Which appliance costs less to run?
Put two appliances side by side and see what each one adds to your electric bill at your state's average rate.
The short answer
The appliance with the lower watts × hours wins, because both run on the same rate. A 1,000 W window AC running 8 hours a day uses 240 kWh a month. A 50 W ceiling fan running just as long uses 12 kWh.
At the U.S. average of 18.31¢ per kWh, that is $43.94 against $2.20 a month. The gap grows with your rate: $109.44 a month in Hawaii and $29.00 in Louisiana.
The matchups people ask about most
Typical wattage and hours at the U.S. average rate. The bar shows electricity use in kWh.
Window AC or ceiling fan
The ceiling fan uses 95% less: $41.74 a month, $500.88 a year, used 30 days a month.
Oven or air fryer
The air fryer uses 69% less: $3.62 a month, $43.44 a year, used 12 days a month.
Space heater or electric blanket
The electric blanket uses 93% less: $30.76 a month, $369.12 a year, used 30 days a month.
How we calculate
Difference = (watts A × hours A − watts B × hours B) × days ÷ 1,000 × rate
Each side works just like our appliance energy cost calculator: watts become kWh, and kWh become dollars. Both use the same rate, so whichever uses fewer kWh costs less.
Rates: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A, average residential price for July 2026. It is total residential revenue divided by kWh sold, so fees and taxes on the bill are already folded in. The EIA publishes these figures about three months later.
Frequently asked questions
Does a higher-wattage appliance always cost more?
No. Time matters as much as wattage. A 1,800 W hair dryer used 10 minutes a day costs less than a 300 W dehumidifier running all day.
How do I compare appliances that cycle on and off?
Fridges, freezers and inverter ACs rarely draw their full rated wattage. Take the yearly kWh from the EnergyGuide label, multiply by 1,000 and divide by the hours it runs in a year. That gives the average wattage to type in.
Is it worth replacing an appliance to save energy?
Divide the price of the new appliance by the monthly difference shown here. The result is how many months the savings take to pay it back.
Why does my utility bill show a different gap?
Your utility may charge tiered or time-of-use rates, so your price per kWh can differ from the state average. Type the rate from your bill into the rate box for a closer number.