By type of home
| Home type | kWh a month | kWh a year | Cost a month at 17.23 cents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apartment, large building | 508 | 6,096 | $87.55 |
| Apartment, 2 to 4 units | 554 | 6,648 | $95.48 |
| Townhouse or attached home | 705 | 8,460 | $121.50 |
| All US homes | 880 | 10,560 | $151.66 |
| Detached house | 1,033 | 12,396 | $178.03 |
| Mobile home | 1,037 | 12,444 | $178.72 |
Source: EIA Residential Energy Consumption Survey 2020, Table CE4.1, converted to kWh. Price from EIA Form EIA-861, 2025. See each home type on the average electric bill page.
By size of home and number of people
| Group | kWh a month |
|---|---|
| Under 1,000 sq ft | 567 |
| 1,000 to 1,499 sq ft | 784 |
| 1,500 to 1,999 sq ft | 918 |
| 2,000 to 2,499 sq ft | 1,015 |
| 2,500 to 2,999 sq ft | 1,085 |
| 3,000 sq ft or more | 1,291 |
| Household of 1 person | 598 |
| Household of 2 people | 887 |
| Household of 3 people | 1,009 |
| Household of 4 people | 1,089 |
Use climbs with floor area and with the number of residents, but not in a straight line. A third and a fourth person add less than the second, because a refrigerator and a heating system serve everyone. Our pages on home size and household size give the bill for each group.
By state
Climate and heating fuel push state averages apart. In 2025, households in Louisiana used the most at 1,225 kWh a month, and households in California used the least at 494 kWh, about 2.5 times as much. Hot states run air conditioning for much of the year. States where many homes heat with electricity see big winter loads. Mild states with gas heat use the least.
Find your state in the electricity rates table, which lists kWh a month for all 51 places.
Where use runs highest and lowest
| Highest use | kWh a month | Lowest use | kWh a month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | 1,225 | California | 494 |
| Mississippi | 1,184 | Hawaii | 515 |
| Tennessee | 1,180 | Maine | 533 |
| Alabama | 1,145 | Rhode Island | 562 |
| Texas | 1,110 | Alaska | 564 |
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-861 (final 2025 data), residential sector.
The pattern follows climate and heating fuel. States with long, hot summers and many all-electric homes sit at the top. States with mild weather, or where most homes heat with gas or oil, sit at the bottom. Mild weather and non-electric heating fuels explain much of the low end.
Big loads that move the number
A few single items can add hundreds of kWh a month on their own. These are illustrations with round numbers, so check your own equipment:
| Load | Assumption | kWh a month | Cost a month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric vehicle | 1,000 miles at 30 kWh per 100 miles | 300 | $51.70 |
| Pool pump | 1,100 watts for 8 hours a day | 264 | $45.50 |
| Window air conditioner | 1,000 watts for 8 hours a day | 240 | $41.36 |
| Electric space heater | 1,500 watts for 4 hours a day | 180 | $31.02 |
If your home has one or two of these, expect to sit well above the average for your home type, and that can be perfectly normal.
Why two similar homes can use very different amounts
Two houses of the same size on the same street can differ by a third or more. The usual reasons are:
- Who lives there and when. A home that is empty all day uses less than one with people working from it.
- Equipment age and size. An old air conditioner or refrigerator can use far more than a new one.
- Insulation and air leaks. A leaky home runs its heating and cooling longer.
- Fuel choices. Gas heat and a gas water heater take large loads off the electric bill.
- Thermostat habits. A few degrees of setpoint changes the run time of the biggest loads.
How to find your own number
- Open your last twelve bills, or your online account usage history.
- Add the kWh for the twelve months to get your yearly use, then divide by 12 for a monthly average.
- Compare it with the table for your home type. Within about 20 percent is ordinary.
- If you are well above, read what uses the most electricity in a home to find where it goes.
Sources and further reading
Frequently asked questions
How many kWh does a house use per day?
The average US home used about 28.8 kWh a day in 2025, which is 874 kWh a month divided by about 30 days. A detached house averages about 34.0 kWh a day.
How many kWh does a house use per year?
The average US home used about 10,492 kWh a year in 2025. A detached house averages about 12,396 kWh a year.
How many kWh does a 2,000 square foot house use?
Homes of 2,000 to 2,499 square feet use about 1015 kWh a month in federal survey data, and homes of 1,500 to 1,999 square feet use about 918 kWh. These bands include every home type.
Why does my house use more than the average?
Common reasons are electric heat, an electric water heater, a pool pump, an electric vehicle, a large floor area and a hot climate. Compare your usage with the table for your type of home first.