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Family of four in a house vs Family of five or more in a house: Electricity Use Compared in Germany (2026)
A fifth person adds less than the fourth did. Larger families use more, mostly through laundry, a second fridge and more screens, but the per-person figure keeps falling. The US and Australian benchmarks show the step from four to five people is around 10 to 20 percent.
In Germany, family of four in a house uses about 3,800 kWh a year (€117.17 a month) and family of five or more in a house about 4,500 kWh (€138.75 a month). That is 1.2× as much, or €21.58 more per month. Per person: 950 kWh vs 900 kWh a year.
Sources: Stromspiegel für Deutschland (co2online, with the Federal Ministry for the Environment), average consumption by persons and building type: 4 persons, house. Stromspiegel für Deutschland (co2online, with the Federal Ministry for the Environment), average consumption by persons and building type: 5 persons, house. Priced at €0.37 per kWh (BDEW Strompreisanalyse August 2026, 2026-08).
Where the difference comes from
| Category | Family of four in a house | Family of five or more in a house | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Refrigeration & freezing | 380 kWh | 450 kWh | +70 |
| Cooking | 380 kWh | 450 kWh | +70 |
| Washing, drying & dishwashing | 494 kWh | 585 kWh | +91 |
| TV, computing & network | 1,102 kWh | 1,305 kWh | +203 |
| Lighting | 456 kWh | 540 kWh | +84 |
| Other appliances | 988 kWh | 1,170 kWh | +182 |
- Two laundry loads a day with a dryer is the biggest step up.
- Teenagers add screens and long showers, which matter only if hot water is electric.
- Per person, a family of five is the cheapest household of all.
Only in the family of five or more in a house
- Hair Straightener 5 kWh/yr
Only in the family of four in a house
- None
The same comparison in other countries
| Country | Family of four in a house | Family of five or more in a house | Ratio | Extra per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States (average) | 13,072 | 14,336 | 1.1× | $18.96 |
| United Kingdom | 3,800 | 3,800 | 1.0× | £0.000 |
| Germany | 3,800 | 4,500 | 1.2× | €21.58 |
| France | 6,034 | 7,145 | 1.2× | €18.52 |
| Australia | 7,311 | 9,008 | 1.2× | A$49.50 |
| Canada (average) | 12,694 | 12,694 | 1.0× | C$0.000 |