RunCost Lab

ELECTRICITY COST CALCULATOR

Turn appliance energy use into cost and savings.

Use watts and runtime or annual kilowatt-hours (kWh), the amount of electricity used in a year shown on an EnergyGuide label. Compare a baseline, a scenario, and an old-versus-new purchase.

Editable estimate

Calculate and compare

Results update as you type.

Energy input

Type a number or drag the slider. Your typed value stays exact.

Estimated monthly cost—annual cost ÷ 12
Daily—
Annual—
Daily energy—
Annual energy—

kW × effective runtime × rate. Effective runtime = hours/day × duty cycle.

Baseline vs scenario

Compare two annual energy-use estimates.

Type an exact annual value or drag either slider to compare.

Annual energy saved—
Annual cost saved—
Reduction—

Old vs new appliance payback

Use annual kWh for both models. Leave rebate at $0 unless you have a confirmed amount.

Type exact annual energy use or drag the energy sliders. Costs and confirmed credits stay unrestricted number entries.

Net upfront cost—
Simple payback—
5-year net—
10-year net—

Simple payback = net upfront cost ÷ annual electricity-cost savings. Excludes financing, maintenance, rate changes and time value of money.

Save: Saved calculations stay only in this web browser on this device. They are not uploaded to a RunCost Lab account, server, or cloud, do not appear automatically in another browser, phone, or computer, and may disappear if you clear this site's browser data.

Copy link: Copies a URL containing your current calculator settings. Opening it restores this calculation in another browser or device; it does not upload a screenshot, save an image, or create an account save.

Ways to lower this cost

See all savings tips →

Compare your result

Monthly cost by daily useSame watts, duty cycle and rate
Monthly cost by electricity rateSame appliance use; EIA state benchmarks
Data updatedEIA residential prices · May 2026View Table 5.6.A

Choose useful inputs

Annual kWh is a useful shortcut when it comes from the exact model's EnergyGuide label. For other devices, use input watts, runtime and the percentage of that time the appliance actively uses power. Use the effective electricity rate from your bill when possible.

Start from an appliance preset or review sourced savings actions.