How Many Kilowatts Does the Average Home Use?

By Staff WriterLast Updated April 01, 2020

In 2012, the average kilowatts used by a home in the United States was 10,837 kilowatt hours annually, with an average monthly usage of 903 kilowatt hours. Energy use per home greatly depends on the size of the home, with home size being greater in colder climates than warmer ones.

The number of kilowatts used in the average home differs by region. Louisiana, for example, had the highest average usage among states in 2012 at 15,046 kilowatt hours, whereas Maine had the lowest usage at 6,367 kilowatt hours. Since 1990, homes are 27 percent larger than those built before that period. Energy-efficient building practices have managed to keep the power costs of the larger homes down, however.