How Much Does It Cost to Run Your Appliances in Texas?
By the TexasPowerCost Editorial Team — independent Texas electricity analysis · Last reviewed October 18, 2026 · how we analyze plans
Last updated: October 18, 2026 · 6 min read
"How much does it actually cost to run this?" is the right question to ask before you start unplugging things. The answer comes down to one simple formula — and once you see the numbers, it's obvious which appliances matter and which are a rounding error.
The formula
Cost = (watts ÷ 1,000) × hours × your rate. A 1,500-watt space heater run 5 hours is 7.5 kWh; at 14¢/kWh that's about $1.05. Everything below uses this same math at a typical Texas rate of 14¢/kWh — your real rate may differ, so check yours with the tool.
The Cost-to-Run Table
Costs at 14¢/kWh. The "per hour" column is the running cost while the appliance is actually on; the monthly column assumes the everyday-use pattern in the notes.
| Appliance | Typical power | Cost per hour running | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central air conditioner | 3,000–5,000 W | $0.49 | Hours a day in summer |
| Electric clothes dryer | ~3,000 W | $0.42 | Per 1-hour load |
| Electric water heater | ~4,000 W | $0.56 | Cycles through the day |
| Electric oven / range | ~2,500 W | $0.35 | While cooking |
| Space heater | ~1,500 W | $0.21 | While running |
| Dishwasher | ~1,200 W | $0.17 | Per ~1-hour cycle |
| Microwave | ~1,000 W | $0.14 | Short bursts |
| Window AC unit | ~900 W | $0.13 | Per hour |
| Refrigerator | ~150 W (avg) | 2.1¢ | Cycles 24/7 |
| Desktop computer | ~150 W | 2.1¢ | Per hour in use |
| LED TV | ~100 W | 1.4¢ | Per hour on |
| Ceiling fan | ~30 W | 0.4¢ | Per hour |
| LED light bulb | ~9 W | 0.1¢ | Per hour on |
| Phone charger | ~5 W | 0.1¢ | While charging |
Figures are typical averages for illustration. A refrigerator's "150 W average" already accounts for it cycling on and off around the clock — running it 24 hours costs roughly 50¢ a day. Actual wattage varies by model; check the nameplate or an energy monitor for your own.
What This Tells You
The pattern is clear: anything that makes heat costs the most to run — air conditioning, the electric dryer, the water heater, the oven, space heaters. These are the appliances worth managing. By contrast, the gadgets people fret about — TVs, chargers, LED bulbs, fans — cost pennies an hour, and unplugging them saves only a few dollars a year. If you want the full ranking of where your bill goes, see what uses the most electricity in a Texas home, and for the standby-power question specifically, does unplugging appliances really save money?
The catch the table can't show
Every number here scales directly with your rate. The same dryer costs 40% more on a 20¢ plan than a 14¢ one. Cutting kWh helps, but being on the wrong plan quietly taxes every appliance you own, every hour, all year. Two seasonal loads get their own pages: what a space heater costs to run (about 22.5¢ an hour at 1,500 W and 15¢/kWh) and how much Christmas lights cost to run, LED versus incandescent.
See the table at your real rate
Your per-kWh rate sets the cost of running everything in your home. Compare plans at your real usage and find the cheapest one — it lowers every figure above at once.
Find My Cheapest Rate →Common Questions
How much does it cost to have a TV on for 12 hours?
A modern LED TV draws roughly 50–120 watts. At about 14¢/kWh, running a 100-watt TV for 12 hours uses 1.2 kWh and costs around 17¢. Even left on 12 hours a day every day, that's only about $5 a month. TVs feel like a big deal but are a small part of the bill — the standby draw when "off" is a few dollars a year.
How much does it cost for a dryer to run for 2 hours?
An electric clothes dryer pulls about 3,000 watts. Two hours of drying is roughly 6 kWh, or about 84¢ at 14¢/kWh. Per load (usually 45–60 minutes) it's about 30–45¢. The dryer is one of the most expensive appliances per hour because it makes heat — which is also why washing in cold water and line-drying save the most on laundry.
Do dishwashers use a lot of electricity?
Less than people think for the machine itself — a typical cycle uses about 1–2 kWh (15–30¢), most of it to heat water and run the heated-dry cycle. Skipping heated dry and using the eco cycle trims it further. A dishwasher generally uses less hot water than washing the same dishes by hand under a running tap, so it's usually the cheaper and more efficient option.
What appliance doubles the electric bill?
No single small appliance doubles a bill — but air conditioning effectively does, seasonally. As a Texas summer pushes the AC from light use to running most of the day, a home's usage can jump from ~1,000 kWh to 2,000+ kWh, which roughly doubles the energy charge. If your bill doubled suddenly outside of summer, the usual cause is an expired fixed plan rolling onto a high variable rate, not an appliance.
Is it cheaper to wash dishes by hand or use a dishwasher?
Usually the dishwasher, especially a modern energy-efficient one run with full loads. Hand-washing under a continuously running hot tap uses more heated water than a single efficient cycle, and water heating is where most of the cost is. The exception is a quick rinse of one or two items — for a full sink of dishes, the machine typically wins.
Key Terms
Kilowatt-hour · Effective Rate · Fixed-Rate Plan · Full Glossary →