Here's how much it'll cost to run major appliances in 2026

The appliances in your home today are probably much more efficient than the ones you grew up with, but with energy costs rising all over the country, it’s important to know exactly how much money your refrigerator, washing machine, dryer, oven, and HVAC are eating every single month.

While we tend not to think about energy usage as much as features, design, and aesthetics, those appliances can be costing you hundreds of dollars per year, especially with older, less efficient models.

If you find yourself looking at your energy bill, wondering where it all goes, this guide is for you. Here’s how much energy usage each kind of appliance typically uses, from your laundry room to the kitchen and beyond.

Average Annual Energy Costs by Appliance for 2026

Appliance	Average energy use (kWh/year)	Average annual cost in 2026	Energy Star model range	Efficiency tip
Refrigerator	617 kWh	$111	$80–$108	New models use 30% less energy than 15 years ago.
Dishwasher	112 kWh	$37	$28–$45	Run full loads; use eco/dry mode.
Electric stove/oven	290 kWh	$52	$35	Induction is most efficient.
Washing machine	69 kWh	$2	$2–$56	Use cold water cycles.
Dryer	680 kWh	$123	$22–$125	Heat pump dryers cut usage by more than half.
Air conditioning (HVAC, whole home)	2318 kWh	$417	—	Use Energy Saver mode.
Air conditioning (window unit, per unit)	292 kWh	$55	$38–$25	Inverter models use far less energy.

The data above indicates the average energy usage for each kind of appliance. For most appliances, this number reflects average usage under typical conditions; for seasonal appliances like HVAC units that are used only part of the year, the annual cost reflects that part-time usage (3 months at 8 hours per day). Note that for refrigerators, this includes just the “most used” refrigerator, despite 30% of homes having more than one fridge or freezer operating at a time.

For costs, we are estimating using either the current average energy cost per kilowatt-hour (kWh) or the actual dollar cost of powering the appliance for a typical hour. The average energy cost in the U.S. as of December 2025 is $.18 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), though this may be as high as $.30 per kWh in certain areas like New England.

The average energy usage reflects real-world usage based on the 2020 Residential Energy Consumption Survey by the U.S. Energy Information Administration, which calculates the actual usage of the above kinds of appliances.

For the Energy Star comparison, we looked at the current range of energy usage as published on the Energy Star website, including the most efficient and least efficient Energy Star-certified models.

How much does it cost to run a refrigerator in 2026?

Based on our refrigerator energy cost comparison, in the U.S., the average person will spend about $111 to operate their existing fridge in 2026. This only accounts for the most-used fridge in the home; the average overall usage costs about $151, as many homes have a second fridge or a standalone freezer as well. Note that this is based on an average energy cost of $.18 per kilowatt-hour, so your cost may be nearly twice as much in some regions.

A newer fridge will probably cost about the same to operate, but some models are much more energy efficient thanks to improved designs, insulation, and better compressor technology.

Energy Star-certified fridges cost anywhere from $80 to just over $100 per year in energy cost, though note that some compact fridges can be wildly inefficient, so size isn’t everything.

Generally, bottom-freezer designs are the most efficient, since they don’t lose as much energy when opened. Top freezers and side-by-side models tend to be less efficient, and some four-door models can be more efficient since the compartments may be isolated. But energy usage will vary significantly from model to model and from one user to another.

The worst culprits are old fridges, especially if you have a very old model from the 1980s or 1990s humming along in your basement or garage, as some models from those decades use over 1,500 kWh per year.

Pro Tip: To keep your fridge operating efficiently, be sure not to overstuff it—it needs airflow to cool efficiently, and you’re more likely to have a frozen coil or other costly repair if you block the vents. Consult your manual to see if there are regular maintenance steps you should take, such as changing filters, checking temperature settings, or cleaning coils.

How much does it cost to run a dishwasher in 2026?

Your average dishwasher is very energy-efficient, costing just $37 per year to operate at an average energy cost of $.18 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for 117 kWh. The main difference is going to be down to the dishwasher’s heating element: some models use powered heating coils to dry dishes, while many only use them on certain cycles.

