Which household appliances use the most electricity?

Our homes are full of electrical appliances and gadgets, yet 72% of Brits don't know which ones use the most energy in their homes¹.

Our interactive home appliance guide is here to help you understand the biggest users of electricity in your home. Click the rooms to find out which appliances are consuming the most energy and costing you more to run.

Are some home electrical appliances more energy efficient than others?

More than 70% of people in Britain have cut back the use of certain home appliances to try and save money¹, but there’s still confusion on which appliances use the most energy.

Use our home appliance energy-saving guide to find out which appliances are costing you the most and the small changes that could make a big difference to your bills.

How we've ranked the appliances

At the low end of the energy usage scale, so likely costing you less

 Might be costing you more than you think

 These use the most energy and are costing the most to run 

Home appliances energy saving guide:

Bedroom and bathroom appliances energy usage and saving tips 

There are often fewer appliances in our bedrooms and bathrooms, but there are still savings to be made: 
 

PHONE CHARGER
Although not high energy usage, chargers can use small amounts of energy even when they're not actively charging your phone. Simply unplug when they’re not being used, or use a smart plug set to turn them off when you choose. 

HAIRDRYER
Air dry your hair when you can; when you can't, opt for a cooler heat setting to cut costs.

ELECTRIC SHOWER
Switch to an energy-efficient showerhead and cut down on time spent in the shower. If you use less water, less energy is needed to heat it, which helps you save money! Find out more energy-saving hacks for the bathroom. 

Living room and study appliances energy usage and saving tips

With people working from home at least a few days a week, the tech in our living spaces and home offices is getting a lot more use. These tips can help reduce energy usage:

BROADBAND ROUTER
14% of Brits believe that broadband routers cost the most in the home, despite costing only £16.88 a year, on average¹. 

VACUUM
Regularly emptying your vacuum and keeping the filters clean will make it more efficient and mean you'll need to spend less time hoovering! 

GAMES CONSOLE
Remember to switch off your devices when you aren't playing! 

DESKTOP COMPUTER 
A desktop set-up is less energy efficient than using a laptop. So next time you consider a new purchase or upgrade - opt for a laptop for big energy savings. 

TVs
Don't leave them on standby! Make sure you switch your TV off when no one is using it.

Laundry appliances energy usage and saving tips 

We all have our preferences when it comes to cleaning and laundry, but simple tweaks on things like the temperature of your washing machine could help you save big: 

IRON 
Check you're setting your iron to the right temperature; you may be wasting energy and harming your clothes!

WASHING MACHINE
 Only one in five people opt to use their washing machine on a 30^oc cycle despite it being more efficient than hotter washes¹. So, run a 30^oc temperature wash cycle when you can – it's a small change for big savings! 

TUMBLE DRYER
Airing clothes rather than using the tumble dryer could save an average household £50.83 a year, yet only a third of homes do it¹. Air dry your laundry when and where you can! The tumble drier is the second most expensive appliance to run in the home.

Kitchen appliances energy usage and saving tips 

Kitchens are where most of the appliances that use lots of energy live, so it’s a prime spot for saving: 

AIR FRYER 
Air fryers are cheaper to run than ovens; why not try a new way of cooking?

MICROWAVE
On average, people use their microwave for 11 minutes a day at a monthly cost of £1.50¹. So, make good use of the microwave – it's the most energy-efficient way to heat and cook food! 

TOASTER
The toaster is far more energy efficient than the grill settings on an oven!

KETTLE
Avoid overfilling the kettle; only heat what you need!

FRIDGE/ FREEZER
Keep me tidy! The more organised your fridge/ freezer is, the quicker you will get in and out, avoiding energy waste.  

DISHWASHER ​​​​​​
Only 31% of Brits fill their dishwasher before running it¹, even though it costs an average of £112 a year¹. Make sure you fully load your dishwasher before running a cycle. 

OVEN
Only 28% of people know their oven is the biggest contributor to electricity bills¹. The oven is typically on for over two hours a day! This can rack up to a huge £47.12 a month¹. So, as the most expensive appliance in your home, keep the door shut as much as possible to trap in the heat. 

1. Research conducted by OnePoll between 28th October and 2nd November 2022. Analysis of time spent using appliances and cost implications worked out using the Citizens Advice Calculator comparing how much electrical appliances cost to use, on behalf of EDF.