Last updated: January 28, 2026<\/p>\n\n\n
Ever wondered which everyday appliances are adding the most to your bill? Heating our homes accounts for the largest portion of a typical energy bill<\/a> – around 40% of the total energy spend per year for the average household. But the appliances we\u2019re using day-to-day can also have a significant impact on our consumption and costs. So, being smart about how we use them can make a real difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Energy Saving Trust, washing machines, and dishwashers and tumble dryers (if you have them), account for 14% of a typical energy bill, while fridges and freezers take up around 13%. Electronics like TVs and laptops make up about 6%, and lighting accounts for around 5%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We’ve looked at common household appliances to see how much they\u2019d cost to run for an hour, on average, or for a typical cooking cycle. But it\u2019s worth noting that these figures will vary based on how energy efficient your appliance is to begin with, because higher-rated appliances will consume less energy. We’ll also share some practical tips on how to use your appliances more efficiently, and hopefully save money on your bills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As a general rule, anything that generates heat will have a higher running cost, as is the case with the appliances listed below. These things could be adding the most to your energy bill, depending on how often you use them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The electric shower is the most energy-intensive appliance in many homes. Based on typical usage of about 144 hours per year, electric showers cost around \u00a3315 to run annually. Trying to keep your showers to 4 minutes or less could drastically reduce your energy bill \u2013 there are plenty of 4-minute-song playlists available to help you keep to time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using your electric oven costs about \u00a31.10 per cooking cycle. The yearly cost will depend entirely on how often you use it, but for a family cooking daily, this could easily add up to over \u00a3400.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While still in the red category, an air fryer uses significantly less energy than a standard electric oven, and you\u2019ll likely find your cooking time is reduced compared to an oven, too. For a household using it once daily, this would amount to about \u00a3250 per year \u2013 a considerable saving compared to using an oven for the same tasks. Portable electric heaters might seem like a convenient way to warm up a single room, but with typical usage of around 487 hours per year, they cost around \u00a3238 to run. Hair dryers use a lot of power in short bursts. Based on average use of 122 hours annually, they typically cost around \u00a360 per year to run, despite only being used for a few minutes at a time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These appliances use a moderate amount of energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With typical usage of about 61 hours annually, irons cost around \u00a321 per year to run, despite their relatively high power consumption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tumble dryers are among the more energy-hungry regular appliances. Used for an average of 390 hours per year, they typically cost around \u00a3131 annually, making them one of the most expensive regular-use appliances in most homes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A toaster typically sees about 91 hours of use annually, which translates into a yearly cost of around \u00a326.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your morning coffee fix adds up over time. With average use of 263 hours per year, a coffee machine typically costs around \u00a371 annually to run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite their powerful motors, vacuum cleaners are typically only used for around 73 hours per year. This converts into a modest annual cost of approximately \u00a315.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Used for an average of 439 hours annually, dishwashers typically cost around \u00a360 per year to run. In many cases, this can be much more economical than washing up by hand, depending on factors like water temperature and washing methods. The energy rating of your dishwasher can also make a significant difference \u2013 choosing an A-rated dishwasher over an E-rated one could save you around \u00a3210 over its 11-year lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you prefer handwashing, using a bowl, rather than running the tap, can save substantially on both energy and water bills. You only need to run a typical tap for 95 seconds to fill a washing-up bowl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Washing machines see substantial use in most homes \u2013 around 494 hours per year on average. Despite this, their yearly energy cost is typically only around \u00a338, largely thanks to improved efficiency and washing at cooler temperatures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cooking on the hob is one of the cheapest ways to cook – only the microwave is cheaper. While all meals aren’t suitable for cooking on the hob, choosing this method over your oven could save you money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These appliances will typically have lower running costs, on average.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Electric blankets are used extensively during colder months and get around 2,190 hours of use each year. Despite their long running times, they’re still relatively economical, costing about \u00a389 annually \u2013 far less than heating an entire room with a portable heater.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Microwaves are much more energy-efficient than conventional ovens, and even air fryers, and cost just \u00a30.04 per cooking cycle on average. For a household using it multiple times daily, you can expect to spend under \u00a350 a year running it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With average use of around 913 hours annually, computers typically cost about \u00a331 per year to run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Games consoles, used for an average of 526 hours per year, typically cost around \u00a315 annually in electricity \u2013 a relatively small amount considering the hours of entertainment they provide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fridge-freezers run continuously, yet modern energy-efficient models only cost around \u00a357 a year to run. Energy efficiency ratings make a big difference with these long-lasting appliances \u2013 choosing an A-rated fridge-freezer over an E-rated model could save you around \u00a3360 and 420kg of carbon dioxide over its typical 17-year lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The average TV runs for about 2,006 hours per year and costs approximately \u00a341 annually \u2013 about 2p per hour of viewing. Screen size matters when it comes to energy consumption. Choosing a 55″ TV over a 65″ TV could save around \u00a37 in running costs a year, plus 6kg of carbon dioxide emissions. The energy rating is also important. Choosing an E-rated TV over a G-rated model could save approximately \u00a3140 over the TV’s lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Assuming you half fill your kettle twice daily, you can expect your at-home cuppas to add about \u00a315 to your energy bill over the course of a year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Like fridge-freezers, internet routers typically run 24\/7, yet they only cost around \u00a318 per year to operate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite being on standby permanently and used for an average of 518 hours per year, smart speakers use a remarkably low amount of energy. They typically cost less than \u00a31 annually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Red category: High-energy appliances<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
5 home appliances adding the most to your energy bill:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Electric shower – \u00a32.20 per hour<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Electric oven – \u00a31.10 per cooking cycle<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Air fryer – \u00a30.68 per cooking cycle<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Tip: While not suitable for all meals, cooking on the hob is considerably cheaper using an air fryer or an oven, while using a microwave is cheaper still.<\/p>\n\n\n\nPortable heater – \u00a30.49 per hour<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Tip: Making sure you get your home cold-weather ready before winter arrives can mean you won\u2019t need to use portable heaters or central heating as much. Take a look at our tips for saving energy at home<\/a>, as well as common mistakes<\/a> that could be adding \u00a3100s to your annual bill.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHair dryer – \u00a30.49 per hour<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Amber category: Medium-energy appliances<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Iron – \u00a30.34 per hour<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Tumble dryer – \u00a30.34 per hour<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Toaster – \u00a30.28 per hour<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Coffee machine – \u00a30.27 per hour<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Vacuum cleaner – \u00a30.21 per hour<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Dishwasher – \u00a30.14 per hour<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Washing machine – \u00a30.08 per hour<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Electric hob – \u00a30.11 per use
Gas hob – \u00a30.06 per use<\/h3>\n\n\n\nGreen category: Lower-energy appliances<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Electric blanket – \u00a30.04 per hour<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Microwave – \u00a30.04 per cooking cycle<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Computer – \u00a30.03 per hour<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Games console – \u00a30.03 per hour<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Fridge-freezer – \u00a30.03 per hour<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
TV – \u00a30.02 per hour<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Kettle – \u00a30.02 per use<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Internet router – \u00a30.002 per hour<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Smart speaker – \u00a30.001 per hour<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n 10 mistakes adding \u00a3100s to your bill<\/span> <\/h2>\n \n