SmartHomeCost shows you the real total cost of owning washing machines, tumble dryers, fridges, dishwashers, ovens, hobs, cookers, microwaves, air fryers and dehumidifiers — including energy bills, water, repairs, and replacement costs — before you buy.
No jargon. No sign-up. Just honest numbers that help you decide with confidence.
Select from washing machine, tumble dryer, fridge, dishwasher, oven, hob, cooker, microwave, air fryer or dehumidifier — and enter the details.
We calculate your total cost of ownership over the appliance's lifetime — energy, water, repairs, and purchase price combined.
Add a second appliance to compare side by side, including what happens when one needs replacing sooner than the other.
Most retailers only show you the sticker price. We show you everything.
The upfront cost, spread across the appliance's lifespan.
Calculated from the energy rating and your usage, using UK tariff rates.
For appliances that use water, calculated across your usage.
An honest estimate of what you'll spend keeping it running.
If a cheaper model wears out sooner, we factor in the full cost of buying again.
What every cycle or hour actually costs you, all things considered.
Choose your appliance, enter the details, and see the true lifetime cost in seconds.
Annual cost breakdown
Total cost of ownership over time
Full breakdown
How is this calculated? ▸
"Most of us spend more time choosing a £30 pair of trainers than appliances we'll use every day for a decade."— The SmartHomeCost team
Chosen by a qualified installer — not by commission. These are appliances we'd fit in our own home, picked for reliability and the lowest true cost over 10 years.
Bosch tops our reliability rankings for a reason — German engineering, a 5–10% repair rate, and a typical 10–12 year lifespan. The Series 2 is the sweet spot: quiet, efficient, and built to outlast two budget machines. If you keep appliances for the long haul, this is the safe, money-saving choice.
View on Amazon →Heat pump dryers cost far less to run than vented or condenser models — they recycle heat instead of dumping it, which slashes energy use. At this price the H-Dry 300 is excellent value, and the running-cost savings add up fast over the years. A smart pick if you dry loads regularly.
View on Amazon →A fridge freezer runs 24/7, so efficiency matters more here than on any other appliance. The Samsung Series 8 is frost-free, roomy, and energy-efficient — Samsung reliably delivers a 10–12 year lifespan. Choosing an efficient model here can save close to £1,000 in energy over its life versus a cheap one.
View on Amazon →Bosch dishwashers are the most reliable we install — a 3–8% repair rate and a 12–15 year lifespan put them well ahead of the field. The Series 4 is quiet, water-efficient, and cleans brilliantly. This is the closest thing to a buy-once-and-forget dishwasher on the market.
View on Amazon →AEG builds a genuinely good oven at a fair price. The 6000 series gives you even, efficient heating and solid build quality that outlasts budget models — modern insulation means lower running costs and fewer element failures. A dependable, well-priced choice for most kitchens.
View on Amazon →Induction is the most efficient way to cook — heat goes straight into the pan, not the air, so it's faster and cheaper to run than gas or ceramic. The AEG 3000 is responsive, safe (the surface stays cooler), and wipes clean in seconds. A brilliant upgrade at a very reasonable price.
View on Amazon →A freestanding electric cooker is the simplest way to get oven and hob in one unit, and the Hisense delivers strong value without cutting corners on the essentials. Ideal if you want a straightforward, reliable cooker that fits a standard 60cm space and won't break the bank.
View on Amazon →For most heated UK homes a compressor dehumidifier is the one to buy — it costs a few pence an hour and pulls the moisture out before it turns into condensation and black mould. The Pro Breeze 20L is a Which? Best Buy with a one-touch laundry mode. Used with an airer, a compressor dehumidifier typically dries a full load for well under half the cost of a vented or condenser tumble dryer (up to £1.40 a load). Check the current price, as it moves around in the autumn sales.
View on Amazon →For a small meal an air fryer costs around a third of what the oven does. If you cook for a family, go for a dual-basket model — it gets around the "one batch at a time" problem, which is where single-basket fryers lose their advantage over the oven. Look for around 1.5–1.7kW per drawer, and remember air fryers are often discounted in the run-up to Black Friday.
Browse on Amazon →A microwave heats the food, not the air, so reheating leftovers costs about 3p compared with up to 28p–33p in the oven. There is no UK energy rating for microwaves, and the running cost is tiny whichever you choose, so focus on size, build quality and lifespan. A solo 800–900W model suits most kitchens; a combi with a grill and fan oven can replace the big oven for small meals.
Browse on Amazon →