A fridge costs about $80 a year to run in the US and about £115 in the UK. A hot tub costs about $668 in the US and about £961 in the UK. This guide prices 50 common home appliances at 2026 electricity rates for the US, UK, Canada and Australia, with the watts, hours and days behind every figure, so you can see exactly where your bill goes, and check your own numbers with the calculator above.
Every cost below uses the same method: watts × hours per day × days per year ÷ 1,000 gives kilowatt-hours per year, and kilowatt-hours × your price per kilowatt-hour gives the annual cost. The rates are usage rates only; they exclude the daily standing or supply charge, which you pay whether you use electricity or not. Your own tariff will differ, and Canadian rates vary the most by province, from about 8 cents in Quebec to about 18 cents in Saskatchewan.
Electricity rates used
One rate per country, so the tables stay comparable. Costs are shown in each country’s own currency; no currency conversion is applied.
| Region | Rate per kWh | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $0.183 | EIA Electric Power Monthly, July 2026 (18.31 cents, rounded to 18.3 cents) |
| United Kingdom | £0.2632 | Ofgem price cap, October to December 2026, Great Britain direct debit (26.32p) |
| Canada | C$0.165 | 2026 national average excluding the territories (16.5 cents) |
| Australia | A$0.315 | Simple average of 2026–27 default offer usage rates across 8 jurisdictions (about 31.5 cents) |
Kitchen
| Appliance | Watts | Hrs/day | Days/yr | kWh/yr | US ($) | UK (£) | Canada (C$) | Australia (A$) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fridge (fridge-freezer) | 150 | 8 | 365 | 438 | $80 | £115 | C$72 | A$138 |
| Chest freezer | 100 | 8 | 365 | 292 | $53 | £77 | C$48 | A$92 |
| Electric oven | 2,000 | 1 | 300 | 600 | $110 | £158 | C$99 | A$189 |
| Electric hob (one large ring) | 1,500 | 1 | 365 | 548 | $100 | £144 | C$90 | A$172 |
| Microwave | 1,000 | 0.25 | 365 | 91 | $17 | £24 | C$15 | A$29 |
| Kettle | 2,000 | 0.25 | 365 | 182 | $33 | £48 | C$30 | A$57 |
| Toaster | 900 | 0.1 | 365 | 33 | $6.01 | £8.65 | C$5.42 | A$10 |
| Coffee maker | 800 | 0.5 | 365 | 146 | $27 | £38 | C$24 | A$46 |
| Dishwasher | 1,200 | 1 | 365 | 438 | $80 | £115 | C$72 | A$138 |
| Blender | 500 | 0.1 | 104 | 5.2 | $0.95 | £1.37 | C$0.86 | A$1.64 |
| Slow cooker | 200 | 6 | 104 | 125 | $23 | £33 | C$21 | A$39 |
| Air fryer | 1,500 | 0.5 | 260 | 195 | $36 | £51 | C$32 | A$61 |
| Bread maker | 600 | 1 | 104 | 62 | $11 | £16 | C$10 | A$20 |
| Stand mixer | 300 | 0.5 | 52 | 7.8 | $1.43 | £2.05 | C$1.29 | A$2.46 |
| Rice cooker | 800 | 0.75 | 365 | 219 | $40 | £58 | C$36 | A$69 |
| Electric pressure cooker | 1,000 | 0.75 | 104 | 78 | $14 | £21 | C$13 | A$25 |
Laundry and cleaning
| Appliance | Watts | Hrs/day | Days/yr | kWh/yr | US ($) | UK (£) | Canada (C$) | Australia (A$) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washing machine | 500 | 1 | 270 | 135 | $25 | £36 | C$22 | A$43 |
| Tumble dryer | 2,500 | 0.75 | 270 | 506 | $93 | £133 | C$84 | A$159 |
| Vacuum cleaner | 1,000 | 0.5 | 104 | 52 | $9.52 | £14 | C$8.58 | A$16 |
| Robot vacuum | 30 | 1.5 | 365 | 16 | $3.01 | £4.32 | C$2.71 | A$5.17 |
| Iron | 1,200 | 0.5 | 104 | 62 | $11 | £16 | C$10 | A$20 |
Heating, cooling and water
