Short answer: in U.S. homes, air conditioning (19%), space heating (12%) and water heating (12%) use the most electricity, followed by lighting and refrigerators, according to the EIA. Anything that makes heat or cold uses a lot; electronics and small gadgets use little, except when left on standby all day.
The big three
- Air conditioning, 19% of home electricity. Nearly 90% of U.S. households have some form of cooling.
- Space heating, 12% (much higher in homes with electric heat).
- Water heating, 12%. An electric water heater runs every time you shower, wash or run the dishwasher.
Shares are 2020 national averages and shift with weather. If you heat with electricity in a cold state, heating can easily be your number one. An EV is also a big load: households with an EV used about 2,363 kWh a year for it in EIA’s 2020 survey data, as summarized by Hannah Ritchie.
Next tier: lighting and the fridge
- Lighting is about 10% of a typical electric bill, per the DOE (energy.gov). Switching to LEDs cuts that by at least 75%.
- Refrigerators run 24/7. A modern certified 18-cubic-foot model uses roughly 400-500 kWh a year; older or large side-by-side units can use far more.
Work out any appliance in 30 seconds
kWh = watts ÷ 1,000 × hours used, then multiply by your price per kWh. Typical label wattages are below; check your own device’s label or use a plug-in energy meter.
| Appliance (typical) | Watts | Use | kWh per month | Cost at 18.2¢ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Space heater on high | 1,500 | 4 h/day | 180 | about $33 |
| Electric clothes dryer (about 2.5 kWh per load) | up to about 5,000 while heating | 4 loads/week | 43 | about $7.90 |
| Dehumidifier | 500 | 12 h/day | 180 | about $33 |
| Gaming PC while gaming | 400 | 3 h/day | 36 | about $6.55 |
| LED TV | 100 | 5 h/day | 15 | about $2.73 |
| Wi-Fi router | 10 | 24 h/day | 7.2 | about $1.31 |
Wattages are illustrative examples; real models vary widely. Price is the EIA’s 2026 forecast average (EIA).
What to fix first
- Heating and cooling: thermostat settings, air sealing and insulation give the biggest returns. See insulation and air sealing.
- Water heating: fix drips, wash laundry in cold water when possible, and consider a heat pump water heater when yours wears out.
- Old second fridge or freezer in the garage: unplug it if you can live without it.
- Standby power: 5-10% of home energy. See phantom power.
- Lighting: finish the switch to LEDs.
FAQ
Do phone chargers use much? Very little each, but many idle gadgets add up.
Does the oven use a lot? An electric oven draws a lot of power but runs briefly, so its monthly total is modest for most households.