kWh to Dollars Converter
Turn kilowatt-hours into dollars, or dollars into kilowatt-hours, at your state average price or your own rate.
$90.80
500 kWh at $0.1816 per kWh (18.16 cents)
This is an estimate, not a professional calculation. See the disclaimer and the methodology.
How it is calculated
Dollars = kWh × price per kWh. The price is in dollars, so 15 cents is $0.15. 500 kWh at $0.15 is 500 × 0.15 = $75.
kWh = dollars ÷ price per kWh. This is the same formula turned around: $75 at $0.15 per kWh buys 75 ÷ 0.15 = 500 kWh.
The price field starts from the average residential price of the state you pick, from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), August 2026. It is one month, it averages every residential customer and EIA labels 2026 values preliminary. Replace it with the rate on your own bill whenever you can.
The result prices energy only. Fixed monthly charges, demand charges, taxes and fees are not part of it. To add a fixed charge and taxes, use the monthly electric bill calculator.
Worked examples
500 kWh at the U.S. average price
At $0.1816 per kWh (August 2026), 500 kWh costs $90.80.
What $100 buys
At the same price, $100 buys 550.66 kWh. That is the energy to run a 1,000 W appliance for about 550.66 hours (1,000 W uses 1 kWh per hour).
The same 1,000 kWh in two states
At Louisiana's average price of 12.87 cents per kWh, 1,000 kWh costs $128.70. At California's 29.75 cents it costs $297.50 (August 2026).
kW and kWh: the difference that trips people up
A kilowatt (kW) is a rate: how much power something draws at a moment. A kilowatt-hour (kWh) is an amount of energy: 1 kW used for 1 hour. Your bill charges for kilowatt-hours, so a converter needs kWh, not kW.
If you only know the power of an appliance, multiply it by the hours it runs and divide by 1,000 to get kWh. For example, 2,000 W for 3 hours is 2,000 ÷ 1,000 × 3 = 6 kWh.
Reading the rate on your bill
Look for the energy charge, listed per kWh. Some bills show one price. Others show a price that changes with how much you use in the month, which the U.S. Department of Energy classroom lesson also points out, or with the time of day. In that case, use the price that applies to the energy you want to convert.
Do not divide the total bill by the kWh unless you want an all-in price. The total includes fixed charges, taxes and fees, so the result is higher than the energy rate. Both numbers are useful, for different questions.
Common mistakes
- Typing cents in the dollar field. 24 cents is $0.24. The converter rejects prices above $5 per kWh and asks whether you meant cents.
- Converting kW instead of kWh. Multiply power by time first.
- Using one state's price for a bill from another. Prices differ a lot by state, as the table below shows.
- Treating a one-month state average as your rate. Use your bill when you can.
Average residential price and cost of 1,000 kWh by state (August 2026)
EIA reports these average prices for August 2026. They are preliminary single-month averages across all residential customers, so use them to compare states and as a starting point, not as your bill.
| State | Average price | Cost of 1,000 kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.33 cents | $163.30 |
| Alaska | 29.41 cents | $294.10 |
| Arizona | 15.05 cents | $150.50 |
| Arkansas | 14.37 cents | $143.70 |
| California | 29.75 cents | $297.50 |
| Colorado | 17.17 cents | $171.70 |
| Connecticut | 24.51 cents | $245.10 |
| Delaware | 18.7 cents | $187.00 |
| District of Columbia | 25.98 cents | $259.80 |
| Florida | 14.99 cents | $149.90 |
| Georgia | 15.9 cents | $159.00 |
| Hawaii | 47.18 cents | $471.80 |
| Idaho | 13.37 cents | $133.70 |
| Illinois | 19.32 cents | $193.20 |
| Indiana | 17.02 cents | $170.20 |
| Iowa | 17.06 cents | $170.60 |
| Kansas | 15.47 cents | $154.70 |
| Kentucky | 13.8 cents | $138.00 |
| Louisiana | 12.87 cents | $128.70 |
| Maine | 32.11 cents | $321.10 |
| Maryland | 21.4 cents | $214.00 |
| Massachusetts | 30.48 cents | $304.80 |
| Michigan | 22.99 cents | $229.90 |
| Minnesota | 17.2 cents | $172.00 |
| Mississippi | 14.43 cents | $144.30 |
| Missouri | 16.02 cents | $160.20 |
| Montana | 15.57 cents | $155.70 |
| Nebraska | 13.54 cents | $135.40 |
| Nevada | 12.72 cents | $127.20 |
| New Hampshire | 27.64 cents | $276.40 |
| New Jersey | 24.61 cents | $246.10 |
| New Mexico | 16.51 cents | $165.10 |
| New York | 28.65 cents | $286.50 |
| North Carolina | 14.95 cents | $149.50 |
| North Dakota | 13.31 cents | $133.10 |
| Ohio | 19.38 cents | $193.80 |
| Oklahoma | 14.82 cents | $148.20 |
| Oregon | 15.92 cents | $159.20 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.77 cents | $217.70 |
| Rhode Island | 28.18 cents | $281.80 |
| South Carolina | 15.76 cents | $157.60 |
| South Dakota | 15.15 cents | $151.50 |
| Tennessee | 13.42 cents | $134.20 |
| Texas | 15.91 cents | $159.10 |
| Utah | 13.31 cents | $133.10 |
| Vermont | 23.84 cents | $238.40 |
| Virginia | 17.64 cents | $176.40 |
| Washington | 14.63 cents | $146.30 |
| West Virginia | 16.31 cents | $163.10 |
| Wisconsin | 19.41 cents | $194.10 |
| Wyoming | 14.43 cents | $144.30 |
| U.S. average | 18.16 cents | $181.60 |
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert kWh to dollars?
Multiply the kilowatt-hours by your price per kWh in dollars. 300 kWh at $0.20 per kWh is 300 × 0.20 = $60.
How do I convert dollars to kWh?
Divide the amount by your price per kWh. $60 at $0.20 per kWh buys 60 ÷ 0.20 = 300 kWh.
Where do I find my price per kWh?
Your electric bill usually lists the energy charge in cents or dollars per kWh. If the bill shows only a total, divide the energy charge by the kWh used. Prices can differ by tier or by time of day, and the bill may show several.
Is the price on my bill the same as the state average?
Not usually. The state average blends all residential customers and utilities for one month. Your utility, plan and the hours you use power change your own price.
Why does a total bill divided by kWh give a higher price?
The total includes fixed charges, taxes and fees as well as energy. Dividing the total by the kWh gives an all-in price per kWh, which is higher than the energy rate alone.
How many kWh does an appliance use?
Multiply its watts by the hours it runs and divide by 1,000. The appliance electricity cost calculator does this and also gives the cost.
Related calculators
Sources and last update
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A (residential prices by state, August 2026)
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, copyrights and reuse
- U.S. Department of Energy (EERE), "Watt Does It Cost to Use It?" classroom lesson: energy and cost formulas
Last updated: November 2, 2026. See methodology and sources.