| Appliance | Watts | Hrs/day | Days/yr | kWh/yr | US ($) | UK (£) | Canada (C$) | Australia (A$) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Space heater | 1,500 | 4 | 150 | 900 | $165 | £237 | C$148 | A$284 |
| Portable air conditioner | 1,200 | 8 | 120 | 1,152 | $211 | £303 | C$190 | A$363 |
| Central air conditioner (3-ton) | 3,500 | 8 | 120 | 3,360 | $615 | £884 | C$554 | A$1,058 |
| Ceiling fan | 75 | 8 | 180 | 108 | $20 | £28 | C$18 | A$34 |
| Dehumidifier | 300 | 8 | 180 | 432 | $79 | £114 | C$71 | A$136 |
| Electric blanket | 100 | 7 | 90 | 63 | $12 | £17 | C$10 | A$20 |
| Electric water heater (tank) | 3,000 | 3 | 365 | 3,285 | $601 | £865 | C$542 | A$1,035 |
| Heat pump (heating and cooling) | 2,000 | 8 | 200 | 3,200 | $586 | £842 | C$528 | A$1,008 |
| Electric shower | 9,000 | 0.25 | 365 | 821 | $150 | £216 | C$136 | A$259 |
Entertainment and IT
| Appliance | Watts | Hrs/day | Days/yr | kWh/yr | US ($) | UK (£) | Canada (C$) | Australia (A$) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LED TV (55 in) | 100 | 4 | 365 | 146 | $27 | £38 | C$24 | A$46 |
| Games console | 150 | 3 | 365 | 164 | $30 | £43 | C$27 | A$52 |
| Desktop computer | 200 | 6 | 365 | 438 | $80 | £115 | C$72 | A$138 |
| Laptop | 60 | 6 | 365 | 131 | $24 | £35 | C$22 | A$41 |
| Computer monitor | 30 | 6 | 365 | 66 | $12 | £17 | C$11 | A$21 |
| Wi-Fi router | 15 | 24 | 365 | 131 | $24 | £35 | C$22 | A$41 |
| Soundbar | 50 | 4 | 365 | 73 | $13 | £19 | C$12 | A$23 |
| Printer (inkjet) | 20 | 0.5 | 365 | 3.6 | $0.67 | £0.96 | C$0.60 | A$1.15 |
| Phone charger | 10 | 2 | 365 | 7.3 | $1.34 | £1.92 | C$1.20 | A$2.30 |
| Tablet charger | 15 | 2 | 365 | 11 | $2.00 | £2.88 | C$1.81 | A$3.45 |
Around the home
| Appliance | Watts | Hrs/day | Days/yr | kWh/yr | US ($) | UK (£) | Canada (C$) | Australia (A$) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LED lights (10 x 10 W) | 100 | 5 | 365 | 182 | $33 | £48 | C$30 | A$57 |
| Old-style bulbs (10 x 60 W) | 600 | 5 | 365 | 1,095 | $200 | £288 | C$181 | A$345 |
| Garage door opener | 500 | 0.1 | 365 | 18 | $3.34 | £4.80 | C$3.01 | A$5.75 |
| Power tools (drill, saw) | 800 | 0.25 | 52 | 10 | $1.90 | £2.74 | C$1.72 | A$3.28 |
| Hair dryer | 1,500 | 0.25 | 365 | 137 | $25 | £36 | C$23 | A$43 |
| Pool pump | 1,500 | 8 | 180 | 2,160 | $395 | £569 | C$356 | A$680 |
| Hot tub | 2,500 | 4 | 365 | 3,650 | $668 | £961 | C$602 | A$1,150 |
| Home EV charger (7 kW) | 7,000 | 1.5 | 300 | 3,150 | $576 | £829 | C$520 | A$992 |
| Air purifier | 50 | 12 | 365 | 219 | $40 | £58 | C$36 | A$69 |
| Security cameras (4 cameras) | 40 | 24 | 365 | 350 | $64 | £92 | C$58 | A$110 |
How the maths works
The formula never changes: annual kWh = watts × hours per day × days per year ÷ 1,000, and annual cost = annual kWh × price per kWh. Take the fridge as a worked example. It draws 150 watts while the compressor runs, about 8 hours a day, all year: 150 × 8 × 365 ÷ 1,000 = 438 kWh a year. At the US rate that is 438 × $0.183 = $80.15; at the UK rate it is 438 × £0.2632 = £115.28. The tables round kilowatt-hours to whole numbers (one decimal under 10) and costs to whole dollars or pounds (two decimals under $10 or £10). The inputs are typical values, so dollar-level precision is honest enough, and the exact maths is shown here so you can redo it with your own numbers.
