Start with the right comparison
Put the two exact model numbers at the top of your notes. A similar name is easy to confuse with a different capacity or configuration. Our suggested first pass is to compare appliances that do the same job and meet the same household need. Keep the product page and energy label together so you can check your inputs later.
The FTC explains that the yellow EnergyGuide label reports energy use and compares it with similar appliances. Its annual operating cost is an estimate based on typical use and a national average energy price. Your usage and local price can differ. If the tag is missing, the FTC suggests checking inside the appliance or on the seller’s or manufacturer’s website. Source: FTC’s EnergyGuide guide ↗
Bring the kWh, not the printed dollar figure
For this calculator, copy the label’s annual electricity use in kilowatt-hours (kWh). Enter the purchase price separately. Then enter your electricity tariff in dollars per kWh, using the same rate for both options. Check the unit carefully: a rate written in cents needs to be converted to dollars before you enter it. If your tariff changes by time of day or usage tier, a single rate is only a simplified assumption.
The calculation: annual kWh × dollars per kWh = estimated annual electricity cost. We round that annual figure to cents, multiply it by your selected years, and add the purchase price.
Try the period that matters to your purchase, then change it. A lower electricity estimate can offset part of a higher purchase price; the calculator shows whether it does so under your inputs. It does not predict lifespan or future energy prices. For appliances using gas or other fuels, this electricity-only comparison leaves part of the energy bill out.
Use certification as another check
ENERGY STAR is a separate certification. Products earn the label by meeting category-specific efficiency requirements. The program considers performance and features as well as energy savings. It is useful supporting information, but you still need the model’s figures for this comparison. Source: how products earn ENERGY STAR ↗
Before choosing, keep a separate note for fit, repair support, water use, delivery, installation and taxes. Our total includes only the purchase price you enter and the modeled electricity cost. A small difference is a reason to examine those other details, not a verdict on which appliance is better.
Compare your two options ↗