Much of the energy that goes into operating your dishwasher will actually be handled by your hot water heater, since dishwashers are often hooked up to your home’s hot water supply. So much of the energy expense happens upstream anyway. As a result, making your dishwasher more efficient mostly comes down to using it only when full, buying a model that uses minimal water, and whether you rely on it to dry your dishes with a heater or let your dishes air dry.

Comparing your average dishwasher usage to an Energy Star-certified model, there is not a huge gap. Note that most dishwasher energy tests use the “normal” cycle, which may or may not engage the heater; as a result, some dishwashers show remarkably little energy use but may use more when you use the heated dry setting.

Pro Tip: Your dishwasher is much more efficient than handwashing, using less water because it recirculates water to clean your dishes. Using your dishwasher instead of running a hot tap for 15-20 minutes can be the best choice, especially since most of the energy used comes from your hot water heater. Also, be sure to run your kitchen tap until hot water comes out right before your dishwasher starts, ensuring its first cycle doesn’t start with cold water.

How much does it cost to run a stove in 2026?

For the average person, running their electric range or cooktop costs about $52 per year, using just 292 kWh. Induction ranges will cost even less, saving about 10% to 20% more energy on average.

The obvious question is: How does the cost of operating an electric stove or range compare to that of natural gas or propane? Based on the average usage of about 2,000 cubic feet of natural gas and 22 gallons of propane per year, the cost of operating either type is about $40 to $50 in December 2025, depending on your local fuel costs.

Generally, you can make your cooking more efficient by using lids, cooking things quickly rather than leaving your stove on longer while you prep, and using residual heat to finish cooking as food finishes.

Pro Tip: An induction cooktop is a neat technology, and the best induction ranges heat up pans almost instantly, transferring energy very efficiently from your cooktop to what you’re cooking. That means you’re losing less energy heating the air around your pans and spending less time getting your pots and pans up to temperature, reducing energy loss and saving you money. See our induction cooking FAQ to learn more.

How much does it cost to run your laundry in 2026?

For the average person, laundry (washer and dryer combined) will cost about $125 in energy costs per year to operate, with nearly all of that cost coming from the dryer. Since your washer relies on your hot water heater to provide hot water, it just needs energy to turn the drum and operate the controls.

The dryer is a different story, since typical dryers (which heat air and blast it at your clothes, venting the evaporated water outside your home) use about 680 kWh of energy per year, at a cost of about $125 based on December 2025 energy prices. Ventless and heat pump dryers are much more efficient, however.

While most of the best high-efficiency front-load washers don’t use much energy, the energy to heat up hot water is still coming out of your bill. So you can save quite a bit of money by not using hot water cycles except when necessary, as many models can get clothes perfectly clean with cold water alone—using hot water cycles exclusively can more than double your energy costs, depending on how efficient your hot water heating system is.

Washer and dryer energy use and cost comparison

Appliance	Annual kWh	Annual cost	Tip
Top-load washer (old)	300	$72	Replace ASAP
HE front-load washer	150	$36	Use cold cycles
Electric dryer	600	$144	Clean the lint trap and vents, hang big items when it’s sunny
Heat pump dryer	150	$36	Lower temp, longer dry time

Otherwise, the best way to save money on laundry is by finding a more efficient dryer. Hanging clothes in the sun is free, of course, but other kinds of dryers also save quite a bit of money.

Heat pump dryers can dry a load of clothes for less than a quarter the energy cost of a traditional vented model at a much lower temperature (saving your clothes from wear and tear), though it may take longer to dry an individual load, and large loads like blankets and sheets may require hanging or other alternatives.

Pro Tip: Consider a heat pump dryer if you don’t mind waiting for your clothes to finish drying, as it uses significantly less energy. These ventless models also don’t require a bulky dryer vent, so you can put them anywhere in the home, not just near an exterior wall. Speaking of dryer vents, if your dryer has one, you need to get it cleaned—your dryer has to work much harder if it’s pushing air through a clogged vent, and it can start a fire or short out your dryer and damage it.