Family of four in a house vs Family of five or more in a house: Electricity Use Compared in the US (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 the US, family of four in a house uses about 13,072 kWh a year ($199.78 a month) and family of five or more in a house about 14,336 kWh ($219.10 a month). That is 1.1× as much, or $19.32 more per month. Per person: 3,268 kWh vs 2,867 kWh a year.
Sources: EIA Residential Energy Consumption Survey 2020, Table CE2.1, average kWh per household using electricity: 4-person household. EIA Residential Energy Consumption Survey 2020, Table CE2.1, average kWh per household using electricity: 5-person household. Priced at 18.3¢ per kWh (EIA Electric Power Monthly, Jun 2026).
Where the difference comes from
| Category | Family of four in a house | Family of five or more in a house | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heating & cooling | 5,216 kWh | 5,720 kWh | +504 |
| Water heating | 1,569 kWh | 1,720 kWh | +151 |
| Refrigeration & freezing | 1,268 kWh | 1,391 kWh | +123 |
| Cooking | 366 kWh | 401 kWh | +35 |
| Washing, drying & dishwashing | 732 kWh | 803 kWh | +71 |
| TV, computing & network | 758 kWh | 831 kWh | +73 |
| Lighting | 810 kWh | 889 kWh | +79 |
| Other appliances | 2,353 kWh | 2,580 kWh | +227 |
- 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× | $19.32 |
| United Kingdom (same official figure for both) | 3,800 | 3,800 | 1.0× | £0.00 |
| Germany | 3,800 | 4,500 | 1.2× | €21.58 |
| France | 6,034 | 7,145 | 1.2× | €18.53 |
| Australia | 7,311 | 9,008 | 1.2× | A$49.50 |
| Canada (average) (same official figure for both) | 12,694 | 12,694 | 1.0× | C$0.00 |