Which appliances use the most electricity?

High-wattage appliances used for long stretches are the big costs — electric heaters, air conditioners, clothes dryers, pool pumps and old fridges. A 2,400 W heater run several hours a day in winter can add hundreds of dollars over a season, while a low-wattage device like a phone charger costs only a few cents a year.

How do I work out an appliance's running cost?

Find the appliance's power rating in watts (on its label or manual), divide by 1,000 to get kilowatts, then multiply by the hours you use it and by your electricity price in dollars per kWh. For example, 1,500 W is 1.5 kW; run 2 hours at $0.30 per kWh that's $0.90 a day. Check your latest bill for the exact usage rate.

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Q: How much does it cost to run an appliance in Australia?

It depends on the wattage, how long you run it and your electricity price. As a rough guide, a 2,000 W appliance run 3 hours a day at $0.30 per kWh costs about $1.80 a day, or roughly $657 a year. Multiply the appliance's kilowatts by the hours used and your cents-per-kWh rate to get the cost.

Work out what running a specific appliance costs in electricity per hour, per day and per year.

Last verified: 5 May 2026

What does it cost to run an appliance?

Multiply the appliance's kilowatts by the hours you use it and your electricity price. A typical 2,000 W appliance run 3 hours a day at $0.30 per kWh costs about $1.80 a day, or roughly $657 a year. Source: energy.gov.au.

Worked example. A 2,000 W (2 kW) heater used 3 hours a day uses 6 kWh daily. At $0.30 per kWh that's $1.80 a day, $0.60 per hour, and 2,190 kWh or about $657 across a full year.

General information and estimates only — not financial, tax, or legal advice. Always verify with a licensed adviser or the ATO.

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What does it cost to run an appliance?

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