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
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Power consumption | Units: W, kW, hp |
| Duration of one use | Units: h, min |
| Electricity price | Units: /kWh |
| Uses per week | A 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 use |
|---|---|
| 350 | 0.02 |
| 525 | 0.04 |
| 700 | 0.05 |
| 875 | 0.06 |
| 1,050 | 0.07 |
| 1,400 | 0.1 |
Formula
Energy = power × timeCost = energy (kWh) × priceWorked 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.
Frequently asked questions
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.