Most Energy Efficient Appliances — Ranked by Annual Cost
Which appliances cost the most to run? We ranked every appliance by estimated annual electricity cost using typical daily usage at the US average rate of $0.16/kWh. Use this guide to find where your money goes and where you can save the most.
Top 5 Most Expensive Appliances to Run
| Appliance | Watts | Hrs/Day | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric Furnace | 10,000W | 6 | $3504.00 |
| Crypto Mining Rig | 1,500W | 24 | $2102.40 |
| Electric Vehicle Charger (Level 2) | 7,200W | 4 | $1681.92 |
| Central Air Conditioner | 3,500W | 8 | $1635.20 |
| Electric Water Heater | 4,500W | 3 | $788.40 |
Top 5 Cheapest Appliances to Run
| Appliance | Watts | Hrs/Day | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| LED Light Bulb (9W equivalent to 60W) | 9W | 5 | $2.63 |
| Laser Printer | 600W | 0.1 | $3.50 |
| Coffee Maker | 900W | 0.25 | $13.14 |
| Wi-Fi Router | 12W | 24 | $16.82 |
| Incandescent Light Bulb (60W) | 60W | 5 | $17.52 |
Complete Ranking — All Appliances by Annual Cost
| # | Appliance | Category | Watts | Hrs/Day | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Electric Furnace | Heating & Cooling | 10,000W | 6 | $288.00 | $3504.00 |
| 2 | Crypto Mining Rig | Home Office | 1,500W | 24 | $172.80 | $2102.40 |
| 3 | Electric Vehicle Charger (Level 2) | Outdoor | 7,200W | 4 | $138.24 | $1681.92 |
| 4 | Central Air Conditioner | Heating & Cooling | 3,500W | 8 | $134.40 | $1635.20 |
| 5 | Electric Water Heater | Bathroom | 4,500W | 3 | $64.80 | $788.40 |
| 6 | Space Heater | Heating & Cooling | 1,500W | 8 | $57.60 | $700.80 |
| 7 | Pool Pump | Outdoor | 1,500W | 8 | $57.60 | $700.80 |
| 8 | Hot Tub / Spa | Outdoor | 3,000W | 4 | $57.60 | $700.80 |
| 9 | Portable Air Conditioner | Heating & Cooling | 1,400W | 8 | $53.76 | $654.08 |
| 10 | Window AC Unit | Heating & Cooling | 1,200W | 8 | $46.08 | $560.64 |
| 11 | Dehumidifier | Heating & Cooling | 600W | 12 | $34.56 | $420.48 |
| 12 | Clothes Dryer (Electric) | Laundry | 5,000W | 1 | $24.00 | $292.00 |
| 13 | Refrigerator | Kitchen | 150W | 24 | $17.28 | $210.24 |
| 14 | Electric Oven | Kitchen | 2,500W | 1 | $12.00 | $146.00 |
| 15 | Gaming PC | Electronics | 500W | 4 | $9.60 | $116.80 |
| 16 | Dishwasher | Kitchen | 1,800W | 1 | $8.64 | $105.12 |
| 17 | Desktop Computer | Electronics | 200W | 8 | $7.68 | $93.44 |
| 18 | Ceiling Fan | Heating & Cooling | 75W | 12 | $4.32 | $52.56 |
| 19 | Air Fryer | Kitchen | 1,500W | 0.5 | $3.60 | $43.80 |
| 20 | Game Console (PS5/Xbox Series X) | Electronics | 200W | 3 | $2.88 | $35.04 |
| 21 | Instant Pot / Pressure Cooker | Kitchen | 1,000W | 0.5 | $2.40 | $29.20 |
| 22 | Washing Machine | Laundry | 500W | 1 | $2.40 | $29.20 |
| 23 | Television (55" LED/OLED) | Electronics | 100W | 5 | $2.40 | $29.20 |
| 24 | Laptop | Electronics | 50W | 8 | $1.92 | $23.36 |
| 25 | Computer Monitor | Electronics | 40W | 8 | $1.54 | $18.69 |
| 26 | Hair Dryer | Bathroom | 1,800W | 0.17 | $1.47 | $17.87 |
| 27 | Microwave | Kitchen | 1,200W | 0.25 | $1.44 | $17.52 |
| 28 | Incandescent Light Bulb (60W) | Lighting | 60W | 5 | $1.44 | $17.52 |
| 29 | Wi-Fi Router | Electronics | 12W | 24 | $1.38 | $16.82 |
| 30 | Coffee Maker | Kitchen | 900W | 0.25 | $1.08 | $13.14 |
| 31 | Laser Printer | Home Office | 600W | 0.1 | $0.29 | $3.50 |
| 32 | LED Light Bulb (9W equivalent to 60W) | Lighting | 9W | 5 | $0.22 | $2.63 |
Cost Rankings by Category
Heating & Cooling
| Appliance | Watts | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Electric Furnace | 10,000W | $3504.00 |
| Central Air Conditioner | 3,500W | $1635.20 |
| Space Heater | 1,500W | $700.80 |
| Portable Air Conditioner | 1,400W | $654.08 |
| Window AC Unit | 1,200W | $560.64 |
| Dehumidifier | 600W | $420.48 |
| Ceiling Fan | 75W | $52.56 |
Kitchen
| Appliance | Watts | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator | 150W | $210.24 |
| Electric Oven | 2,500W | $146.00 |
| Dishwasher | 1,800W | $105.12 |
| Air Fryer | 1,500W | $43.80 |
| Instant Pot / Pressure Cooker | 1,000W | $29.20 |
| Microwave | 1,200W | $17.52 |
