1. What is Cost per Watt?

Cost per watt is a metric that helps homeowners understand the electricity cost for running appliances and devices. It converts the more commonly known cost per kilowatt-hour (kWh) into cost per watt, which is useful for calculating the cost of low-power devices that consume electricity over time.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the simple formula:

Where:

• Cost/W — Cost per watt in your local currency
• Cost/kWh — Your electricity rate per kilowatt-hour
• 1000 — Conversion factor (1000 watts = 1 kilowatt)

Explanation: Since 1 kilowatt equals 1000 watts, we divide the cost per kilowatt-hour by 1000 to get the cost per watt-hour.

3. Importance of Cost per Watt Calculation

Details: Understanding cost per watt helps in:

• Estimating operating costs of appliances
• Comparing energy efficiency of devices
• Budgeting for electricity expenses
• Making informed decisions about energy usage

4. Using the Calculator

Tips:

• Find your electricity rate on your utility bill (typically shown as $/kWh or ¢/kWh)
• Enter the value exactly as shown (for 15 cents/kWh, enter 0.15)
• The result shows the cost to run a 1-watt device for one hour

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why calculate cost per watt when bills show cost per kWh?
A: Cost per watt helps understand the cost of small devices and makes it easier to calculate costs for devices with different wattages.

Q2: How do I calculate the cost to run a specific device?
A: Multiply the device's wattage by the cost per watt, then by hours of use. For example: 60W bulb × $0.00015/W × 5 hours = $0.045.

Q3: Does this include all electricity costs?
A: This calculates only the energy cost. Some utilities add fixed fees or tiered pricing not reflected here.

Q4: How accurate is this calculation?
A: It's mathematically precise for the given rate, but actual bills may vary with taxes, time-of-use rates, or other factors.

Q5: Can I use this for solar panel calculations?
A: Yes, this can help compare solar generation costs to grid electricity costs on a per-watt basis.