Running 1,000 watts for one hour uses 1 kWh and costs $0.18 at the U.S. average of 18.19¢/kWh.
At 18.19¢/kWh — U.S. average, Jan–Aug 2026 (EIA).
| Period | kWh | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Per hour of use | 1 | $0.18 |
| Per day | 1 | $0.18 |
| Per month | 30.4 | $5.53 |
| Per year | 365 | $66.40 |
| Where | ¢/kWh | Month | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. | 18.19 | $5.53 | $66.40 |
| North Dakota (cheapest) | 12.46 | $3.79 | $45.48 |
| Hawaii (most expensive) | 46.41 | $14.12 | $169 |
| Hours a day | kWh a day | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 h | 1 | $0.18 | $5.53 | $66.39 |
| 4 h | 4 | $0.73 | $22.13 | $266 |
| 8 h | 8 | $1.46 | $44.27 | $531 |
| 12 h | 12 | $2.18 | $66.40 | $797 |
| 24 h | 24 | $4.37 | $132.80 | $1,593 |
kWh is what you pay for: power (kW) times hours. 1,000 W is 1 kW, so every hour at full power is 1 kWh. The U.S. average residential price for Jan–Aug 2026 is 18.19¢ per kWh (EIA), which already spreads delivery and fixed charges over every kWh.
Appliances with a thermostat or compressor only draw full power part of the time; use the duty-cycle field in the calculator for those.
The full method, material data and tips are on the main electricity cost calculator page.