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AVG PRICE / KWH
500 kWh
1,000 kWh
2,000 kWh

Early cancellation fee

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*Average Price per kWh assumes noted usage per month and specific LP&L Delivery Charges (i.e., Residential Service or Residential Distributed Renewable Generation Service). For additional information regarding plan pricing and other terms, please see the Electricity Facts Label, on the Plan Details page. Price shown is for new customers only.

Electricity consumption comparisons
for home appliances and electronics

Electricity consumption comparisons
for home appliances and electronics

Washer and dryer illustration
Washer and dryer illustration
Washer and dryer illustration

Knowing how much energy your appliances use is an important step toward improving your home's energy efficiency. From your refrigerator to your coffee maker, every device adds to your overall energy consumption. By comparing the energy usage of common household items, you can make more informed decisions about when and how to use them, which can help you save energy and money.

Below, you'll find comparisons between several household appliances. Some pairings may be uncommon, but they’re meant to highlight high-usage devices you might not typically consider.

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Common household appliance energy consumption comparison

Device

Wattage per hour
Dishwasher 330
Desktop computer
 75

Dishwasher vs. desktop computer

The dishwasher uses significantly more electricity than a desktop computer. Although the computer uses electricity to power itself and possibly many accessories such as the monitor, modem and router, there are two large energy-draining functions associated with the dishwasher. It needs electricity to make the machine run and to heat the water. To save electricity using the dishwasher, users should run the light cycle and definitely turn off the heated drying option. The heated dryer does not kill bacteria or clean your dishes. It simply stops the dripping, which time can do on its own.

Source: TreeHugger

Device

Wattage per hour
Hair dryer 710
Ceiling fan 35

Hair dryer vs. ceiling fan

One might think the hair dryer and ceiling fan have comparable electricity usage, since both items are small and the hair dryer is only used for short periods of time. But in reality, the hair dryer uses much more electricity. For instance, you would need to run your ceiling fan for more than 20 hours to use the same amount of electricity as your hair dryer uses in only a few minutes. Because the hair dryer has to produce a very high degree of heat, it consumes a great deal of electricity. One way to cut back on hair dryer power consumption is to let your hair air dry, especially in the summer months.

Source: Mother Earth News

Device

Wattage per hour
Iron 1,100
Microwave oven 1,500

Iron vs. microwave oven

Other small appliances that use a lot of electricity are the iron and the microwave oven. Again, the creation of heat is the culprit. Although the electricity consumption of these two items is close in comparison, the microwave oven consumes more electricity because it uses high-frequency radio waves to heat water molecules.

Source: California Energy Commission

Device

Wattage per hour
Toaster 1,100
Refrigerator 225

Toaster vs. refrigerator

In this scenario, the numbers can be deceiving. The toaster does require more wattage to run than the refrigerator. However, the refrigerator will end up costing you more in the long run because it stays running all day and night to keep your food cold and fresh. Most people don't use their toasters all day long (which would be a fire hazard), so the wattage consumed on a daily basis may be somewhere above a hair dryer but lower than a microwave.

Source: Kompulsa

Device

Wattage per hour
Video game system 36
Garage door opener 400

Video game system vs. garage door opener

Although gamers may spend hours playing their favorite games, the energy used by a video game system is still much less than what a garage door opener requires. Since many garage openers have a remote control, the opener stays on even when it isn’t operating, because it is constantly waiting for the radio signal to tell it to open.

Source: Green Building Advisor

Device

Wattage per hour
Space heater 1,320
LED TV 79

Space heater vs. LED TV

Since an electric space heater works to provide heat quickly, it consumes much more electricity than a TV. If you use a space heater regularly, you could see a hefty hike in your electricity bill. Space heaters should generally only be used if you want to heat one small area instead of several spaces.

Source: U.S. Department of Energy

Device

Wattage per hour
Clothes dryer 2,790
Portable spa (hot tub) 4,350

Clothes dryer vs. portable spa (hot tub)

Both of these require a large amount of electricity to run because both produce a lot of heat. However, the hot tub uses much more than a clothes dryer. It is larger than a dryer, and much of the heat escapes from the hot tub while in use, unlike the dryer. As a side note, if choosing between a portable spa or an in-the-ground spa, choose a portable one because they tend to be better insulated and usually include covers to help heat from escaping. The cover is essential not only for the maintenance of your hot tub, but for keeping your electricity costs down.

