How much your appliances cost to run

We've collated energy use data for the most common household appliances, including fridge freezers, ovens and laundry appliances, so that you can find out how much they will cost to run. 

On 1 April 2024 the energy price cap will drop by 12.3%. The new average price of a single unit of electricity will be 24.5p per kWh.  

Our lab tests measure how much energy appliances use. Based on this, we calculate how much they’ll cost to run using the most popular programmes and settings over the year.

For our calculations, we presume you’re paying the average rate for electricity as set by Ofgem. To determine how much they cost over a year, we use an example scenario of how often each appliance is used by the average household. So, if you use your appliances particularly often or irregularly, you’ll need to scale our numbers up or down.  

Note that these prices are only due to be in place for three months. 

And bear in mind that, while the cost of running an appliance will go down, standing charges (which you need to pay daily, regardless of how much energy you use) are going up. 

Find out: What the energy price cap is and how to get a good energy deal

Don't forget that the biggest contributing factor to your energy bill is likely to be your boiler. Our guide to reducing your heating bill goes into more detail.

The most expensive appliance energy running costs

The table below summarises the average annual running costs of each large appliance in your home.

Appliances that cool or heat water or air tend to be the most expensive to run. 

As you'll see from the table above, washer dryers are the most expensive appliances to run by quite a margin. Depending on the size and model you own, you could be paying £308 a year – even more if you use it more frequently than most. 

Condenser tumble dryers are the second most expensive appliances out of those we've analysed, costing on average £127 a year. This is more than twice the amount you can expect to pay if you're the owner of a heat pump model. Heat pump dryers are far more energy-efficient and will only cost you £51 to run a year on average. 

American fridge freezers are the third most expensive appliances to run, costing £108 a year on average.  Freestanding and integrated models are both cheaper to run, as you'll see from the table. Fridge freezers need to be on 24/7 to keep your food fresh and safe to eat, so don't be tempted to turn them off to save money.

We often come across people asking whether they can save money by boiling their kettle less often. You can certainly save money by choosing an efficient appliance and using it properly (as we'll explain later). But, as you'll see from the table, we're not talking vast sums. So cutting out your morning cup of tea in an attempt to slash your energy bills is a bit of a red herring. 

How much does it cost to run my washer dryer?

Washer dryers cost on average £206 a year to run; the cheapest being £133 and the most expensive being £309. 

That breaks down as £70/year average annual washing costs and £137/year average drying costs. 

It's often more energy-efficient to use a separate washing machine and tumble dryer (particularly if you have a heat pump tumble dryer) than a washer dryer. Washer dryers also use more water than washing machines for washing clothes, on average – and you might be surprised to learn that they also use water for drying. Tumble dryers dry much better than washer dryers too, because washer dryer drying sensors are often not very accurate. 

Buying a washing machine and a tumble dryer can often work out the same price or even cheaper than a washer dryer, depending which models you opt for. So don't assume that a washer dryer will save you money. Space is also a key consideration of course, though. 

Head over to our washer dryer reviews to see the best and worst, and running costs for all models. 

How much does it cost to run my tumble dryer?

Average annual heat pump tumble dryer running costs will be £51 from 1 April. The priciest heat pump tumble dryer will now cost over £76.

Owners of condenser tumble dryers – the most energy-hungry type – pay considerably more to run them. Average annual running costs will be £127 from April. The most expensive condenser model will cost £171.

That's assuming you run a cotton cupboard-dry program three times a week.

If you're buying a new tumble dryer, buy a heat pump model with lower running costs. Our tumble dryer reviews reveal the best.

How much does it cost to run my fridge freezer?

Fridge-freezers account for a large part of your electricity bill, as they are on all the time and use a fair amount of power to keep your food cold. 

There’s a significant difference depending on what type of appliance you have though. The average integrated fridge freezer will cost £68 a year, while a freestanding model would be more than £75, and the average power-hungry American-style model will set you back more than £108.

So if you're buying a new one, it's really worth making sure it's the right model to suit your home. 

Find out how to choose an energy efficient fridge freezer or use our fridge freezer running costs tool to look up a specific model. 

Or compare energy use data for all the fridge freezers, fridges and freezers we've tested in our fridge freezer, fridge, and freezer reviews.

How much does it cost to run my dishwasher?

If you run your main dishwasher program five times a week, your average annual running cost for a fully integrated dishwasher will be £62

For a freestanding dishwasher, it’s £70.

The most expensive-to-run dishwasher we’ve tested would cost over £96, while the cheapest to run would be £40 a year. So if you're buying a new one, it's worth looking out for an energy efficient dishwasher or checking running cost data in our dishwasher reviews.

Find out how much your dishwasher costs to run by using our dishwasher running costs tool. 

How much does it cost to use my cooker?

Electric range cookers can cost as much as £89 or as little as £45 per year to run (average £61), as you'll see from the table above. 

