Electric Bill Estimator
Estimate your monthly electric bill by appliance. Enter your $/kWh rate and typical use for AC, heat, laundry, TV, computer, and lights to see total cost and per-appliance breakdown.
Check your utility bill or enter your state average (US average ≈ $0.16/kWh).
Window unit ≈ 1,000 W, Central AC ≈ 3,500 W.
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Frequently asked questions
What uses the most electricity in a home?
In US homes, HVAC (heating and cooling) is the largest line item — typically 40–50% of total electric use. Water heating is next at 10–15% (if electric). Refrigerators, dryers, and lighting follow. Phone chargers and small electronics together contribute less than 5%, despite the public attention.
How can I lower my electric bill?
Three highest-leverage moves: (1) Adjust the thermostat 2–3°F — each degree closer to the outside temperature saves about 3% on HVAC. (2) Switch incandescent bulbs to LED — pays back in under a year. (3) Air-dry laundry when possible — the dryer is one of the highest-wattage appliances. Programmable thermostats, weatherstripping, and unplugging unused electronics all add incremental savings.
What is a kWh?
A kilowatt-hour is the unit utilities bill in. One kWh = using 1,000 watts for one hour. A 100 W bulb on for 10 hours uses 1 kWh. A 1,500 W space heater uses 1.5 kWh per hour. Multiply the appliance's watts by hours of use, divide by 1,000 — that's your kWh.
What is the average US electric bill?
The US average is around $135 per month according to the EIA, but state averages range from about $90 (Utah, New Mexico) to over $200 (Hawaii, Connecticut). Local rates and climate drive most of the spread — cold-winter and hot-summer states tend higher because of HVAC load.
Do LED bulbs really save money?
Yes — substantially. A 60 W incandescent and a 9 W LED produce similar light. Running both for 5 hours a day for a year: the incandescent uses ~110 kWh ($17.60 at $0.16/kWh), the LED uses ~16 kWh ($2.56). For a whole-house swap of 20 bulbs, that's roughly $300/year saved, with LEDs paying for themselves in months.