How many watts does that use? Your complete home appliance wattage guide
A guide to all the appliances running up your home’s electric bill.
Every appliance in your home draws power. But how much, exactly? Whether you’re trying to lower your electric bill, figure out if your home is a good fit for solar, or just curious about what’s driving your monthly expenses, it all starts with understanding wattage.
This guide is your one-stop reference for home appliance energy use. In this post, we’ve got the basics for the most common household appliances — and each one links out to a detailed post with real numbers and options for getting that bill lower.
Quick reference: common appliance wattage
| Appliance | Typical Wattage | Notes |
| Central air conditioner | 3,000–5,000W | Largest single energy draw in most homes |
| Space heater | ~1,500W | Typical max wattage |
| Refrigerator | 300–800W | Runs almost continuously |
| Washer/dryer | 1,200–5,000W | Dryer is much higher |
| Dehumidifier | 300–700W | Often runs 8–12 hrs/day |
| TV (LED) | 50–200W | Varies by type and screen size |
| Whole house | 5,000–15,000W+ |
All wattages are approximate. Actual usage depends on model, age, settings, and usage habits.
Guides by appliance
🌡️ Air conditioners
Central AC is one of the biggest energy consumers in any home, typically drawing 3,000 to 5,000 watts. Window units are much smaller but still use a lot of power. Learn how AC wattage varies by unit type, BTU rating, and efficiency — and what it adds up to on your bill each summer.
👉 How many watts does an air conditioner use?
❄️ Refrigerators
Your fridge runs around the clock, making it one of the largest contributors to your monthly electricity bill despite its modest 300–800W draw. Older models, larger capacities, and extra features like ice makers can push that number higher.
👉 How many watts does a refrigerator use?
🔥 Space heaters
Most space heaters max out at 1,500 watts — roughly the safe upper limit for a standard home circuit. That’s not a lot compared to central heat, but running one for hours a day adds up fast. Learn how to use them efficiently.
👉 How many watts does a space heater use?
📺 TVs
Modern LED TVs use between 50 and 200 watts depending on screen size, display type, and features like HDR or game mode. Older plasma sets can use significantly more. There’s also the matter of standby power — your TV may be drawing electricity even when “off.”
👉 How many watts does a TV use?
💧 Dehumidifiers
Dehumidifiers typically use 300–700 watts — modest compared to AC or a dryer, but they often run 8–12 hours a day or more in humid climates, which adds up fast. Learn how to calculate your unit’s exact energy use, what affects run time, and tips to cut costs.
👉 How many watts does a dehumidifier use?
🏠 Whole house
Rather than appliance by appliance, sometimes you just want to know the big picture: how much power does an entire home need? This guide breaks down total household wattage by home size, appliance mix, and season — useful for sizing a solar system or backup generator.
👉 How many watts does it take to run a house?
Why does appliance wattage matter?
Understanding wattage helps you do three things:
1. Estimate your electricity costs. Your utility charges you in kilowatt-hours (kWh). Once you know an appliance’s wattage, it’s simple math: watts × hours of use ÷ 1,000 = kWh. Multiply that by your local electricity rate and you’ve got your cost.
2. Identify your biggest energy drains. Most homes have two or three appliances driving the majority of their electricity use (usually HVAC, water heating, and a dryer). Knowing the numbers helps you prioritize.
3. Right-size a solar system. If you’re considering going solar, your total household energy consumption — measured in kWh per month — is the most important input for designing a system. Understanding which appliances draw the most power helps you set realistic expectations for what solar can offset.
How wattage, kWh, and your electric bill connect
- Watt (W): The rate at which an appliance uses power at any given moment
- Kilowatt (kW): 1,000 watts
- Kilowatt-hour (kWh): The amount of energy used by a 1kW device running for one hour. This is the unit your utility bills you for
Example: A 200W TV running for 5 hours uses 1 kWh. At the U.S. average rate of ~$0.19/kWh, that’s about $0.19 — or roughly $70/year if you watch 5 hours a day.
For a deeper dive into the kW vs. kWh distinction, see our kW vs. kWh explainer.
What could solar offset?
Knowing your home’s total energy footprint is the first step toward understanding what solar could do for you. A typical residential solar system offsets a significant portion of household electricity use — and in many cases, all of it.
Curious what that looks like for your home specifically? Get a free solar estimate from Aurora →
More from Energy 101
- kW vs. kWh: What’s the difference?
- Is my house a good fit for solar?
- Solar energy storage: Everything you need to know
- Did the solar tax credit expire in 2026? Here’s what you need to know
Have an appliance we haven’t covered yet? Check back. We’re adding to this guide regularly.
