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Appliance Running Cost Calculator Australia
Heaters, air conditioners, fridges and gaming PCs all add to the electricity bill in different amounts. Enter the appliance's power in watts, how long it runs each day and your price per kilowatt-hour, and the calculator shows what it costs to run, including any standby drain.
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On the rating label or in the manual. Heaters and kettles are 1,000 to 2,400 W.
Find the usage rate on your bill: it varies by retailer, state and tariff.
Optional. Many devices draw a few watts all day.
Cost per day
โEnergy per day
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Cost per hour of use
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Cost per month
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Cost per year
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Energy per year
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The working
How much does it cost to run an appliance?
Multiply the power in kilowatts by the hours of use to get kilowatt-hours, then by your price per kWh. A 2,000 W heater on 3 hours a day uses 6.0 kWh, which at 30 cents per kWh costs $1.80 a day, about $54.75 a month and $657.00 a year.
Finding the wattage
Look for a rating plate on the back or underside, or in the manual. Power is shown in watts (W) or kilowatts (kW). If only amps and volts are given, multiply them: 10 amps at 230 volts is 2,300 W. For devices that vary, such as TVs or computers, use the typical rather than the maximum figure.
A plug-in energy meter measures the real use of any appliance and is the most accurate method.
Cutting running costs
Run the biggest loads less: heating and cooling, hot water, clothes dryers and pool pumps. Raise the cooling setpoint and lower the heating one by a degree or two, use off-peak times if you are on a time-of-use plan, and switch off devices with high standby power at the wall.
Comparing plans on the Energy Made Easy site can lower the rate itself.
To estimate a whole bill, use the electricity bill calculator.
How this is calculated
The rule, step by step, so you can check any figure by hand.
energy per day (kWh) = watts ร hours รท 1,000standby energy = standby watts ร hours off รท 1,000cost = energy ร price per kWh รท 100yearly cost = daily cost ร days used (plus standby for every day)cost per month = yearly cost รท 12
The wattage on the label is the maximum draw. Many appliances cycle: a fridge compressor runs perhaps a third of the day, and an air conditioner draws far less once the room reaches temperature. For those, estimate the average hours at full power rather than the hours the appliance is switched on.
The price per kWh is your usage rate, not the total bill divided by usage, because the bill also includes a daily supply charge that does not change with use. Time-of-use plans charge different rates at different times, so use the rate for when the appliance runs.
A worked example
A 2,000 W heater used 3 hours a day, every day, at 30 cents per kWh.
- Energy per day6.0 kWh
- Cost per hour$0.60
- Cost per day$1.80
- Cost per month$54.75
- Cost per year$657.00
$657.00 a year.
Heating is the biggest running cost in many homes, so shorter hours or a lower setting save the most.
Standby power
Many TVs, consoles, chargers and microwaves draw a few watts all day. Over a year, 5 W of standby is about 44 kWh, around $13 at 30 cents. Add standby watts here to see the total for any device.
What it leaves out
Daily supply charges, demand charges, solar feed-in credits and seasonal rate changes are not included. Check your retailer's current plan.
What this calculator does not do
- Average power assumed
- One rate per kWh
- No supply charge or solar
- Estimate from your inputs
Common questions
How do I calculate the cost to run an appliance?
Watts times hours divided by 1,000, then times the price per kWh.
Where do I find my price per kWh?
On your electricity bill, as the usage or consumption rate.
Why is my fridge cost lower than its watts suggest?
Because the compressor runs only part of the day.
What is standby power?
Electricity a device uses while apparently off.
Does the price include GST?
Use the rate on your bill, which normally includes GST.
Where these numbers come from
- Energy Made Easy โ Australian Energy Regulator Compare electricity plans and find typical usage rates
Method last reviewed 2026-10-28 This calculator uses fixed rules rather than rates that change, and its method is re-checked against the sources above at least once a year. Out of date? Tell us and we will fix it.
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