kWh to Cost Calculator
Enter kilowatt-hours and your electricity rate to instantly see what any amount of power usage actually costs, per day, per month, and per year.
Convert kWh to electricity cost
Enter your usage and local electricity rate to calculate total cost.
$65.00 / month
At 13¢/kWh for 500 kWh per month.
How to use this calculator
Enter the number of kilowatt-hours for the period you want to calculate. If you're looking at your monthly bill, select "per month" and enter the total kWh shown on the bill. If you're calculating a specific appliance, enter its hourly wattage divided by 1,000 and select "per hour." Enter your electricity rate in cents per kWh, this appears on your utility bill or can be found on your utility's website.
Quick tips
- Know your local rate. The US average is 13–16¢/kWh, but Hawaii averages over 40¢ while Louisiana averages under 10¢. Your actual rate matters most.
- Find your daily average. Your utility bill shows total kWh for the billing period. Divide by days in the period to get a useful daily figure.
- Benchmark against US averages. A typical US home uses about 900 kWh per month (~$120 at 13¢/kWh).
- Spot high-draw devices. A 1,500W space heater running 8 hours uses 12 kWh — about $1.56 per day at the average rate.
- Estimate solar savings. A 5 kW solar system can generate 15–25 kWh per day. Enter that figure to see how much it offsets your bill.
Common appliance daily kWh usage
- Refrigerator (modern): ~1.5 kWh/day
- Central air conditioner: ~3–5 kWh per hour of runtime
- Electric water heater: ~15–20 kWh/day
- Clothes dryer: ~2.5–4 kWh per load
- 50" LED TV: ~0.05 kWh/hour
- Desktop computer: ~0.1–0.3 kWh/hour
- Space heater (1,500W): ~1.5 kWh/hour
FAQ
Where do I find my electricity rate?
Look at your utility bill, it typically shows the rate in cents per kWh (¢/kWh) or dollars per kWh. If you can't find it, divide your total electricity charge (excluding fixed fees) by your total kWh used for that billing period. Your utility's website also lists current rates by tariff type.
How do I calculate the kWh for a specific appliance?
Multiply the appliance's wattage by the number of hours used, then divide by 1,000. For example, a 100W light bulb running 5 hours uses 0.5 kWh. Many appliances list their wattage on the label or in the manual. For variable-draw appliances like refrigerators, use the annual kWh figure from the EnergyGuide label.
What is the average US electricity rate?
The US national average is approximately 13–16 cents per kWh for residential customers as of 2024, but it varies significantly by state. New England and Hawaii have the highest rates (20–40+ cents). The South and Midwest tend to have lower rates (8–12 cents). Always use your actual rate for accurate results.
How much does it cost to run a generator?
A portable generator producing 5 kW and running at 50% load uses roughly 0.5 gallons of gasoline per hour, producing about 2.5 kWh. At $3.50/gallon, that's about $1.40/hour, or roughly 56¢ per kWh. Compared to grid power at 13¢/kWh, generator power is 4× more expensive. This makes prioritizing critical loads very important during outages.
Can I use this for solar panel output calculations?
Yes. If you know your solar system's expected annual or monthly kWh production, enter it here to see the equivalent cost savings at your current electricity rate. A 5 kW system in a sunny location might produce 7,000–8,000 kWh per year, worth $910–$1,040 per year at 13¢/kWh.