When you’re eager to go solar, you probably have tons of questions. How much will the installation cost, and how will I pay for it? How do I know solar will save me money?
But maybe you haven’t considered the question of kilowatt-hours (kWh). How many kWh does a house use? The answer is more important than you might think.
Why? The average kWh for a house determines how much power your solar installation must produce to maintain your energy needs. It also influences how many solar panels you need. And together, that information comes in handy when you want to start reaping the many benefits of alternative energy.
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What Contributes to KWh Usage?
So, you know your home’s regular kWh usage is key to gaining energy independence. That said, multiple factors influence the average home kWh per day, month and year. Here are just a few of them:
- Your home’s square footage
- Where you live (e.g., regional climate)
- How much energy your household regularly uses (e.g., heating and cooling, major appliances, electronics)
- How many people live in the house
- How well your house is insulated
It’s a lot to take in. To give you a general idea, we’ll look at the average home kWh per day and month according to various square footages. As always, it’s smart to speak with an energy consultant to get the most accurate answers for your home!
But first, what’s a kWh, and what counts as an “average house”?
[Related: How Many Solar Panels Do I Need?]
What Are KWh, and Why Does the Number Matter?
A kilowatt (kW) measures electrical power, whereas a kWh measures how many kWs a device uses in one hour. You often see watt (W), watt-hour (Wh), kW and kWh numbers on appliance labels and utility bills.
Determining a whole home’s kWh usage is tricky — or time-consuming at the least. Calculating it involves combining the kWh measure of all energy-using devices in a home. Here’s how to find one appliance’s kWh (let’s use a microwave oven):
- Find the microwave’s wattage: 1,500 W.
- Multiply the W by how many total hours you use the microwave daily (say, 2 hours). This gives you 3,000 Wh.
- Divide that number by 1,000 to get its kWh: 3 kWh.
- Multiply the kWh by the number of days you’d like to measure (e.g., 30-31 days to find the microwave’s monthly kWh usage).
The 3-kWh microwave would use about 90 kWh monthly and 1,095 kWh annually.
If you need to find how much the microwave costs you in electricity, look at your electric bill. It notes how much your utility charges per kWh. Then, multiply the kWh number by the kWh price to determine the device’s cost per time period.
When you know the average kWh for a house — your house, of course — the benefits of going solar become much clearer. Going solar offers a hedge against rising energy costs.
Tip: Free energy consumption calculators let you check a device’s average kWh and electric cost. A solar installation company’s energy consultants are thoroughly versed in this data as well.
[Related: Possible Solar Panel Customers: Who Could Benefit?]
How Many KWh Does an Average House Use?
First, a sound, educated guess depends on what an “average house” means in the U.S.
The average U.S. home is a single-family home with 2.5 occupants. As of 2021, 82% of all homes were detached (stand-alone) single-family homes. A single-family home spanned between 2,000 and 2,500 square feet in 2021.
So, how many kWh does the average house use? That also depends on how many appliances it contains: roughly 14.
Considering the number of appliances, average kWh use, square footage and a survey, the U.S. Energy Information Administration offers an estimate. In 2021, the average U.S. home used about 10,632 kWh annually. The average house kWh per month equaled 886.
How many kWh does a house use per day? The number hovers around 29 kWh for average U.S. households.
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Table: How Many KWh Does a House Use per Day and Month?
For these estimates, we’ll use factors based on the data above.
Let’s say your house has three occupants, and you use a reasonable amount of electricity. For example, you run your heating and cooling systems enough to stay comfortable (usually 70 degrees Fahrenheit). The home appliances you own are standard, like heating/cooling systems, a washer-dryer stack and kitchen appliances (e.g., refrigerator, oven).
We’ve divided the monthly kWh usage by 30 days and rounded the numbers.
| Home Size | Average House kWh per Day and Month |
| Average kWh usage for 1,000 sq. ft home | 32 kWh per day, 950 kWh per month |
| Average kWh usage for 1,500 sq. ft home | 37 kWh per day, 1,100 kWh per month |
| Average kWh usage for 2,000 sq. ft home | 43 kWh per day, 1,300 kWh per month |
| Average kWh usage for 3,000 sq. ft home | 67 kWh per day, 2,000 kWh per month |
| Average kWh usage for 4,000 sq. ft home | 73 kWh per day, 2,200 kWh per month |
| Average kWh usage for 5,000 sq. ft home | 83 kWh per day, 2,500 kWh per month |
Please remember that these are broad estimates and can run higher or lower than reality. Location and lifestyle habits contribute strongly.
For example, if you have a five-person, 4,000-square-foot household and continually run central air, your monthly kWh usage could reach at least 5,000.
Tip: See how much a solar installation might cost you — and then check out how much you can save.
[Related: Finding the Right Solar Panel Installer]
Seize Alternative Energy Savings With Freedom Solar
We know navigating all these measurements and estimates can be dizzying. At solar panel company Freedom Solar, we’re here to clear the air — and help you save.
We offer Maxeon (previously SunPower) solar panels, the most efficient and effective on the market, as well as backup batteries for homes. Our energy consultants are ready to offer advice and carry out expert installation. And naturally, we learn the precise kWh usage for your household to ensure your investment is beyond worthwhile.
When you’d like to start saving on your energy bills and stop worrying about that cost per kWh, reach out! Call us at (800) 504-2337 or complete our inquiry form for a free consultation.
Featured image via Pexels