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What's moving your bill right now.
Short, timely notes on electricity prices, seasonal patterns, and appliance trends — not the evergreen stuff. For foundational explainers, check the guides.
How much does a deep fryer cost to run? (2026 energy data)
A typical 1,700-watt deep fryer used once a week costs $4.70 a year at the 2026 US average rate. Daily frying lands at $33. Per session, about 9 cents.
How much does a heat pump cost to run? (2026 data by state)
A typical 3-ton air-source heat pump costs $89 a month heating in winter and $60 cooling in summer at the U.S. average rate. That puts most homes in the $50 to $125 per month range.
How much does a hair dryer cost to run? (2026 energy data)
A standard 1,800-watt hair dryer used 10 minutes a day costs $19.77 a year at the U.S. average rate. That is less than a 15W UPS that never turns off. Duty cycle is the entire story.
How much does a Nintendo Switch cost to run? (2026 energy data)
A Nintendo Switch OLED played 3 hours a day costs $3.56 a year at the U.S. average rate. That is one-eleventh the running cost of a PS5 at the same hours.
How much does a UPS cost to run? (2026 energy data)
A typical 1500VA home UPS costs $23.72 a year at the U.S. average rate. The 15 watts of idle load runs 24/7. Battery charging is rounding error.
How much do LED strip lights cost to run? (2026 energy data)
A standard 5-meter LED strip costs $5.93 a year at the U.S. average rate. RGB runs $9.49. A 20-meter installation draws the same wattage as one old incandescent bulb.
How much does a coffee maker cost to run? (2026 energy data)
A daily drip pot with one hour of warming costs $14.81 a year at the U.S. average. The brew itself is $10. The warming plate is the rest. Keurig wins for one cup; drip wins for two or more.
Do smart thermostats actually save money? Real numbers for 2026
EPA-certified smart thermostats deliver 8% heating and 10% cooling run-time reductions. That works out to $40 to $260 a year depending on house, climate, and current schedule.
How much does a microwave cost to run? (2026 energy data)
A 90-second reheat costs less than a cent and an average household spends $4 to $8 a year. For light users the always-on clock costs more than the cooking.
How much does a blender cost to run? (2026 energy data)
A typical 600W blender used for a daily smoothie costs $1.32 a year at the 2026 US average. Even a 1,380W Vitamix lands at $3.03. Run time, not wattage, sets the number.
How much does a WiFi router cost to run? (2026 energy data)
A typical Wi-Fi router costs about $15.81 a year, or $1.32 a month, at the 2026 US average rate. It only draws 10 watts, but it never powers off, and the always-on runtime is what makes the cost worth knowing.
How much does a curling iron cost to run? (2026 energy data)
A standard 75-watt curling iron used 20 minutes a day costs $1.65 a year at the 2026 US average rate. Even a professional 150W model runs about $3.29. Rounding-error territory.
How much does a TV cost to run? LED vs OLED vs QLED (2026)
A 55-inch LED TV costs about $21 a year at 4 hours a day; a 65-inch OLED runs $45. Panel type and screen size set the number more than streaming versus cable.
How much does a mini fridge cost to run? (2026 energy data)
A typical mini fridge costs about $3.92 a month and $47.04 a year at the 2026 U.S. average. Compact 1.6 cu ft dorm models cost $33. Age and temperature setting move the number more than brand.
How much does a window AC cost to run? (2026 electricity data)
An 8,000 BTU window AC costs about $0.14 an hour and roughly $32 a month at 8 hours a day at the 2026 U.S. average. It runs about 25% cheaper than a portable AC for the same room.
How much does a desktop computer cost to run? (2026 electricity data)
A basic office PC costs $47.44 a year. A creative workstation runs $131.77. A gaming desktop used 4 hours a day costs $105.41 at the 2026 U.S. average. Monitors and always-on servers move the bill more than the case wattage suggests.
How much does a freezer cost to run? (2026 electricity data)
A 15 cu ft chest freezer costs $39.71 a year at the 2026 U.S. average. An upright of similar size costs $71.95. Age, size, and garage placement move the number more than brand.
How much does an AV receiver cost to run? (2026 electricity data)
A mid-range AV receiver with network standby enabled costs $79 a year at the 2026 U.S. average. Turn network standby off and it drops to $40. The feature that wakes on voice commands doubles the bill.
How much does standby power cost? Vampire power numbers for 2026
Standby power costs the typical U.S. household $100 to $158 a year. Every continuous watt of phantom load costs $1.58 a year at the national average. The cable DVR is usually the worst single offender.
How much does an Xbox cost to run? (2026 electricity data)
An Xbox Series X used 3 hours a day costs $39.53 a year at the 2026 U.S. average. The hidden cost is Instant On mode: 12 watts continuously adds $18.97 a year in standby alone.
How much does a ceiling fan cost to run? (2026 electricity data)
A typical 60W ceiling fan running 12 hours a day costs $3.95 a month at the 2026 U.S. average. The fan isn't where you save. The savings come from letting you turn the AC down.
How much does a food processor cost to run? (2026 electricity data)
A standard 550W food processor used once a week costs $0.43 a year in electricity. Even a Vitamix used daily lands at $5.93. The wattage spec is high but the duty cycle is tiny.
How much does a pressure washer cost to run? (2026 electricity data)
A medium 1,800W electric pressure washer costs $0.16 per session and $1.95 a year. Despite high wattage, sessions are so short that the annual cost is less than a single light bulb.
How much does a laser printer cost to run? (2026 electricity data)
A typical home laser printer costs $4 to $9 a year in electricity. The 440W sticker is misleading. The printer is asleep 99% of the time, and the sleep wattage sets the bill.
