So, you’re somebody who dreads checking their electricity bill. You know it’s only going to be higher than the last. And in contrast, it brings your mood plunging for the rest of the day.
Does this sound like a cycle you go through a month in and out? Then, you need to understand better the average kWh your house uses daily. Calculating your normal kWh usage per day isn’t going to help you cut down your electricity costs.
You’ll also gain exposure to common electricity statistics and terms in calculating your per-day usage. These terms and statistics come in super handy when you’re out shopping for your home appliances.
Summary
The most common kWh of electricity for a 2,000 square foot house is 11,604 kWh. In comparison, it means the average house uses 31.8 kWh of electricity per day. Other values include:
- Average kWh usage for 3,000 sq ft home: 14,210 kWh
- Average kWh usage for 5,000 sq ft home: 23,700 kWh
In this article, we also look at the following:
- The most expensive places to live for electricity
- The appliances that consume a lot of electricity
Table of Contents
Average kWh usage For Homes of Different Square Footage
2000
A 2000 sq. ft. home is large enough to house roughly 4-5 people comfortably. If you’re trying to figure out the average for such a home, the following statistics will help.
The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) mentioned the average kWh usage for a 2000sq. Ft. home is 11,604 kWh for a year as part of their 2015 data.
The average cost of electricity is 13.72 cents per kWh as per the recent 2020 data.
Suppose we were to take that number (11,604 kWh) and put it next to the recent average per kWh rate as stated by the US EIA (13.72 cents).
On average, a 2,000 square ft home would cost approximately $1592 a year and around $133 per month.
Of course, it is a very estimated calculation and figure.
3000
Suppose you were to imagine how big a 3000 sq ft home is. Let’s help you out. A 3000 sq ft home can house 6 to 8 people quite comfortably, depending on the size and number of people in a room.
With reference to the US EIA’s 2015 statistics again, a typical house that is 3,000 sq. ft. in size uses an average of 14,210 kWh of electricity.
Considering that the average cost of electricity is 13.72 cents per kWh according to the 2020 data, a 3000 sq. ft. home will produce a bill of $1950 a year. And in months, that would come around to $162.
5,000
The average kWh usage for a 5,000 square foot home is 23,700 kWh of electricity per year.
1-bedroom apartment
Like other estimates, your electricity bill depends on many factors. It includes things such as:
- how many square feet your home is
- the location
- members living in your home
- etc.
However, there’s always an educated averaged estimate you can look at. According to Home Affluence, a website focused on home improvement, the average electricity bill for a one-bedroom apartment will be between $35 and $52.
What is a kWh?
‘KWh‘ is an abbreviation for Kilowatt hours, a measure of electricity. But let’s start simple and focus on ‘Kilowatt’ for now.
If we look at the metric system, one kilo equals 1000. So one kilowatt is simply 1000 watts. Easy, so far?
Now, let’s define ‘kilowatt hours’ or ‘Kwh.’ Kilowatt-hours is the amount of energy an appliance consumes if you leave it running for an hour.
Suppose you have a kitchen appliance that is 2000 watts in energy. If you leave that appliance running for one hour, you will have consumed 2-kilowatt hours of energy.
The next time you have kW OR kWh mentioned on an appliance, you’ll know exactly what it means!
Average energy consumptions
The average household energy consumption depends on:
- your space
- the type of appliances
- and the number of electrically powered items in your home.
You probably don’t use much air conditioning if you live in a rather cool climate. Nonetheless, your central heating costs probably cover all the energy air conditioning could’ve pulled you.
On the other hand, suppose you live in a climate that doesn’t require much heat or air conditioning throughout the year. Southern California would be a good example of this.
The region barely requires any heat or air conditioning throughout the year, saving one of some hefty bucks!
But that’s not at all the reason that affects the variation in electricity bills. It also depends on how your state particularly generates electricity.
Do they import diesel and fuel from far away to generate electricity? Because that’s the reason why Hawaii produces some of the most expensive electricity bills in the country.
On the other hand, states like Colorado have been trying to transition to low-carbon emitting sources. They’re significantly bringing down their average electricity bills.
We’re trying to say that some states have access to abundant energy sources, such as hydro power or other forms of renewable energy.
At the same time, other states have to pay hefty transportation charges to bring either the transmission of energy or the sources to generate electricity to them.
When it comes to figuring out one’s electricity consumption, no one answer will fit all. Regardless, we’ve given you some below-average figures that may land close to your electricity consumption.
If the following statistics don’t cut it, you can always calculate your bills by using this helpful guide.
Here’s a quick look at what each appliance uses.
- Air conditioner (window unit): approximately 800-1,500 watts
- Ceiling fan: approximately 50-75 watts
- Clothes dryer: approximately 3,000-5,000 watts
- Clothes washer: approximately 300-500 watts
- Computer: approximately 50-150 watts
- Dishwasher: approximately 1,200-2,000 watts
- Furnace fan: approximately 100-300 watts
- Gaming console: approximately 50-150 watts
- Light bulb (incandescent): approximately 60 watts
- Light bulb (LED): approximately 10-15 watts
- Microwave: approximately 600-1,200 watts
- Oven: approximately 3,000-5,000 watts
- Refrigerator: approximately 100-150 watts
- Stovetop: approximately 1,200-2,000 watts
- Television: approximately 50-300 watts
- Water heater: approximately 4,000-5,500 watts
A 2-person household
According to the US Energy Information Administration, the average electricity bill comes out to be $117.65 per month. Now, that’s taking into account that an average household in the US is occupied by 2.63 members.
If we were to calculate the cost of just one person’s share in that household, it would amount to $44.73 per month. Moving along the same lines, the cost for a two-person household would be $89.47 per month.
On average, a 2 people household would pay approximately $89.47 per month as part of their electricity bill.
