Want to know how much energy a typical appliance uses? Check out the chart below. The costs displayed are approximations based on 13 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh). Actual costs may vary.
What is Phantom Load?
Any appliance that has a light, clock, or remote control uses electricity even when it’s not being used. Often the power switch simply puts the appliance into standby mode. Phantom load is the electricity it draws while still plugged in because the unit is not truly “off.” You can save energy by unplugging appliances or by plugging them into power strips that can be switched off when not in use.
| Appliance | Typical Wattage | Average Daily Use | Average Daily kWh Use | Average Cost per Month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air conditioning, central 1 ton |
1,167 | 7 hours | 8 | $31.86 |
| Air conditioning, central 2 ton |
2,334 | 7 hours | 16 | $63.72 |
| Air conditioning, central 3 ton |
3,500 | 7 hours | 25 | $95.55 |
| Air conditioning, central 4 ton |
4,668 | 7 hours | 33 | $127.44 |
| Air conditioning, window unit | 1,200 | 7 hours | 8 | $32.76 |
| Air cleaner, portable | 1,167 | 7 hours | 8 | $31.86 |
| Aquarium – 20 gallon @75° | 30 | 24 hours | <1 | $2.81 |
| Electric blanket – per side | 87 | 8 hours | <1 | $2.71 |
| Cable converter box | 22 | 6 hours | <1 | $0.51 |
| Cable converter box – phantom load | 10.7 | 24 hours | <1 | $1.00 |
| Cell phone charger | 10 | 4 hours | <1 | $0.16 |
| Cell phone charger – phantom load | 0.25 | undefined | <1 | $0.02 |
| Clock radio | 30 | 24 hours | <1 | $2.81 |
| Clothes dryer – thermostat control | 5,500 | 30 minutes | 3 | $10.73 |
| Clothes washer – using cold water | 510 | 30 minutes | <1 | $0.99 |
| Coffee maker – drip | 700 | 15 minutes | <1 | $0.68 |
| Computer – desktop with monitor | 300 | 6 hours | 2 | $7.02 |
| Computer – desktop phantom load | 21.6 | 24 hours | <1 | $2.02 |
| Computer – laptop | 17 | 6 hours | <1 | $0.40 |
| Computer – laptop phantom load | 4.8 | 24 hours | <1 | $0.45 |
| Dehumidifier – 20-pint capacity | 480 | 12 hours | 6 | $22.46 |
| Dishwasher – hot water not included | 1,200 | 30 minutes | <1 | $2.34 |
| DVD player or Blu-ray player | 15 | 6 hours | <1 | $0.35 |
| DVD player – phantom load | 4.9 | 24 hours | <1 | $0.46 |
| Fan – attic | 375 | 8 hours | 3 | $11.70 |
| Fan – box 20-inch | 100 | 8 hours | <1 | $3.12 |
| Fan – ceiling (no lights) | 80 | 8 hours | <1 | $2.50 |
| Freezer – upright, 17 cubic feet, auto defrost, 20 years old |
154 | 24 hours | 4 | $14.41 |
| Freezer – upright, 17 cubic feet, auto defrost, new |
78 | 24 hours | 2 | $7.30 |
| Game Console | 90 | 4 hours | <1 | $1.40 |
| Game Console – phantom load | 1.5 | 24 hours | <1 | $0.14 |
| Garage door opener | 800 | 15 minutes | <1 | $0.78 |
| Hair dryer – high setting | 1,000 | 15 minutes | <1 | $0.98 |
| Heating system – boiler hot water circulators | 270 | 8 hours | 2 | $8.42 |
| Heating system – heat pump in Emergency or Auxiliary mode (rough estimate) | 15,000 | 6 hours | 90 | $351.00 |
| Heating system – furnace fan blower | 854 | 8 hours | 7 | $26.64 |
| Heater – engine block | 1,000 | 12 hours | 12 | $46.80 |
| Heater – space heater on high setting | 1,500 | 8 hours | 12 | $46.80 |
| Heater – heat tape | 126 | 24 hours | 3 | $11.79 |
| Hot tub – outdoors with pump and heater | 2,328 | 5 hours | 12 | $45.40 |
| Lighting – Incandescent, 60 watts | 60 | 8 hours | <1 | $1.87 |
| Lighting – Incandescent – 100 watts | 100 | 8 hours | <1 | $3.12 |
| Lighting – LED – 16 watts (equivalent to 100-watt incandescent) | 16 | 8 hours | <1 | $0.50 |
| Lighting – LED – 32 watts (equivalent to 150-watt incandescent) | 32 | 8 hours | <1 | $1.00 |
| Microwave oven | 1,000 | 30 minutes | <1 | $1.95 |
| Microwave oven – phantom load | 3 | 24 hours | <1 | $0.28 |
| Oxygen generator | 350 | 24 hours | 8 | $32.76 |
| Oven | 2,625 | 60 minutes | 3 | $10.24 |
| Pool pump – 1 horsepower | 1,070 | 12 hours | 13 | $50.08 |
| Range burner – One Element | 2,350 | 60 minutes | 2 | $9.17 |
| Refrigerator – 22 cubic feet, side-by-side, 20 years old | 185 | 24 hours | 4 | $17.32 |
| Refrigerator -24 cubic feet, side-by-side, new | 76 | 24 hours | 2 | $7.11 |
| Satellite dish | 24 | 6 hours | <1 | $0.56 |
| Sewage pump | 1000 | 15 minutes | <1 | $0.98 |
| Television – CRT (40″ or smaller) | 130 | 6 hours | <1 | $3.04 |
| Television – CRT (40″ or smaller) – phantom load | 10.1 | 24 hours | <1 | $0.95 |
| Television – LCD (42″ or smaller) | 120 | 6 hours | <1 | $2.81 |
| Television – LCD (40″ or smaller) – phantom load | 6.5 | 24 hours | <1 | $0.61 |
| Television – LED (42″ or smaller) | 80 | 6 hours | <1 | $1.87 |
| Television – LED (42″ or smaller) – phantom load | 0.5 | 24 hours | <1 | $0.05 |
| Television – Plasma (50″) | 400 | 6 hours | 2 | $9.36 |
| Television – Plasma (50″) – phantom load | 12 | 24 hours | <1 | $1.12 |
| Water heater – 50 gallon | 4,500 | 4 hours | 18 | $70.20 |
| Water cooler | 84 | 24 hours | 2 | $7.86 |
| Well pump | 1,000 | 30 minutes | <1 | $1.95 |