How much does an electric shower cost to run?

An electric shower typically draws around 8500 W while running. Ratings vary widely between models, so check the label and change the figure below. The single biggest electrical load in most homes while it runs.

Power

Hours per day

Days per year in use

Electricity price

per kWh

Standby power

Grid carbon intensity

g CO2 per kWh

Cost per year

219.60

= Exact Running cost of an electric shower

Cost per month: 18.30
Cost per day: 0.60
Cost per hour of use: 2.38
Energy per year: 784.3 kWh
Energy per day: 2.1488 kWh
Carbon dioxide per year: 196.1
Annual cost of standby alone: 2.43

Show the working

Power = 8500
Hours per day = 0.25
Days per year in use = 365
Electricity price = 0.28
Standby power = 1
Grid carbon intensity = 250
kw = 8500 / 1000 = 8.5
daily_kwh = 8.5 * 0.25 = 2.125
standby_kwh = 1 / 1000 * (24 - 0.25) = 0.023 75
Energy per day = 2.125 + 0.023 75 = 2.148 75
Energy per year = 2.148 75 * 365 = 784.294
Cost per day = 2.148 75 * 0.28 = 0.601 65
Cost per year = 784.294 * 0.28 = 219.602
Cost per month = 219.602 / 12 = 18.3002
Cost per hour of use = 8.5 * 0.28 = 2.38
Carbon dioxide per year = 784.294 * 250 / 1000 = 196.073
Annual cost of standby alone = 0.023 75 * 365 * 0.28 = 2.427 25

Values are shown to six significant figures here; the arithmetic itself runs on exact fractions and is only rounded where a number is printed.

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Recent calculations

The formula

daily energy = power in kW x hours
annual cost = daily energy x days x price per kWh

Nameplate wattage is the maximum draw, not the average. A cycling appliance like a fridge or a freezer averages far less.

Standby draw is small per device and adds up across a house: ten devices at 2 W each is 175 kWh a year.

The single biggest electrical load in most homes while it runs.

Running cost of an electric shower at different tariffs

Price per kWh	Per hour	Per year at 0.25 h/day
0.10	0.8500	77.56
0.15	1.2750	116.34
0.20	1.7000	155.13
0.25	2.1250	193.91
0.30	2.5500	232.69
0.40	3.4000	310.25

Frequently asked

How many watts does an electric shower use?

Typically around 8500 W while running, though models vary. Check the rating plate.

How much electricity does it use per day?

About 2.13 kWh at 0.25 hours of use.