What does a device cost to run?
Calculate the electricity cost of your devices per day, month and year based on wattage, use and price.
Power, daily usage and the electricity rate are enough to estimate a device’s running cost.
How the calculation works
- Enter the power in watts.
- Enter the daily usage time.
- Enter the price per kilowatt-hour.
- Read the daily, monthly and yearly costs.
Standby usage and changing tariffs can affect the result. Use current figures for comparisons.
Calculator
Enter power, usage time and electricity rate.
Example: A 1,200 W device used for two hours daily at 32 cents/kWh costs approximately €0.77 per day.
Pro tips
- Do not underestimate standby consumption – it adds up over a year.
- Regularly compare your current rate with alternatives.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate a device's electricity cost?
Multiply the power in watts by the daily usage time in hours, divide by 1000 to get kilowatt-hours, and multiply by your electricity price per kWh. The calculator above does this automatically for day, month and year.
Which devices use the most electricity?
Devices with high power draw and long run times – like heaters, washing machines, dryers and water heaters – usually cause the biggest costs in a household.
What's the difference between watts and kWh?
Watts describe a device's power draw, while kWh describes the energy used over a period of time. Cost calculations are usually based on kWh.
How do I find out a device's wattage?
The power rating is usually printed on the device's rating plate or listed in the manufacturer's spec sheet. Alternatively, a plug-in power meter measures the actual consumption directly at the socket.