How much electricity does a house use?

An American home uses an average of 10,791 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity annually. That's 1,214 watts per day, but realistically, you won’t use the same amount of power daily. 

Energy consumption varies depending on the day and season; your energy needs could be as high as several thousand watts when you’re blasting the AC on the hottest day of the year or as low as a few hundred watts on those nice, comfortable fall days. 

Understanding your home's power requirements helps you to take full advantage of things such as your solar panel system, HVAC system, or energy storage system. Let’s break down the typical energy use of different electrical appliances to help you determine the number of watts your whole house might require.

*Annual cost is based on the EIA’s average price of electricity as of June 2024.

Installing a solar panel system requires you to get pretty granular with your energy usage. An improperly sized system compromises your home's efficiency, which can result in unnecessary energy consumption, higher utility bills, or even power outages. To get a sense of how much electricity your house uses, consider your appliances, the size of your home, and the region you live in. 

Your appliances 

Think about all the appliances you may use throughout the day. You wake up in the morning and turn on your coffee maker and toaster. As the weather heats up, your air conditioning might kick in. Maybe you put in a load of laundry. Later, you turn your stove or microwave oven on to make dinner. You rinse off the day with a hot shower thanks to your electric water heater. By the time you're asleep, your home will likely use the least energy it has used all day. 

More appliances mean more watts, but the type of appliances you have also impacts how much electricity you use. How many starting watts (the amount of power necessary to turn something on) does a certain appliance require? How many running watts (the energy needed to keep it on) does it consume? 

Here’s a tip: Using more efficient ENERGY STAR appliances can reduce your overall usage, especially for more power-hungry items like refrigerators, air conditioners, and dryers.

The size of your home

In general, larger homes use more electricity. More rooms mean more lightbulbs and appliances and a larger area to keep heated and cooled throughout the year. But as we mentioned, the more efficient your home is, the less electricity you’ll demand, even if you have a larger home. Home energy audits can help you maximize your house’s energy efficiency and minimize electricity costs. 

Where you live

Your geographic location is a major factor in your overall home energy usage, especially for heating and cooling systems. If you live in a warm climate and need to run your air conditioning often, you’ll probably use more electricity than someone who lives in a more moderate climate: Whole-home AC systems in Phoenix use almost 14 times more power than those in Aspen.

You might use your phone charger more frequently than you watch TV, but unless you're charging 60+ smartphones daily, your TV remains the more power-hungry device. 

Here's a breakdown of what you can expect from typical household appliances:

Going solar is one of the most effective ways to reduce or eliminate your electric bill, but it's best to receive several quotes from reputable installers before you decide to move forward. Visit the  EnergySage Marketplace to get solar quotes from installers in your area and begin comparing options so you can go solar with confidence.