| Coffee Maker | 900W | $13.14 |
Laundry
| Appliance | Watts | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Clothes Dryer (Electric) | 5,000W | $292.00 |
| Washing Machine | 500W | $29.20 |
Electronics
| Appliance | Watts | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming PC | 500W | $116.80 |
| Desktop Computer | 200W | $93.44 |
| Game Console (PS5/Xbox Series X) | 200W | $35.04 |
| Television (55" LED/OLED) | 100W | $29.20 |
| Laptop | 50W | $23.36 |
| Computer Monitor | 40W | $18.69 |
| Wi-Fi Router | 12W | $16.82 |
Lighting
| Appliance | Watts | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Incandescent Light Bulb (60W) | 60W | $17.52 |
| LED Light Bulb (9W equivalent to 60W) | 9W | $2.63 |
Bathroom
| Appliance | Watts | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Electric Water Heater | 4,500W | $788.40 |
| Hair Dryer | 1,800W | $17.87 |
Outdoor
| Appliance | Watts | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Electric Vehicle Charger (Level 2) | 7,200W | $1681.92 |
| Pool Pump | 1,500W | $700.80 |
| Hot Tub / Spa | 3,000W | $700.80 |
Home Office
| Appliance | Watts | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Crypto Mining Rig | 1,500W | $2102.40 |
| Laser Printer | 600W | $3.50 |
Tips for Reducing Energy Costs
- Target the biggest consumers first. HVAC, water heating, and clothes dryers account for 60%+ of most electricity bills. Even a 10% reduction in these areas saves more than eliminating small electronics entirely.
- Reduce usage hours, not just wattage. A programmable thermostat, timers on pool pumps, and sleep modes on electronics all cut the hours your appliances draw power.
- Upgrade strategically. Replacing a 15-year-old refrigerator with an Energy Star model saves $100+/year. Focus upgrades on appliances you use heavily.
- Check your electricity rate. Your state electricity rate dramatically affects costs. Residents in Hawaii pay 4x more than Idaho residents for the same usage.
- Consider solar. If your annual appliance costs exceed $2,000, solar panels may pay for themselves in 5-8 years and eliminate most of your bill.
Recommended picks
Energy Star Upgrades That Pay Off
The cheapest electricity is the kind you never use. These Energy Star rated picks target the biggest line items on a power bill — heating, cooling, refrigeration, and phantom loads.
Energy Star Smart Thermostat (ecobee / Nest)
Heating & cooling control
Cuts the hours your HVAC runs — the single biggest line on most electricity bills — with scheduling and occupancy sensing.
Energy Star Inverter Refrigerator
Runs 24/7 — efficiency compounds
A modern Energy Star fridge can use a fraction of the power of a 10+ year old unit, saving $50-150/year on a non-stop appliance.
Heat Pump Water Heater
~60% less than electric resistance
Moves heat instead of generating it, the highest-savings upgrade here — and it often qualifies for federal tax credits.
Smart Power Strip
Kills phantom loads
Cuts standby draw from electronics and chargers automatically — an easy $100-200/year on always-plugged-in gear.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which home appliance uses the most electricity?
Electric furnaces, EV chargers, and central air conditioners are typically the most expensive appliances to operate. An electric furnace can cost over $3,500 per year, while central AC costs around $1,600 annually at average rates.
What is the cheapest appliance to run?
LED light bulbs, Wi-Fi routers, and laptop computers are among the cheapest to run. An LED bulb costs about $2.63 per year, and a Wi-Fi router costs roughly $17 per year despite running 24/7.
How do I calculate my appliance's annual electricity cost?
Multiply the wattage by hours used per day, divide by 1,000 to get kWh, then multiply by your electricity rate and 365 days. For example: 1,500W x 8 hrs / 1,000 x $0.16 x 365 = $700.80/year.
Does turning off appliances save money?
Yes. Even reducing usage by one hour per day on a high-wattage appliance like a space heater (1,500W) saves about $88 per year. Using smart power strips to eliminate phantom loads can save $100-200 annually.