Meanwhile a freestanding electric cooker will rack up £54 on average in running costs. The priciest to run will cost £65 from April; the cheapest, £45. 

As electricity costs more than gas, all-gas range cookers are cheaper to run. Dual-fuel or electric cookers can cost significantly more. The cheapest gas range cooker to run would only cost £20 a year, and the cheapest gas freestanding cooker only £11 a year.

Electricity gives you the option to be more environmentally-friendly, however, if the electricity comes from a renewable source. 

Use our freestanding cooker reviews and range cooker reviews to find out more. 

How much does it cost to run my washing machine?

From 1 April average annual washing machine running costs will be £59.

The average household uses their washing machine four times a week: 208 times per year.

Your own costs could be higher or lower depending on your machine’s capacity, as well as your usage. 

Smaller capacity machines cost less to run than larger ones, but a larger one is more practical if you’re frequently washing lots of laundry. 

The cheapest-to-run washing machine that we've tested will now cost £51 a year, while the most expensive will cost £78.

You can save money on your bills with an energy-efficient washing machine. Check out which washing machines earn our Eco Buy label, look up how much you'll be paying in washing machine running cost bills for your model or compare individual product running costs in our washing machine reviews.

How much does it cost to run my built-in oven?

On average each year, you’ll be paying £56 for a double electric oven. 

An average double gas oven will still cost £22 a year to run. Owners of single electric ovens will pay around £58 a year, if they use it an average amount.

Compare annual running costs in our built-in oven reviews or look up a model that interests you via our searchable oven running costs tool. 

How much does it cost to have my TV on?

The average cost of running a TV is £27, but several factors determine whether your individual costs will be more or less than that. 

These costs are based on the assumption you have your TV on for four hours a day and on standby on the other 20. If you watch much more or less TV than that, you should expect to pay a higher or lower sum. 

Brand, type (LCD, OLED and QLED) and screen size also play a part. 

We explain more about how much your TV costs to run and list all running costs in our TV reviews. 

How much does it cost to run my air fryer?

If you cook chips and four chicken legs twice a week (the most common scenario among the people we surveyed), you'll pay at least £27 in running costs across the year. Again, your personal costs will be more or less than that according to how much you habitually use it. £45 was the highest running cost in the same scenario for the models we tested. 

An air fryer can save you money on your energy bills, but how much you'll save depends on the size of your air fryer and how many people you're cooking for. 

If you're usually cooking for one then it's a cost-effective alternative to switching on a full-sized oven. For larger households, it will often make more sense to use an oven, as that will have significantly more space for cooking more food at a time. 

Use our air fryer reviews which show running costs for the latest models on test. 

How much does it cost to boil a kettle?

All kettles use a similar amount of energy to boil water, but kettles that boil faster are more efficient. Having a low minimum fill level also helps, because it means you're not obliged to boil more water than you actually want. 

The average cost of boiling a kettle is £36 across the year. 

That's if your use is 'average': say, you boil a litre of water twice a day and boil up the minimum fill line three times a day. 

Discover the best energy-saving kettles or head over to our kettle reviews to find out more. 

Buying the most energy efficient appliances

As the data above illustrates, it's as important to consider energy consumption as it is the upfront costs of buying the item itself. 

We don't recommend rushing out to buy new, energy-efficient appliances if your existing ones are still perfectly functional, because of the cost and environmental impact that would entail. 

However, when you do need to replace your appliances (or buy for the first time), use the advice below to find one that's energy efficient. 

Make sure you buy an appropriately sized appliance for your needs. For example, if there's only two in your household there's no need to buy a large American-style fridge freezer. Instead, opt for something smaller that won't require as much energy to run. But, as we were saying before, smaller isn't always more economical. If you have a large family and buy too small a washing machine, you'll simply end up running it a lot more often, which works out more expensive long-term than buying a bigger model with capacity for larger loads. 

Some types of appliances are inherently more energy-efficient than others too, such as heat pump tumble dryers. In some cases, these can be pricier to buy, but it's usually worth it in the long run as they'll pay for themselves over time.

Choose an Eco Buy appliance

You can also use our Eco Buy recommendations to narrow down your search. These are appliances that not only score well in our performance tests, but will have the smallest environmental impact out of all the models we've tested in their category.

Products currently carry our Eco Buy recommendation in the following areas:

• Built-in ovens
• Dishwashers
• Fridge freezers
• Fridges
• Freezers
• Headphones
• Irons
• Kettles
• Microwaves
• Rechargeable batteries
• Tumble dryers
• Washing machines
• Laundry detergents

Find out what makes a Which? Eco Buy product, from energy use to longevity.

How much does it cost to charge an electric car?

This depends to a large degree on whether you charge it at home or at a public charging point, and it depends on how efficient you car is. 

Our guide to electric car charging costs explains all you need to know and includes figures for how the most efficient EVs we've tested compare to petrol and diesel.