Appliance Cost Chart

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