Average Electricity Bill — Is Yours High or Normal?
The average US household uses about 850–900 kWh a month and pays roughly $130–$150. But averages hide huge spreads — the same house can bill $80 in Washington and $250 in coastal California. Here's how to benchmark your bill properly.
Typical usage by home size
| Home | Monthly kWh | Bill @ $0.15/kWh | Bill @ $0.30/kWh |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1-bed apartment | 300–500 | $45–$75 | $90–$150 |
| 2-bed apartment / small house | 500–750 | $75–$113 | $150–$225 |
| 3-bed house | 750–1,100 | $113–$165 | $225–$330 |
| 4+ bed house | 1,000–1,500 | $150–$225 | $300–$450 |
| Large house + EV + electric heat | 1,500–2,500+ | $225–$375+ | $450–$750+ |
Rates vary even more than usage: roughly $0.10–0.13/kWh in the cheapest US states (Washington, Idaho, Louisiana), $0.15–0.20 across most of the country, $0.25–0.40+ in California, New England, and Hawaii. Europe typically runs €0.20–0.40/kWh; the UK around £0.25/kWh.
The five things that actually drive a bill
- Electric heating or cooling. Nothing else comes close: resistance heating, AC in a hot climate, or an electric water heater can each be 30–50% of a bill.
- How your water is heated. An electric tank water heater adds 300–400 kWh/month; gas or heat-pump water heaters cut that to a fraction.
- An EV. Charging at home adds 250–350 kWh/month per ~1,000 miles driven — cheap per mile, but visible on the bill.
- Pool pumps, hot tubs, well pumps. A pool pump alone can be 300–400 kWh/month.
- Always-on load. Routers, standby electronics, old fridges in garages — typically 50–100 W around the clock, or 35–75 kWh/month. Our phantom load calculator prices yours.
Benchmark your own bill in 60 seconds
- Find kWh used and total charged on your last bill.
- Divide: total ÷ kWh = your true rate per kWh (including all fees). This is the number to compare against other plans, solar quotes, and every table above.
- Compare your kWh against the table for your home size. If you're 30%+ above the range, one of the five drivers above is usually the culprit.
Then work the problem with the tools:
- Electricity Bill Calculator — rebuild your bill appliance by appliance to find the gap.
- Appliance Running Cost — price any suspect device.
- Compare Electricity Plans — check if a different tariff beats your true rate.
- Solar Savings — at high rates, solar payback gets fast; see your number.
Figures are typical ranges for 2025–2026, for benchmarking only — your utility's tariff is the source of truth.