Buy a R100 electricity token and the number of units you get back is never the same twice. Rates change, tariff blocks shift, and every municipality charges its own price. This calculator does the sum for you. Enter the rand amount, plug in your own rate, and see exactly how many kWh units you can expect. You can also run it in reverse to price a number of units, or work out what a specific appliance costs to keep running.
Use the tool below, then read on for how the maths works and why your rate is the one number that matters most.
Prepaid Electricity Units Calculator
Work out how many kWh units your rands buy, or the cost of the units and appliances you use. Enter your own rate for an accurate result.
R3.00 is a working estimate only. Rates vary by municipality and tariff block, so check the rate on your last electricity slip and replace it for an exact figure.
Rough guide: geyser 3000, kettle 2000, oven 2400, fridge 150, TV 100.
A geyser element runs about 2 to 4 hours a day in total.
R100.00 at R3.00 per kWh
Please enter a rate above zero and a valid amount.
This calculator gives an estimate. It does not deduct fixed service charges, network charges or free basic electricity allowances, which some municipalities apply separately. Always confirm against your municipal tariff.
Quick facts
| Detail | Summary |
|---|---|
| What it does | Converts rands to kWh units, units to rands, and appliance running costs |
| Default rate shown | R3.00 per kWh, fully editable |
| Best for | Prepaid electricity users buying tokens in South Africa |
| 2026 Eskom direct increase | 8.76 percent from 1 April 2026 |
| 2026 municipal increase | 9.01 percent average from 1 July 2026 |
| What it leaves out | Fixed service charges, network charges, free basic electricity |
How the electricity units calculator works
The core sum is simple. Your units are the amount you spend divided by your rate per kWh.
Units equals rand amount divided by rate per kWh.
So if you buy R100 of electricity and your rate is R3.00 per kWh, you receive about 33.33 units. Change the rate to R2.50 and the same R100 buys 40 units. Change it to R4.00 and it buys only 25. That single figure, the rate, is what moves your units up or down, which is why the calculator asks you to enter your own.
The tool has three modes:
Rands to units takes the amount you plan to spend and returns the kWh you will receive. This is the mode most people want when they ask how many units R100 or R500 will buy.
Units to rands works the other way. Enter a number of kWh and it tells you what that costs. This is handy when you know how much power an appliance draws and want to price it.
Appliance cost takes the wattage of a device and the hours you use it each day, then returns the cost per day and per month. It is the quickest way to see why a geyser or a tumble dryer dominates your bill.
How many units do you get for R100, R200 or R500?
There is no fixed answer, because it depends entirely on your rate. The table below uses an example rate of R3.00 per kWh so you can see the pattern. Replace the rate in the calculator with the figure from your own slip for an accurate result.
| Amount bought | Units at R3.00 per kWh |
|---|---|
| R50 | 16.67 kWh |
| R100 | 33.33 kWh |
| R200 | 66.67 kWh |
| R500 | 166.67 kWh |
| R1000 | 333.33 kWh |
If your municipality charges more than R3.00, you will get fewer units than shown. If it charges less, you will get more. The calculator handles any rate you enter, so these numbers are a guide, not a promise.
Why your rate is not the same as everyone else's
Two households can pay very different prices for the same unit of electricity. A few things drive that gap.
Eskom direct versus municipal supply
Roughly two thirds of South Africans buy electricity through their municipality rather than directly from Eskom. Municipal customers pay the municipality's own tariff, which is usually higher than the Eskom direct rate because it includes the municipality's costs and margin. If you buy your tokens from your local council, your rate reflects their pricing, not Eskom's headline figure.
Tariff blocks and structure
Some tariffs still charge more per unit once you pass a monthly threshold, so heavy users pay a higher average rate. Eskom has moved its residential Homelight and Homepower customers to a single flat rate per unit, but many municipal tariffs still vary by how much you use. This is why the rate on your slip can drift from month to month.
The 2026 increases
Electricity is more expensive in 2026 than it was in 2025. The National Energy Regulator of South Africa approved an 8.76 percent increase for direct Eskom customers, effective 1 April 2026, and an average 9.01 percent increase for municipal distributors from 1 July 2026. A further 8.83 percent increase has already been approved for the 2027/28 year. In practice that means the units your R100 buys have been shrinking, and the trend continues. Checking your current rate rather than an old one keeps the calculator honest.
What the calculator does not include
The tool prices the energy itself. It does not model every line on a municipal bill. Depending on where you live, your account may also carry a fixed monthly service charge, a network or capacity charge, or a deduction and top up linked to free basic electricity. Prepaid vending can also apply these charges by taking a slice off the top of each purchase before converting the rest into units. Treat the calculator result as the energy value of your spend, then check your slip for any fixed charges layered on top.
Lower income households registered for free basic electricity may receive a set number of free units each month from their municipality. If that applies to you, those units come on top of what you buy, and the calculator does not add them automatically.
How to check your own electricity rate
The most reliable source is your last prepaid slip or token receipt, which usually prints the rate per kWh or shows the units bought against the amount paid. If it only shows units and rand value, divide the rand amount by the units to get your effective rate, then enter that in the calculator. Your municipality's tariff schedule, published each year when the new rates take effect, is the other place to confirm the figure.
What appliances cost to run
Big heating appliances are where the units disappear. Using the appliance mode with a rate of R3.00 per kWh, a 3000 watt geyser element running three hours a day works out to about 9 units a day, close to R27 daily or R810 a month. A 2000 watt kettle used for half an hour a day is around R90 a month. Small electronics barely register by comparison. If your bill feels high, the geyser is almost always the first place to look, followed by anything else that heats or cools.
Frequently asked questions
How many units of electricity do I get for R100?
At a rate of R3.00 per kWh you get about 33 units for R100. The exact number depends on your own rate, so enter it in the calculator. A lower rate gives you more units and a higher rate gives you fewer.
How do I calculate electricity units from rands?
Divide the amount you spend by your rate per kWh. R100 divided by a R3.00 rate is 33.33 units. The calculator does this instantly and also works in reverse.
Why am I getting fewer units than I used to?
Two reasons usually. Rates rose in 2026, with Eskom direct up 8.76 percent from April and municipal tariffs up about 9.01 percent from July, so each rand buys less. Some tariffs also charge more per unit once you cross a monthly usage threshold.
What is the price per unit of electricity in South Africa in 2026?
There is no single national price. It depends on whether you buy from Eskom directly or through a municipality, and on your tariff. After the 2026 increases, Eskom direct residential rates and municipal rates differ, so the only accurate figure is the one on your own slip. Enter that rate in the calculator.
How much does a geyser cost to run per month?
A typical 3000 watt geyser running about three hours a day costs roughly R810 a month at a R3.00 rate. Insulating the geyser and lowering the thermostat both reduce that figure. Use the appliance mode to test your own numbers.
Does the calculator include fixed charges?
No. It prices the energy only. Many municipal accounts add a fixed service or network charge separately, and prepaid vending can deduct charges before converting your purchase into units. Check your slip for anything layered on top of the energy cost.
Related tools and guides
Once these are published, link them here as full canonical URLs so the cluster is fully connected.
- How to buy prepaid electricity
- Eskom electricity tariffs and price per unit
- How to register for free basic electricity
- UIF calculator
- Take-home pay calculator
Disclaimer: This calculator and article provide general information and estimates only. Electricity rates vary by municipality, tariff and year, and results exclude fixed charges and free basic electricity allowances. Always confirm your rate and charges against your own electricity slip or your municipality's official tariff schedule.