Source: California Energy Commission

Device

Wattage per hour
Heater 18,000
AC unit 3,500

Heater vs. AC unit

Because an electric furnace needs to generate heat, it uses far more electricity than an air conditioning unit as it works to keep your home warm. Depending on how long you allow your electric heater to run during the colder winter months, you could see an increase in your electricity usage, along with a higher electricity bill. Keeping your home’s thermostat set to about 68° during the winter will help to avoid a pricier bill.

Source: Energy Use Calculator

Top 5 energy-hungry appliances and how to reduce their consumption

Some of the biggest contributors to your electricity bill are appliances you rely on every day. Understanding their impact is the first step toward smarter energy choices.

 

hanging clothes to air dry
hanging clothes to air dry
hanging clothes to air dry
  • Home heating and cooling systems account for a large amount of energy use in the average home. You can reduce runtime by setting your thermostat to 68° in winter and 78° in summer. Also, consider using ceiling fans to circulate air more efficiently.
  • Water heaters use throughout the day by continually heating water so that it's ready when you need it. To help reduce use, lower your water heater temperature to 120° and insulate your water heater and pipes to help retain heat. 
  • Clothes dryers are used intermittently , but require a lot of electricity when in use. Try air drying clothes or linen when possible, clean lint filter regularly and dry full loads to help maximize efficiency.
  • Refrigerators and freezers run 24/7 to preserve your perishables. To help improve efficiency clean the coils regularly, set temperatures efficiently (around 37°F for fridges, 0°F for freezers) and avoid overloading.
  • Lighting your home is an essential use of energy, especially at night. To help reduce lighting costs, switch to energy efficient LED bulbs, use dimmers or timers and turn off lights when not in use. 

Save energy with smarter usage habits

Saving on energy usage starts with changing your habits and routines. Start with small changes like these quick energy-saving tips:

unplug laptop while not in use
unplug laptop while not in use
unplug laptop while not in use
  • Skip the heated dry cycle on your dishwasher and let dishes air dry
  • Unplug devices like computers or gaming systems when not in use to avoid standby energy use
  • Follow the 4 by 4 rule and adjust your thermostat 4 degrees if you’ll be gone for more than 4 hours to reduce usage when you’re not home
  • Air dry your hair, when possible, to prevent using the blow dryer

When it comes to electricity usage, not all appliances are created equal. From hair dryers to garage door openers, many everyday devices quietly drive up your energy bill. Understanding which appliances use the most electricity can help you make smarter choices about how and when to use them. Whether it's skipping the heated dry cycle on your dishwasher or opting for a ceiling fan over cranking up the air conditioner, small changes can lead to meaningful savings. 

To learn more ways to reduce your usage, check out our tips for lowering your electricity bill. 

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If you're interested in finding more wattage information for several different types of appliances and electronics, the U.S. Department of Energy has an incredibly useful energy estimator located here.

Frequently asked questions

Show all answers

There are many different factors to consider when considering the energy usage for a U.S. household. For example, a homeowner that lives in an area with temperatures that reach over 100°F in the summer is more likely to use their air conditioning unit than a homeowner who lives in a city with moderate temperatures. If you are renting a large apartment or have a large home, then the extra square footage will also increase the size of your electricity bill. The National Association of Home Builders reports that the average household uses 909 kWh per month. However, the average electricity bill for a home in the state of Texas is 1,174 kWh.

End use Billion kWh Share of total
Computers and related equipment** 26 2%
Furnaces 25 2%
Freezers 20 1%
Cooking 16 1%
Washing Machine 10 1%
Dishwashers 7 1%

 

**Includes desktop and laptop computers, monitors and networking equipment.

Source: https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=96&t=3

Determining how much electricity your specific appliances are using is now very easy and convenient. Most household items have the estimated energy usage on the back or bottom of the appliance. If you have the make and model of the appliance, you can look up the estimated energy usage on the manufacturer’s website.

  1. Determine the wattage of your appliance.
  2. Multiply the wattage by hours used each day. For example, if you use your 300-watt dishwasher for 2 hours a day it would be (300 watts) x (2 hours per day) or 600 watts per day.
  3. Divide the result by 1,000 to convert the usage into kilowatt hours. (600 watts) % (1000 watts/ 1kwh). The end result is 0.6 kilowatt hours per day.
  4. Multiply this number by the number of days you use the appliance. If you use your dishwasher every other day, this would be 15 days. (0.6 kwh) x (15 days) is 9 kwh per month.
  5. Multiply this number by 12 to get your energy usage for the specific appliance for a year. (9 kwh) x (12 months) = 108 kwh per year.
  6. Multiply this annual energy use by the cost of your energy per kwh to determine the cost of energy usage for the appliance for the year. (108 kwh per year) x ($0.174 per kwh) = $18.792 per year for the usage of your dishwasher.