What uses the most electricity in your home?

Air conditioning used the most electricity in US homes in the federal energy survey’s 2020 data.^⁠[1] The table covers occupied primary homes in the 50 states and Washington, DC.^⁠[2] It combines different home types, rather than showing one home’s use.^⁠[2]

These rows don’t add up to all home electricity use.^⁠[2,3,4] Fans that move heated or cooled air appear separately in the detailed tables.^⁠[3] The TV category includes related equipment; the refrigerator category includes all refrigerators, rather than one appliance.^⁠[4]

Heating and cooling depend on weather, so their yearly shares change.^⁠[7] Your location also matters: the agency says home use varies widely across the country.^⁠[1] A US yearly total can’t tell you which system led during your own month.^⁠[1,7]

• The space-heating row counts electric heat, not the energy burned as gas, oil or propane.^⁠[2]
• Space heating includes main and secondary heating equipment.^⁠[3]

That helps explain why the table may feel different from your home. If your main heat burns another fuel, that fuel use falls outside this table.^⁠[2] Check your heating and hot-water systems separately before deciding which rows apply.^⁠[2]

Electric water heating was another large use, followed by all fridges in this table.^⁠[2,3,4] The water-heating row counts only electricity use.^⁠[2] The water-heating row excludes the fuel burned by a gas water heater.^⁠[2]

Read each row’s name before you compare the other uses. “All refrigerators” combines fridges across homes, including extra fridges; separate freezers have their own group.^⁠[4] It doesn’t tell you how much your kitchen fridge uses.^⁠[4]

• The TV row includes TVs and equipment such as streaming devices, cable boxes and game consoles.^⁠[4]
• Lighting covers the group’s total electricity use, rather than one bulb or fixture.^⁠[3]
• The dryer row counts electricity; it doesn’t include a gas dryer’s fuel use.^⁠[3]

A tool for one device helps you explore an example within a category. Your devices, home size and habits can change what you use and spend.^⁠[2,6]

Electricity use depends on power and time, so a watt rating alone isn’t enough.^⁠[8] Watts measure power at a moment; kilowatt-hours (kWh) measure electricity used over time.^⁠[8] Utilities generally measure electricity in kWh.^⁠[8]

Explore appliance running costs. Keep your own hours of use in mind as you read an estimate. A result based on different devices or habits won’t be your exact cost.^⁠[6]

Your location, home type and devices can change which electricity uses matter most.^⁠[1,6] These US totals combine homes with different fuels and ways of paying for energy.^⁠[2] They’re a starting point for questions, rather than a target your own usage should match.

• Ask which heating and water-heating systems actually use electricity in your home.^⁠[2]
• Consider the age and power rating of your devices, along with how often you use them.^⁠[6]
• Check whether you pay electricity separately or whether some energy bills are included in rent or fees.^⁠[2]

If you don’t receive a separate electricity bill, start with equipment labels instead of your own kWh total. EnergyGuide labels offer estimates, and your actual cost depends on your use and local price.^⁠[9] Bill estimator.

Start with your equipment, bill usage and appliance labels, rather than assigning US shares to your bill.^⁠[2,8,9]

Our bill guide helps you find the usage and rate on your bill. For broader next steps, explore ways to get more from your electricity account.

Once you’ve checked your main electricity uses, review your account too. Just connect your existing account, and we’ll start looking for savings opportunities in the background.^⁠[10] See how your energy use changes over time and spot opportunities to cut back.^⁠[10] Our service is completely free.^⁠[10]

Track your usage and spendingvia Utility Co.

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