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Electricity Cost Calculator

Calculate how much any appliance costs to run based on Australian electricity rates.

AU RatesAny Appliance

About

Calculate how much any appliance costs to run based on Australian electricity rates.

About this tool

Calculate how much any appliance costs to run based on Australian electricity rates. This tool gives a general estimate to help with everyday planning — for anything with real financial consequences, it's worth confirming the numbers with a professional.

How to use it

  1. Fill in the amounts and rates relevant to your situation.
  2. Adjust the term, frequency or scenario fields to match your circumstances.
  3. Hit calculate to see the full breakdown, not just a single figure.
  4. Try a few different scenarios side by side before making a decision.

Common use cases

  • Comparing a few different offers or rates before committing.
  • Working out whether a purchase or loan fits your budget.
  • Getting a ballpark figure before speaking to a broker or accountant.
  • Checking your own numbers against what a provider has quoted you.

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About the Electricity Cost Calculator

This electricity cost calculator estimates how much a specific appliance or device costs to run, based on its power rating (in watts or kilowatts), how many hours per day you use it, and the cost of electricity per kilowatt-hour (kWh) in your area. It helps you identify high-cost appliances and find where to reduce your energy bill.

How to Use It

  1. Enter the power rating of your appliance in watts (found on the label or manual) — or kilowatts for large appliances.
  2. Enter how many hours per day you use it on average.
  3. Enter your electricity tariff in cents per kWh (check your latest electricity bill — Australian rates typically range from 20–40 c/kWh).
  4. The calculator shows daily, weekly, and annual running costs.

Reducing Your Electricity Bill

The biggest energy users in Australian homes are typically air conditioning and heating (35–50% of bills), hot water systems (20–30%), and refrigerators (10–15%). Using this calculator to check the hourly cost of leaving your air conditioner running overnight compared to using a fan can reveal significant savings. Switching from a 2,400-watt electric kettle to only boiling the water you need, at 30 c/kWh, saves around $50–$70 per year. Small behaviour changes, identified through this kind of calculation, add up quickly.

Check the rating label on the back or underside of the appliance, or look in the manual. It will be listed as watts (W) or kilowatts (kW). If you only see amps (A) and volts (V), multiply them together to get watts: W = A × V. Australian mains voltage is 230V.