Electric Bill Calculator: kWh to Cost, by State — July 2026
An electric bill is one formula: kWh used × price per kWh = cost. Enter your usage and state below to price it at your state's official average rate — the U.S. median right now is 16.09¢/kWh.
kWh to cost calculator
kWh to cost
Enter the kWh from your bill or meter and your state. Nothing you type is stored.
kWh × price per kWh — Ohio's average residential rate of 19.45¢/kWh (U.S. EIA, July 2026). Your plan's price differs from the state average, sometimes considerably.
What common usage levels cost
The same formula at a few round usage figures, priced at the U.S. median state rate of 16.09¢/kWh for July 2026:
| Usage | ≈ Cost at the median rate |
|---|---|
| 500 kWh | ≈$80.45 |
| 1,000 kWh | ≈$160.90 |
| 1,500 kWh | ≈$241.35 |
The U.S. Energy Information Administration reports the average U.S. household uses roughly 800-1,200 kWh a month, but this varies widely by climate, home size and heating fuel — use your own bill's kWh figure in the calculator above for an answer specific to you.
Finding kWh and price on your own bill
- Usage (kWh). Printed on every bill, usually near the meter reading section, and available as history in your utility's online account.
- Price per kWh. Divide your bill's total supply charge by its kWh to get your own effective rate — it will differ from the state average used above, since it reflects your specific plan. Compare it to your state's average.
Want the full picture, not just one number?
Enter your state and monthly bill and the calculator shows where you stand against your state's average and which rate increases are already locked in for you — every line sourced and dated. Nothing you type is stored.
Bill Shock Calculator
See where you stand - and where your bill is headed. Nothing you type is stored.
Ohio average: $224/mo at 19.45¢/kWh (+11.9% YoY)
Your bill is 33.0% below the state average (≈771 kWh/mo at the state average price).
Where your bill is headed:
- locked2027/2028 delivery year (Jun 2027 - May 2028)+$0.23/mo
- locked2028/2029 delivery year (Jun 2028 - May 2029)-$0.23/mo
- trendIf the last 12 months' trend continues+$17.89/mo
“Locked” = PJM capacity auction prices already cleared (a floor - several utility zones cleared higher). “Trend” = the observed 12-month EIA trend extended, not a promise.
Three ways to fight it:
- Switch your plan. Ohio lets residents pick their electricity supplier. Plan comparison coming soon.
- Find your energy hogs. See what each appliance actually costs to run at Ohio rates: cost-to-run guides.
- Get a home energy audit. DOE guide to professional and DIY audits.
Estimate only, based on official data as of July 2026 (U.S. EIA residential averages; PJM auction results). Your actual plan price differs.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the formula for an electric bill calculator?
- Cost equals usage in kilowatt-hours (kWh) multiplied by the price per kWh: kWh × price/kWh = cost. Usage is on your bill or your meter; price is on your bill too, or you can use your state's official average (the U.S. median state price is currently 16.09¢/kWh, per EIA July 2026) if you don't have your own rate handy yet.
- How do I calculate the cost to run a specific appliance?
- The same formula, with the appliance's wattage converted to kW and multiplied by the hours it runs per day and a 30-day month: (watts ÷ 1,000) × hours/day × 30 × price/kWh. Every appliance on this site has its own calculator pre-filled with a representative DOE wattage.
- Why does the same usage cost different amounts in different states?
- Because the price side of the formula varies by state, not the usage side. In July 2026, EIA's reported average residential price ranged from 12.72¢/kWh in Louisiana to 48.00¢/kWh in Hawaii — the same 1,000 kWh costs a different dollar amount depending only on which side of a state line the meter is on.
Keep going
- Cost to run a specific appliance — the same formula, pre-filled with a representative wattage per appliance.
- Why is my electric bill so high? — the full usage-vs-price diagnosis, with the national numbers.
- How to read your electric bill — where the kWh and rate figures actually live on the page.
Estimate only, based on official data as of July 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, residential retail sales (public domain), refreshed monthly, covering 51 U.S. jurisdictions. Your actual plan price differs from the state average.