Electrical
Electricity Cost Calculator
Budget the operating cost of an appliance from its power draw, daily schedule and a supplied electricity rate.
Result
Uses a flat rate per kWh. Time-of-use and tiered tariffs mean the same consumption can cost noticeably more or less depending on when it runs.
Get a Free Business AuditWhat moves the number
- A measured average draw is often more useful than a maximum equipment rating.
- Daily operating hours should reflect the schedule being priced.
- The rate must match the portion of the bill that changes with consumption.
Where this one goes wrong
The calculation uses a flat energy rate. Fixed fees, demand charges and time-dependent prices can make the total bill behave differently. It is an operating-cost estimate, not a reproduction of the utility invoice.
Questions
About this calculator
Should I divide my entire bill by kWh?
That gives a blended historical rate, which may include charges that remain after consumption falls. Identify the variable portion when estimating the saving from switching equipment off.
Can this choose whether replacement is worthwhile?
It can compare running costs from two sets of inputs. Retaining and maintaining existing equipment is a valid option; purchase, installation and repair costs belong in the wider decision.
Why might a bill disagree with this result?
Check operating hours, average power and tariff structure first. A monthly projection is only as representative as the daily pattern entered.
The formula
cost = watts ÷ 1,000 × hours × rate per kWh
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How to use this calculator
- Power draw (watts). Enter your own figure; the page starts at 1,200.
- Hours per day. Enter your own figure; the page starts at 6.
- Cost per kWh ($). Enter your own figure; the page starts at $0.16.
- Number of units. Enter your own figure; the page starts at 1.
The result updates as you type, so you can try a figure, see what it does to cost per month, and change it back. Nothing you enter is sent anywhere or saved.
A worked example
These are the figures the calculator opens with. Every number in the results column below is produced by the same calculation the page runs, so you can follow it through before putting your own figures in.
What goes in
| Input | Value |
|---|---|
| Power draw (watts) | 1,200 |
| Hours per day | 6 |
| Cost per kWh | $0.16 |
| Number of units | 1 |
What comes out
| Result | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per month main result | $35.06 |
| Cost per hour | $0.19 |
| Cost per day | $1.15 |
| Cost per year | $420.48 |
Running costs $0.19 an hour, $1.15 a day, $35.06 a month and $420.48 a year.
How sensitive the answer is
Holding everything else steady and changing only cost per kwh, this is what happens to cost per month. It is worth knowing which of your inputs the answer actually hinges on, and which barely move it.
| Cost per kWh ($) | Cost per month |
|---|---|
| $0.08 | $17.53 |
| $0.12 | $26.30 |
| $0.16 example above | $35.06 |
| $0.24 | $52.60 |
| $0.32 | $70.13 |
Every other input is held at the example value while this one changes, which is not how a real job behaves. Treat it as a guide to which number matters most, not as five separate quotes.
What each figure means
- Power draw (watts)
- A number, between 0 and 10000000, starting at 1,200.
- Hours per day
- A number, between 0 and 24, starting at 6.
- Cost per kWh ($)
- A money amount, starting at $0.16.
- Number of units
- A number, between 0 and 10000, starting at 1.
What the results tell you
| Result | What it is |
|---|---|
| Cost per month | The headline result. A money figure. |
| Cost per hour | A money figure. |
| Cost per day | A money figure. |
| Cost per year | A money figure. |
Before you rely on this number
Conductor sizing, voltage drop and load figures are governed by code, and the code takes precedence over any calculator. Ambient temperature, conduit fill, continuous load factors and the specific installation all change the answer. Treat this as a first pass, not a design.
Keep going
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