Ontario electricity guide

Appliance Cost Calculator

Reviewed July 22, 2026 · Written by David R. Hallowick

Planning tool only. Defaults are educational and editable. Delivery, regulatory charges, taxes, rebates, account class and utility tariffs vary. Use the OEB calculator and your distributor for an official comparison.

Estimate the monthly electricity cost of any appliance using wattage, daily usage, and your electricity price.

Useful for estimating the cost of heaters, kettles, dryers, air conditioners, computers, and other household devices.

Appliance wattage (W) Hours used per day Electricity price ($/kWh)

This estimates only the usage portion of the bill. Delivery, GA, regulatory charges, and HST are additional.

How appliance electricity cost is calculated

This calculator estimates the monthly electricity cost of running a single appliance based on three inputs: wattage, hours used per day, and electricity price per kilowatt‑hour (kWh). The formula is:

(Watts ÷ 1000) × Hours per day × 30 days × Price per kWh

For example, a 1,500‑watt appliance used for 2 hours per day consumes about 3.0 kWh per day. Over 30 days, that becomes 90 kWh. At $0.12/kWh, the estimated monthly cost is about $10.80.

Why appliance wattage matters

Heating appliances consume far more electricity than electronics. Examples of high‑wattage devices include:

portable electric heaters
electric baseboards
clothes dryers
ovens and stovetops
air conditioners
electric water heating systems

By contrast, laptops, routers, LED bulbs, and small electronics use very little electricity even when used for many hours.

Why real costs can vary

This tool estimates the energy portion only. Actual Ontario electricity bills also include:

Delivery charges
Regulatory charges
Other amount shown separately on your bill
HST

Some appliances also cycle on and off (e.g., fridges, freezers, AC units), so their real‑world usage may differ from the nameplate wattage.

Which appliances usually cost the most?

In most homes, the most expensive appliances to run are those that produce heat or move large amounts of air. Electronics are rarely the main driver of high bills.

Related Ontario electricity guides

Use official information for current decisions. Electricity prices, utility delivery charges and assistance programs can change. Check the Ontario Energy Board electricity-rates page, the OEB bill calculator, and your local distributor.

About the author

David R. Hallowick writes plain-language guides about Canadian utilities, infrastructure and regulated systems. Author profile and editorial approach.