Appliance Wattage Calculator

Check the label on the back or bottom of the appliance - it usually lists wattage (W) or both voltage (V) and amperage (A), in which case watts = volts × amps. For appliances with variable loads (like refrigerators that cycle on and off), the label shows maximum wattage; actual average consumption is lower. A smart plug with energy monitoring gives the most accurate real-world measurement.

The biggest energy consumers are typically electric water heaters (4,000-5,000W but used intermittently), central air conditioning (3,000-5,000W), electric dryers (5,000W), electric ovens (2,400W), and refrigerators (150W but running 24/7). Lighting has become much less significant with the shift to LED bulbs - a typical home now uses 10-15x less electricity for lighting than it did in the incandescent era.

Phantom load (also called standby power or vampire power) is the electricity drawn by devices when they are off but still plugged in. TVs, game consoles, cable boxes, and phone chargers all draw 1-25 watts continuously. The average US home spends $100-200 per year on phantom loads. Smart power strips and unplugging devices when not in use can eliminate most of this waste.