Home appliance electricity costs

Uncover the true cost of running your home appliances

Worried about your electricity bills creeping higher? Understanding how much energy your household appliances actually use can be a game-changer when it comes to managing costs.

In this guide, we break down the estimated energy consumption and running costs of common household appliances, giving you the insight you need to make smarter, more energy-efficient choices and reduce your electricity usage.

➡️Key things to keep in mind

These are estimates: Actual energy consumption and costs depend on factors like appliance age, usage patterns, and your specific energy tariff.
Check your appliance labels: The wattage displayed on your appliance's energy label offers the most accurate information.
Updated energy ratings: A new energy labelling system was introduced in 2021. Visit the European Commission's dedicated web page for more information.

Top energy-guzzling appliances

Based on our calculations, these appliances typically have the highest cost per hour of in a household:

Appliance

Appliance

Cost per hour

Cost per hour

Appliance

🚿Electric shower

Cost per hour

€3.48

Appliance

🛁Immersion heater/bath

Cost per hour

€1.10

Appliance

🧺Tumble dryer

Cost per hour

€1.10

Appliance

🫖Kettle

Cost per hour

€0.92

Appliance

♨️Oven

Cost per hour

€0.92

Appliance

👕Iron

Cost per hour

€0.92

Please Note:

This table ranks appliances by their cost per hour of continuous use.
Actual costs will vary significantly depending on usage frequency and duration. For example, an electric shower used for a few minutes daily will cost less than an oven used for several hours.
The table does not include the fridge/freezer, as its primary energy consumption is for maintaining temperature, not continuous operation.
Figures are based on the average energy consumption of relatively new, mid-range appliances with average energy efficiency. Please check the wattage of your own appliance for greater accuracy. A new rating scale for appliances was launched in 2021.

Reducing your use of these electricity-intensive products will help minimise your electricity consumption and lower your energy bills.

Appliance energy costs breakdown by room

Below we look at each appliance by how much it costs to run.

ℹ️ How costs are calculated

The costs provided for each appliance are based on Bord Gáis Energy’s standard electricity Urban 24-Hour tariff rate of €0.3665 per kWh (including VAT, as of 22 January 2025). This rate represents the price you pay for each kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity consumed by your appliances.

To calculate the cost of running an appliance, we multiply the appliance's energy consumption (in kilowatt-hours) by the unit rate of €0.3665. For example, if an appliance uses 1kWh of energy per hour, the cost to run it for one hour would be:

1 kWh × €0.3665 = €0.37

The final cost depends on the amount of energy the appliance uses and how long it runs. For appliances with higher power consumption, like a tumble dryer or electric shower, the costs can be significantly higher. The figures listed represent the energy used for one hour of operation.

Please note: All figures are based on the average energy consumption of relatively new, mid-range appliances with average energy efficiency. Please check the wattage of your own appliance for greater accuracy. A new rating scale for appliances was launched in 2021.

🍽️Kitchen

Appliance

Appliance

Energy consumption

Energy consumption

Cost per hour

Cost per hour

Appliance

Kettle

Energy consumption

2500W/hour or 2.5kWh

Cost per hour

€0.92

Appliance

Oven

Energy consumption

2500W/hour or 2.5kWh

Cost per hour

€0.92

Appliance

Microwave

Energy consumption

800W/hour or 0.8kWh

Cost per hour

€0.29

Appliance

Slow Cooker

Energy consumption

200W/hour or 0.2kWh

Cost per hour

€0.07

Appliance

Toaster

Energy consumption

1500W/hour or 1.5kWh

Cost per hour

€0.55

Appliance

Fridge/Freezer

Energy consumption

350kWh per year

Cost per hour

€35.65 per year / €0.10 per day

Appliance

Dishwasher

Energy consumption

1.5kWh per cycle

Cost per hour

€0.55

🪣Utility room

Appliance

Appliance

Energy consumption

Energy consumption

Cost per hour

Cost per hour

Appliance

Washing Machine

Energy consumption

1kWh per cycle

Cost per hour

€0.37

Appliance

Tumble Dryer

Energy consumption

3000W/hour or 3kWh

Cost per hour

€1.10

Appliance

Heated Airer

Energy consumption

300W/hour or 0.3kWh

Cost per hour

€0.11

Appliance

Iron

Energy consumption

2500W/hour or 2.5kWh

Cost per hour

€0.92

Appliance

Vacuum Cleaner

Energy consumption

700W/hour or 0.7kWh

Cost per hour

€0.26

🛋️Living room

Appliance

Appliance

Energy consumption

Energy consumption

Cost per hour

Cost per hour

Appliance

TV (55” LED)

Energy consumption

100W/hour or 0.1kWh

Cost per hour

€0.04

Appliance

Bluetooth Speaker

Energy consumption

25W/hour or 0.025kWh

Cost per hour

€0.01

Appliance

Games Console

Energy consumption

200W/hour or 0.2kWh

Cost per hour

€0.07

🛏️Bedroom

Appliance

Appliance

Energy consumption

Energy consumption

Cost per hour

Cost per hour

Appliance

Lamp (LED bulb)

Energy consumption

10W/hour or 0.01kWh

Cost per hour

€0.004

Appliance

Lamp (Traditional bulb)

Energy consumption

60W/hour or 0.06kWh

Cost per hour

€0.02

Appliance

Electric Blanket

Energy consumption

150W/hour or 0.15kWh

Cost per hour

€0.05

Appliance

Hairdryer

Energy consumption

2000W/hour or 2kWh

Cost per hour

€0.73

Appliance

Hair Straightener

Energy consumption

120W/hour or 0.12kWh

Cost per hour

€0.04

🛁Bathroom

Appliance

Appliance

Energy consumption

Energy consumption

Cost per hour

Cost per hour

Appliance

Immersion/Bath

Energy consumption

3000W/hour or 3kWh

Cost per hour

€1.10

Appliance

Electric Shower

Energy consumption

9500W/hour or 9.5kWh

Cost per hour

€3.48

💻Home office

Appliance

Appliance

Energy consumption

Energy consumption

Cost per hour

Cost per hour

Appliance

Desktop Computer

Energy consumption

200W/hour or 0.2kWh

Cost per hour

€0.07

Appliance

Laptop

Energy consumption

70W/hour or 0.07kWh

Cost per hour

€0.03

Appliance

WiFi Router

Energy consumption

10W/hour or 0.01kWh

Cost per hour

€0.004

Appliance

Phone Charger

Energy consumption

5W/hour or 0.005kWh

Cost per hour

€0.002

Appliance

Portable Heater

Energy consumption

1200W/hour or 1.2kWh

Cost per hour

€0.44

Please note:

These tables provide estimated energy consumption and associated costs for common household appliances. Actual costs may vary based on individual usage patterns and specific energy plans.

All figures stated are based on the average energy consumption of relatively new, mid-range appliances with average energy efficiency. Please check the wattage of your own appliance for greater accuracy. A new rating scale for appliances was launched in 2021.

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