What changes your number
- Duty cycle. A fridge compressor, a water heater element and a space heater thermostat all switch on and off. The tables use average running hours, not 24-hour full power, which is why a 150-watt fridge uses 438 kWh a year and not 1,314.
- Your tariff. Time-of-use, fixed and variable tariffs all price the same kilowatt-hour differently, and the tables use one national rate per country. Put your own rate into the calculator for an exact figure.
- Size and age. A 5-ton air conditioner, an old fridge and a large hot tub all draw more than the typical values here. Check the rating plate on your own appliance.
- Standby power. Routers, TV boxes and chargers draw power around the clock. The router row (131 kWh a year) is almost entirely 24-hour draw; switched-off-at-the-wall devices cost nothing.
- Climate and season. Air conditioners run about 120 summer days and space heaters about 150 winter days in these tables. A hotter climate or a colder winter moves those two rows more than any other.
Frequently asked questions
Which appliance costs the most to run?
The hot tub, at about $668 a year in the US, followed by the central air conditioner at about $615 and the electric water heater at about $601. The cheapest rows are the phone charger (about $1.34 in the US) and the printer (about $0.67).
Why do the same appliances cost more in the UK and Australia?
Because the price of one kilowatt-hour is higher there: 26.32p in the UK and about 31.5 Australian cents, against 18.3 US cents and 16.5 Canadian cents. The table shows each country in its own currency, so compare the rates and the kilowatt-hours, not converted totals.
Are these exact figures?
No. Watts, hours and days are typical values, shown in every row so you can substitute your own. Your model, your climate and your tariff will move the result. For an exact figure, put your appliance watts, your hours and your rate into the calculator.
What about standby power?
It is included where it matters: the router runs 24 hours a day, and the security cameras too. For most other appliances the tables count running hours only, so standby adds a little on top. A switched power strip removes standby from a whole entertainment unit at once.
How can I cut the biggest costs?
Start with the top three rows. A hot tub cover and a lower thermostat setting cut its heat loss; a higher air conditioner thermostat, closed curtains and clean filters cut cooling; a water heater set to 120°F (49°C) with an insulation jacket cuts water heating. Then check the lighting rows: swapping ten 60-watt bulbs for ten 10-watt LEDs cuts that row from 1,095 kWh a year to 183.
Sources
- US rate: EIA Electric Power Monthly, July 2026, US average residential rate 18.31 cents per kWh, via priceofelectricity.com.
- UK rate: Ofgem price cap, October to December 2026, electricity 26.32p per kWh, via Energy Saving Trust and EDF Energy.
- Canada rate: 2026 national average residential rate about 16.5 cents per kWh excluding the territories, via powerhornet.com.
- Australia rate: 2026–27 default offer usage rates by jurisdiction, via GoSwitch and Solar Scorecard; the 31.5-cent figure is the simple average across 8 jurisdictions.
- Appliance watts, hours and days: typical values from manufacturer specifications and energy guides. Every assumption is shown in the tables so you can substitute your own.
To price your own appliances exactly, use the Appliance Electricity Cost Calculator with your watts, your hours and your tariff rate.