How much does a halogen bulb cost to run? (2026 electricity data)
A 43W halogen costs $22.66 a year at 8 hours a day. The 9W LED producing the same 800 lumens costs $4.74. Halogen torchieres at 300W hit $158 a year, more than most refrigerators.
How much does a slow cooker cost to run? (2026 electricity data)
A typical 200W slow cooker run 8 hours costs $0.29 a session at the 2026 U.S. average. An electric oven for the same time costs $2.17 to $3.61. The 90% reduction is real.
How much does a portable AC cost to run? (2026 electricity data)
A typical 10,000 BTU portable AC costs $52 a month at the 2026 U.S. average rate. That makes it the most expensive way to cool a single room. State rates swing it from $36 to $115.
How much does a PS5 cost to run? (2026 electricity data)
A typical PS5 used 3 hours a day costs $3.25 a month or $39.53 a year at the 2026 U.S. average. Heavy gamers spend $79. Less than half a refrigerator, all year.
How much does a clothes steamer cost to run? (2026)
A typical 1,200W handheld steamer used twice a week costs about $0.04 a session and $4.51 a year at the 2026 U.S. average rate. Steamers draw a lot of watts, but only for minutes at a time.
How much does a security camera cost to run? (2026)
A 5W security camera running 24/7 costs $0.65 a month at the 2026 U.S. average. A four-camera PoE system with NVR runs $6.11. Cable-DVR-box territory, not refrigerator territory.
How much does it cost to run a laptop all day? (2026)
A typical 50W laptop running 8 hours a day costs $2.17 a month at the 2026 U.S. average. A 200W gaming laptop costs $8.66. Both are cheaper than a refrigerator.
How much does it cost to leave a lamp on all day? (2026)
A 9W LED lamp left on 8 hours a day costs $1.18 a month. The same lamp with a 60W incandescent costs $7.90. The lamp itself is incidental. The bulb is what matters.
Appliance wattage chart: how much power does every appliance use?
Wattage and annual cost ranges for 30+ common household appliances. Refrigerator to electric furnace. Each row links to a state-rate-aware calculator.
How to lower your summer electric bill in 2026
Summer bills run $170 to $400 a month depending on your state and AC usage. Ten specific changes, with dollar savings for each, that cut cooling costs without losing comfort.
How much does an electric furnace cost to run? (2026 data)
A 20kW electric furnace costs $130 to $350 a month depending on run time and state rate. It is the most expensive appliance in any home, by a wide margin.
Gas vs. electric dryer: the real cost difference in your state
A gas dryer costs $0.23 a load against $0.42 for electric, or $55 to $60 less per year. Installation can erase the savings. Heat pump dryers change the math again.
How much does a dehumidifier cost to run?
A 500-watt dehumidifier costs $13 to $43 a month depending on your state rate. The duty cycle cuts the real number 40% below what the nameplate math suggests.
How much does an electric lawn mower cost to run?
An electric lawn mower costs $5 to $15 a year in electricity. A gas mower runs $65 to $115 in fuel and oil. The operating-cost gap is 85 to 92%.
How much does a dishwasher cost to run?
A dishwasher uses $35 to $55 a year in electricity on its own, but hot water pushes the real total to $100 to $200. And it's still cheaper than washing by hand.
How much does a water heater cost to run?
A standard electric water heater costs $400 to $600 a year. That makes it the most expensive appliance in many homes. The full cost breakdown by state, plus how to cut it.
How much does a washing machine cost to run? (It's not what you think)
The washer itself costs $15 to $25 a year in electricity. But if you wash in hot water, the water heater adds $50 to $150. Cold water cuts the total 75 to 85%.
Heat pump vs. electric water heater: the real electricity cost difference
A conventional electric tank costs $400 to $600 a year. A heat pump water heater costs $100 to $200 for the same hot water. The $300+ annual savings pay for the upgrade in 2 to 5 years.
How much does a pool pump cost to run? The real electricity numbers
A single-speed pool pump costs $50 to $150 per month. A variable-speed pump cuts that to $15 to $45. The upgrade pays for itself in under two years.
How much does air conditioning cost per month? Summer 2026 guide
A central AC runs $130 to $220 a month in a moderate climate, $250 to $380 in a hot one. Window units average $20 to $80. Mini-splits run $30 to $120. 2026 rate breakdown.
The most expensive appliances to run in 2026 (ranked by real cost)
Central AC tops the list at $700 to $1,200 a year. We ranked 10 home appliances by actual annual electricity cost at the 2026 national average of 18.05 cents per kWh.
How much does it cost to run a clothes dryer?
A standard electric dryer costs $0.25 to $0.85 per load and $105 to $115 a year. Gas dryers run about half that. Heat pump models save $75 to $135 annually.
Electricity rates by state in 2026: what you're really paying
The national average hit 18.05¢/kWh, up 21% in five years. State rates range from 12.44¢ in Louisiana to 39.89¢ in Hawaii. Where your state falls changes everything.
How much electricity does a refrigerator use? Cost breakdown by type
A modern ENERGY STAR fridge runs $60 to $90 a year. An older pre-2001 model can cost $150 to $220. The full breakdown by size, type, and your state's rate.
How much does a hot tub cost to run? The real electricity numbers
A hot tub adds $50 to $150 per month depending on insulation, climate, and your state rate. We broke down the seasonal math and where the watts actually go.
Space heater season is starting — here's what it'll cost
Cold snaps drive a surge in portable heater use every November. We ran the numbers on what that actually adds to a typical monthly bill.