In most US homes, heating and cooling use the most electricity, followed by the water heater. After those, the biggest users are anything that makes heat (dryers, ovens, space heaters) or runs for many hours (pool pumps, dehumidifiers, EV chargers). Phones, laptops and LED bulbs barely register. The table below shows typical watts, hours and monthly cost for 20 common appliances so you can see where your money actually goes.

Quick answer: appliance cost table

All costs use about $0.18 per kWh, roughly the US average residential price in mid-2026 according to the U.S. EIA, and assume 30 days a month. Your wattage, habits and rate will differ, so treat these as ballpark figures.

Appliance	Typical watts	Typical use per day	kWh per month	Cost per month
Central AC (about 3 tons)	3,500 W	8 hours (summer)	840	$151.20
Electric water heater (tank)	4,500 W	3 hours of heating	405	$72.90
Pool pump (single-speed)	1,500 W	8 hours	360	$64.80
EV charging (Level 2)	7,200 W	1.5 hours (about 30-40 miles)	324	$58.32
Space heater	1,500 W	5 hours	225	$40.50
Window AC unit	900 W	8 hours	216	$38.88
Dehumidifier	500 W	12 hours	180	$32.40
Old refrigerator (1990s-era)	about 250 W while running	about 11 hours of running	83	$14.85
Electric oven	2,400 W	1 hour	72	$12.96
Clothes dryer (electric)	3,000 W	45 minutes (1 load)	68	$12.15
Dishwasher (with heated dry)	1,800 W	1 cycle	54	$9.72
Modern refrigerator	about 150 W while running	about 9 hours of running	41	$7.29
Gaming PC	400 W	3 hours	36	$6.48
TV (55-inch LED)	100 W	5 hours	15	$2.70
Ceiling fan	50 W	8 hours	12	$2.16
Hair dryer	1,500 W	15 minutes	11	$2.03
Laptop	50 W	6 hours	9	$1.62
Microwave	1,100 W	15 minutes	8	$1.49
Clothes washer (motor only)	500 W	30 minutes	7.5	$1.35
LED bulb (60 W equivalent)	9 W	5 hours	1.35	$0.24

Key takeaways:

• Anything that heats or cools is expensive. AC, water heaters, space heaters, dryers and ovens dominate.
• Long run times matter as much as watts. A 500 W dehumidifier running 12 hours costs more than a 2,400 W oven used for an hour.
• Electronics and lighting are small. A TV or laptop is usually a few dollars a month.

How to calculate what any appliance costs

You only need three numbers: watts, hours of use, and your price per kWh.

1. Find the watts. Check the label on the back or bottom, or the manual. If it only lists amps, multiply amps × volts (usually 120 V in the US) to get watts.
2. Convert to kilowatt-hours. Watts × hours ÷ 1,000 = kWh.
3. Multiply by your rate. kWh × price per kWh = cost.

Example: a space heater

• 1,500 W × 5 hours = 7,500 Wh = 7.5 kWh a day
• 7.5 kWh × $0.18 = $1.35 a day
• $1.35 × 30 days = $40.50 a month

Your rate is on your statement, often split into supply and delivery charges. Add them together for the true price. Our guide on how to read your electric bill shows where to find each line.

Why label watts can overstate the cost

Many appliances don’t run at full power the whole time. A refrigerator’s compressor cycles on and off, an AC cycles depending on the weather, and a water heater only heats when you use hot water or the tank cools. That’s why the table uses realistic “running hours” instead of 24 hours a day. For the most accurate number, use a plug-in electricity usage monitor, which costs about $20-$30 and shows real kWh over a few days. For large 240 V appliances like dryers and water heaters, a whole-home energy monitor or your utility’s online usage data (if it offers hourly readings) works better.

The big three: heating, cooling and hot water

Heating and cooling

Space heating and air conditioning are usually the largest share of a home’s energy use. In hot climates, a central AC system can easily add $100-$200 a month in summer. In cold climates with electric heat, winter bills can climb even higher, especially with older electric resistance furnaces or baseboard heaters.

