater is identical, the one scenario where they save money, and safer cheap-heat patterns.
🔌 Does Unplugging Appliances Really Save Money? Sorting Myth From MathThe internet's favorite energy tip, audited: what unplugging each device class actually saves per year, the five worth acting on, and the habits that save 100× more.
Questions, answered
How do you calculate what an appliance costs to run?+
Watts ÷ 1,000 × hours used × your electricity rate. A 1,500 W space heater running 6 hours at 16.9¢/kWh costs 1.5 × 6 × $0.169 ≈ $1.52/day. For compressor appliances (fridges, ACs) we factor a duty cycle, since they don't draw full power continuously.
What costs the most to run in a home?+
Heating and cooling dominate: electric furnaces, water heaters, central AC and space heaters. A single 1,500 W space heater run 6 hours daily costs $40-80/month depending on your state — often more than every light and screen in the house combined.
Are these numbers exact?+
They're honest estimates: typical wattages from manufacturer specs, average residential rates per state (updated monthly). Your model's wattage and your utility plan will move the number — enter your own watts and hours for a closer answer.
Why does my state matter so much?+
Residential electricity spans roughly 11¢/kWh (North Dakota) to 42¢/kWh (Hawaii) — nearly a 4× spread. The same dryer load costs four times more in Honolulu than in Fargo.