How Many Watts Does a House Use, and Why Does It Matter?

Whether you're looking to reduce energy costs, install a new generator, or switch to a renewable energy source, knowing how many watts a house uses can serve as a starting point for determining your family's wattage needs. 

However, you're not alone if you're unsure what all the wattage jargon means. Learn about watts (W), why it matters, and how many watts a home typically uses. If you need help calculating or reducing your home’s wattage needs, hire a local electrician to make a professional determination and assist with any necessary repairs or upgrades.

What Is a Watt?

A watt is a basic measuring unit of energy primarily used to calculate larger volumes of electrical power. A watt equals an amount of energy for one second. 

Watts are calculated by multiplying volts (V) by amps (A). For example, if your microwave oven requires 1,200 watts and your home supplies 120V power, you'll need ten amps to make it run. A watt is a small unit that's not very practical by itself when discussing home-energy consumption. A watt-hour (Wh) is the number of watts used in one hour, and a kilowatt-hour (kWh) equals 1,000 watts per hour. 

When discussing electrical device power consumption, like a microwave, we usually refer to its immediate energy needs in watts. If we measure the amount of energy a device needs to operate for an extended period, such as a month, we use kilowatt-hours. When you receive an electric bill each month, you're paying a dollar amount per kilowatt-hour of energy use. If you’re not sure of your home’s energy usage, one way to find out is to conduct a home energy audit.

How Many Watts Does a House Use?

An average household uses between 800 and 1,000 kWh each month or 9,600 to 12,000 kWh of energy consumption each year. If you divide that by the number of days per year, the average home uses roughly between 26 and 33 kWh per day, or 26,000 to 33,000 watt-hours. 

To determine how many watts an average house uses, we divide Wh by the hours in a day. So, a typical home uses an average of 1,083 to 1,375 watts. 

Why Do Watts Matter?

While watts measure a small amount of energy, they add up over time. Knowing how many watts your home uses at any given time can be valuable information when reducing energy costs, calculating how many solar panels you need, or determining what size backup generator to purchase. 

How Does My Home Use Watts?

Knowing the energy consumption rate of various items around your home provides valuable information about where you can start reducing energy consumption and costs. Here's where an estimated average number of watts commonly go. 

Factors That Determine Watt Usage

Several factors determine how many watts your home and family consume. The most significant factors include the size of the house and the number of people living there. At least one of these two variables dramatically affects the other ones. 

House Size

The size of your house affects the energy used to heat and cool the space. Air conditioning uses significant electricity, whether the AC is central, window, portable, or a heat pump. However, central AC uses much more energy than window air conditioner units.

Family Size

Generally, the more people that live in the house, the more energy the home will use. Appliance usage, water heater cycling, laundry machine use, and several other variables increase as the household grows. 

Climate

Heating and cooling are major energy consumers in the home. The outdoor temperature affects how often your furnace or air conditioner must run. That’s why we recommend following tips to reduce air conditioning costs in the summer when the temperature rises, including cleaning the filter, shading your windows, and programming your thermostat according to when you’re home.

Home Insulation Quality 

Adequate insulation installed correctly can reduce the number of watts consumed per day and maintain a comfortable indoor temperature. If parts of your home aren’t properly insulated, like the attic or basement, your heating and cooling system will likely work overtime to regulate the spaces, increasing energy usage.

Number of Devices and Use Frequency

The quantity of appliances, computers, and other electrical devices in your home directly impacts your home’s wattage needs. Plus, if your household members use several wattage-pulling devices simultaneously, it will likely result in a higher electric bill. 

Appliance Energy Efficiency

Newer appliances tend to be more energy efficient than older models. The higher the efficiency rating on an electric device, the fewer watts it will use. Replacing an older appliance, like a dishwasher, refrigerator, or washing machine, with an Energy Star-rated appliance can reduce your home’s energy needs over time.

How To Reduce Watt Usage

Reducing your watt usage can result in lower energy costs on your monthly electric bill. With that in mind, consider applying these ways to reduce your home's watt usage. 

• Hire a local energy audit company to inspect your home and offer efficiency tips.

• Add insulation to your home's attic and other easy-to-access areas.

• Unplug chargers and small appliances when not in use.

• Swap incandescent and fluorescent light bulbs with LED ones. 

• Purchase EnergyStar-rated appliances and devices when you replace old ones.