kWh Cost Calculator: Cost of kWh in UK, US, Australia & Canada

Cost of a kWh: UK vs US vs Canada vs Australia

Average residential cost per kWh as of early 2026, sourced from each country’s official energy regulator or statistical office. National averages mask significant regional variation — see the country sections below for state and provincial detail.

🇬🇧 How much does a kWh cost in the UK?

The cost of a kWh in the UK is set by your electricity supplier and capped — for most homes — by the Ofgem default tariff price cap. As of early 2026, the average UK unit rate sits at around 27.5p per kWh on a variable standard tariff, with a separate standing charge of roughly 53–63p per day depending on region. A household using 250 kWh in a month therefore pays around £68.75 in unit charges alone, plus £16–£19 in standing charges, for a total energy bill of about £85.

Rates vary by region — Yorkshire and the Midlands typically see slightly lower unit rates than London or the South East, while Wales and parts of the North can pay a few pence more per kWh due to higher distribution costs. Fixed tariffs may pay several pence less than the cap but lock you in for 12 to 24 months. Economy 7 tariffs split the day into peak (around 30p/kWh) and off-peak (around 10–15p/kWh) windows — these only make sense if you can shift heavy loads like EV charging, immersion heaters or storage heaters into the cheap window.

The Ofgem cap changes every three months (January, April, July, October), so the price you pay this quarter may differ from next. The calculator above uses the latest published cap as the default rate — override it with your supplier’s actual unit rate from your most recent bill for an accurate result.

Worked example: 27 kWh used at the current UK cap = 27 × £0.275 = £7.43 in pure energy cost, before the daily standing charge.

🇺🇸 How much does a kWh cost in the US?

The average residential electricity rate in the US is approximately 17.45 cents per kWh as of early 2026, per the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Rates vary enormously by state. Louisiana, North Dakota and Utah pay closer to 10–12 cents per kWh, while Hawaii consistently tops the chart at over 33 cents per kWh, with California and Massachusetts in the 28–32 cent range.

Most US utilities offer a flat residential rate, but a growing number of states — particularly California, New York, Arizona and Texas — have introduced time-of-use (TOU) plans where you pay more during peak hours (typically late afternoon to early evening) and less overnight. If you have an EV or pool pump, switching to a TOU plan and shifting heavy loads can cut your effective per-kWh cost by 20–40%.

The average US home uses about 899 kWh per month according to EIA Residential Energy Consumption Survey data. At the national average rate, that’s roughly $157 per month in pure energy cost, before fixed fees and delivery charges. Texas and Florida households often run 1,100–1,400 kWh per month during summer because of cooling demand, while northern states see winter spikes from electric heating.

Worked example: 250 kWh × $0.1745 = $43.63 in pure energy cost, before delivery, taxes and fixed fees.

🇨🇦 How much does a kWh cost in Canada?

Canadian electricity prices are heavily province-dependent because each province operates its own grid and pricing regime. Quebec has the lowest residential rates in North America at around 7.4 cents/kWh thanks to abundant hydroelectric power. Alberta’s deregulated market has seen rates swing between 12 and 25 cents per kWh depending on market conditions and contract type. Ontario uses time-of-use pricing with on-peak, mid-peak and off-peak rates ranging from roughly 8.7 to 18.2 cents per kWh.

According to Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), the national residential average sits at approximately C$0.185 per kWh as of early 2026, but very few households actually pay this national figure — your real rate depends entirely on your province and supply contract.

British Columbia, Manitoba and Newfoundland & Labrador all benefit from hydro-heavy generation and offer some of the lowest residential rates in the country. The Maritimes (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, PEI) sit on the higher end at around 17–18 cents/kWh due to greater reliance on imported energy and ageing thermal plants.

Worked example: Using the Alberta market average of around 14 cents/kWh, 500 kWh per month = C$70 in energy alone, before delivery, transmission and admin charges (which typically add another 40–60% to the bill).

🇦🇺 How much does a kWh cost in Australia?

Australian electricity prices vary significantly by state and retailer because the National Electricity Market (NEM) is competitive in some states (NSW, VIC, QLD, SA, TAS, ACT) and regulated in others (WA, NT). The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) sets a Default Market Offer cap in NEM regions; the average residential rate across Australia sits at approximately A$0.32 per kWh on a single-rate tariff.

By state: NSW residential customers typically pay around 29–35 cents/kWh, Victoria around 26–32 cents/kWh, South Australia among the highest at 35–42 cents/kWh due to grid composition, Queensland at 26–31 cents/kWh, and Western Australia (regulated by Synergy) at around 30 cents/kWh on the A1 tariff.

Time-of-use tariffs are increasingly common — Ausgrid in NSW runs peak rates around 55 c/kWh between 3pm and 9pm with off-peak rates around 22 c/kWh overnight. If you have rooftop solar (over 30% of Australian homes do), self-consumed solar essentially replaces imported electricity at the retail rate, transforming the cost-of-kWh equation during daylight hours.

Worked example: 500 kWh × A$0.32 = A$160 in pure energy charges per month, plus around A$30–A$40 in daily supply charges = approximately A$190–A$200 total.

How this is calculated

Electricity cost is calculated by multiplying the amount of energy consumed (in kilowatt-hours) by your supplier rate per kWh. The same formula works in every country — only the currency and per-kWh rate change.

Cost = kWh used × Rate per kWh

UK example:        250 kWh × £0.2750 = £68.75
US example:        250 kWh × $0.1745 = $43.63
Canada example:    250 kWh × C$0.1850 = C$46.25
Australia example: 250 kWh × A$0.3200 = A$80.00

Assumptions

• Rate is assumed constant — does not factor in tiered, time-of-use, or seasonal pricing
• Output excludes fixed monthly/daily standing charges, distribution and delivery fees, and taxes
• Currency matches the selected country (US dollars, UK pounds, Canadian dollars, Australian dollars)
• Daily cost assumes the entered kWh figure covers a 30-day billing period
• For an accurate personal estimate, override the default rate with the unit rate printed on your most recent bill

Frequently asked questions

Showing questions for United States. Change the country in the calculator above to switch.

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