# Electricity Cost – Single Usage Calculator

URL: https://speedycalculator.com/calculators/everyday-life/electricity-cost-single-usage/
Last updated: 2026-10-25

> The single-usage electricity cost calculator works out the energy and cost of one use of an appliance – a load of laundry, a shower with an electric heater, a hair dryer or an oven – from its power and running time.

## Inputs

- Power consumption (W, kW, hp)
- Duration of one use (h, min)
- Electricity price (/kWh)
- Uses per week

## Results

- Energy per use
- Cost per use
- Cost per year

## Formula

```
Energy = power × time
Cost = energy (kWh) × price
```

## Explanation

Thinking per use makes energy costs concrete: running a 2 kW kettle for three minutes costs only a cent or two, while an electric oven for an hour can cost 30 cents or more. Multiply by how often you do it to see the yearly impact.

### How to use the Electricity Cost – Single Usage Calculator

- **Power consumption**
- **Duration of one use**
- **Electricity price**
- **Uses per week**

Results update as you type, and every field accepts the units shown in its menu.

### How it works

Enter the appliance power, how long one use lasts and your electricity price.

### Tips

- Use the figures from your own bills and product labels – prices and appliance ratings vary widely.
- Look at yearly totals: small daily costs add up and make it easier to compare options.
- Round quantities up to whole packs, rolls or bulbs when you shop.
- Re-check the numbers when prices change; most results scale directly with the unit price.

### Common mistakes to avoid

- Confusing watts (power) with watt-hours or kilowatt-hours (energy).
- Comparing prices without bringing them to the same unit first.
- Ignoring one-off costs such as installation, delivery or replacement parts.

### Inputs explained

FieldWhat to enterPower consumptionUnits: W, kW, hpDuration of one useUnits: h, minElectricity priceUnits: /kWhUses per weekA number

### What each result means

- **Energy per use** = [Power consumption]×[Duration of one use]÷1000
- **Cost per use** = [Energy per use]×[Electricity price]
- **Cost per year** = [Cost per use]×[Uses per week]×52.18

### Example values

How the main result changes when **Power consumption** changes and everything else stays at the example values above:

Power consumption (W)Cost per use3500.025250.047000.058750.061,0500.071,4000.1

## Worked example

Inputs — Power consumption: 700 W; Duration of one use: 0.5 h; Electricity price: $0.14 /kWh; Uses per week: 7.

Results — Energy per use = 0.35 kWh; **Cost per use = $0.05**; Cost per year = $17.90.

## FAQ

**How much does it cost to boil a kettle?**
A 2,000 W kettle for 3 minutes uses 0.1 kWh – about 1.5–3 cents.

**How much does a hair dryer cost per use?**
A 1,800 W dryer for 10 minutes uses 0.3 kWh – about 5 cents at $0.16/kWh.

**How do I convert Wh to kWh?**
Divide by 1,000.

**What formula does the Electricity Cost – Single Usage Calculator use?**
Energy = power × time.