What helps most:

• Raising the summer setpoint a few degrees and using ceiling fans.
• Setting back the thermostat at night and when you’re away.
• Changing filters and sealing duct leaks.
• Air sealing and insulation (start with the attic).

If you heat with electric resistance, a heat pump can typically deliver the same heat for a fraction of the electricity. It is worth pricing one out when your current system needs replacing.

Water heating

A standard electric tank water heater uses two heating elements of around 4,500 W each (they usually don’t run at the same time). Hot showers, laundry and dishwashing all draw on it. Our example of 3 hours of heating a day costs about $73 a month, and a large household can use more.

Ways to cut it:

• Set the temperature to 120°F (49°C).
• Wash clothes in cold water.
• Fix dripping hot water taps and install low-flow showerheads.
• When the tank wears out, consider a heat pump water heater, which typically uses much less electricity.

Other surprising energy hogs

Second fridges and freezers

Old refrigerators are much less efficient than modern ones, and a garage fridge works even harder in summer heat. One older unit can cost $150-$180 a year to run. If it mostly holds a few drinks, unplugging it is one of the easiest savings in the house.

Pool pumps and hot tubs

A single-speed pool pump running 8 hours a day costs about $65 a month in our example. A variable-speed pump running at lower speed for longer typically uses far less energy. Hot tubs vary widely depending on insulation, cover quality and climate.

Dehumidifiers

Basements often need one, but a dehumidifier running half the day can quietly add $30 or more a month. Set the humidity target to around 50% rather than the lowest setting, and keep the filter clean.

EV charging

An electric car can add a few hundred kWh a month, but it replaces gasoline, so compare it with your fuel savings. If your utility offers a time-of-use plan, charging overnight at off-peak rates can cut the cost substantially. Ask your utility whether it offers one.

Always-on electronics

Individually small, standby loads from TVs, consoles, cable boxes and chargers can add up to tens of dollars a year. Our article on whether unplugging appliances saves money has the details.

What uses the least electricity

Some things people worry about barely move the needle:

• Phone chargers: a few watts while charging, a fraction of a watt when idle.
• LED bulbs: about 24 cents a month each in our example.
• Laptops: often under $2 a month.
• Microwaves: high wattage, but only used a few minutes a day.

Bottom line for small devices: don’t stress about them until the big loads are handled.

How to find your own biggest users

1. Compare seasons. If your summer bill doubles, cooling is your top cost. If winter spikes, it’s heating or hot water.
2. Check your utility’s usage data. Many utilities with smart meters show hourly or daily use online. Spikes at specific times point to specific appliances.
3. Measure plug-in devices. Use a plug-in usage monitor on anything suspicious: the garage fridge, a dehumidifier, a gaming setup.
4. Do a quick walkthrough. List everything that heats, cools or runs for hours. That’s your shortlist.

Frequently Asked Questions

What uses the most electricity in a house?

Usually heating and cooling, then water heating. In homes with a pool, an EV or electric heat, those can move to the top of the list.

Does a refrigerator use a lot of electricity?

A modern refrigerator is fairly efficient, often around $6-$8 a month at average rates. Older models, especially second fridges in garages, can cost two or three times as much.

How much does it cost to run a space heater?

A 1,500 W space heater costs about $0.27 per hour at $0.18/kWh (1.5 kWh × $0.18). Running it 5 hours a day comes to about $40 a month.

Do TVs use much electricity?

Not much. A typical 55-inch LED TV draws around 100 W, so 5 hours a day costs roughly $2-$3 a month. Very large or older plasma TVs use more.

How can I see how much electricity each appliance uses?

Use a plug-in electricity usage monitor for standard outlets, and check your utility’s online usage data or install a whole-home energy monitor for large appliances like AC units, dryers and water heaters.

The bottom line

The appliances that heat, cool or run for long hours are where your money goes. Focus on the thermostat, water heater, any second fridge, and big seasonal loads like pool pumps or dehumidifiers before worrying about chargers and light bulbs. For a full action plan, read how to lower your electric bill. Savings vary by climate, home and rates, but tackling the top three or four items usually makes the biggest difference.

Figures in this guide are estimates based on typical US prices at the time of writing. Savings vary by home, climate and utility rates — check your own bill before making a purchase.