Energy costs · October 2026 prices
How much does it cost to run household appliances?
Electricity cost an average of 19.0¢ per kWh in U.S. cities in October 2026. Here is what that means for the appliances in your home, by region, with a calculator for your own figures.
Running cost calculator
Cost = watts × hours ÷ 1,000 × price per kWh (the DOE formula). The wattage on your appliance’s label or in its manual gives the most accurate result; appliances that cycle on and off (heaters with a thermostat, dehumidifiers) use less than their rated wattage.
Cost to run common appliances
| Appliance | Typical watts | Per hour | Example use | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dehumidifiers | 785 W | 15¢ | 8 hours a day | $35.80 |
| Space heaters | 750–1,500 W | 29¢ | 4 hours a day | $34.20 |
| Clothes dryers | 1,800–5,000 W | 65¢ | one 1-hour load, four times a week | $10.34 |
| Dishwashers | 1,200–2,400 W | 34¢ | one 1-hour cycle, five times a week | $6.84 |
| Ceiling fans | 65–175 W | 2.3¢ | 8 hours a day | $5.47 |
| Electric blankets | 60–100 W | 1.9¢ | 8 hours a night | $4.56 |
| TVs | 120 W | 2.3¢ | 5 hours a day | $3.42 |
| Toaster ovens | 1,225 W | 23¢ | 20 minutes a day | $2.33 |
| Laptops | 50 W | 1.0¢ | 8 hours a working day | $1.67 |
| Coffee makers | 900–1,200 W | 20¢ | 15 minutes a day | $1.50 |
| Hair dryers | 1,200–1,875 W | 29¢ | 10 minutes a day | $1.47 |
| Electric kettles | 1,500 W | 29¢ | 10 minutes a day | $1.43 |
| Microwaves | 750–1,100 W | 18¢ | 15 minutes a day | $1.32 |
| Washing machines | 350–500 W | 8.1¢ | one 1-hour load, four times a week | $1.29 |
| Vacuum cleaners | 1,000–1,440 W | 23¢ | 30 minutes twice a week | 93¢ |
| Clothes irons | 1,000–1,800 W | 27¢ | 20 minutes twice a week | 71¢ |
| Toasters | 800–1,400 W | 21¢ | 5 minutes a day | 52¢ |
| Blenders | 300–1,700 W | 14¢ | 5 minutes a day | 36¢ |
At the U.S. city average price of 19.0¢/kWh (October 2026). “Per hour” uses the typical wattage shown on each appliance’s page. Example uses are illustrations, not averages; use the calculator for your own.
Electricity prices by region
| Region | Price per kWh (October 2026) | A year earlier | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. average | 19.0¢ | – | – |
| Northeast | 26.6¢ | – | – |
| Midwest | 19.3¢ | – | – |
| South | 16.2¢ | – | – |
| West | 20.1¢ | – | – |
U.S. average electricity price, year by year
Annual averages of the monthly U.S. city average price. From 2010 to 2024 the price changed by +38%.
Average residential price by state
Show all states (August 2026)
| State | ¢ per kWh |
|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.33¢ |
| Alaska | 29.41¢ |
| Arizona | 15.05¢ |
| Arkansas | 14.37¢ |
| California | 29.75¢ |
| Colorado | 17.17¢ |
| Connecticut | 24.51¢ |
| Delaware | 18.70¢ |
| District of Columbia | 25.98¢ |
| Florida | 14.99¢ |
| Georgia | 15.90¢ |
| Hawaii | 47.18¢ |
| Idaho | 13.37¢ |
| Illinois | 19.32¢ |
| Indiana | 17.02¢ |
| Iowa | 17.06¢ |
| Kansas | 15.47¢ |
| Kentucky | 13.80¢ |
| Louisiana | 12.87¢ |
| Maine | 32.11¢ |
| Maryland | 21.40¢ |
| Massachusetts | 30.48¢ |
| Michigan | 22.99¢ |
| Minnesota | 17.20¢ |
| Mississippi | 14.43¢ |
| Missouri | 16.02¢ |
| Montana | 15.57¢ |
| Nebraska | 13.54¢ |
| Nevada | 12.72¢ |
| New Hampshire | 27.64¢ |
| New Jersey | 24.61¢ |
| New Mexico | 16.51¢ |
| New York | 28.65¢ |
| North Carolina | 14.95¢ |
| North Dakota | 13.31¢ |
| Ohio | 19.38¢ |
| Oklahoma | 14.82¢ |
| Oregon | 15.92¢ |
| Pennsylvania | 21.77¢ |
| Rhode Island | 28.18¢ |
| South Carolina | 15.76¢ |
| South Dakota | 15.15¢ |
| Tennessee | 13.42¢ |
| Texas | 15.91¢ |
| Utah | 13.31¢ |
| Vermont | 23.84¢ |
| Virginia | 17.64¢ |
| Washington | 14.63¢ |
| West Virginia | 16.31¢ |
| Wisconsin | 19.41¢ |
| Wyoming | 14.43¢ |
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, average retail price of electricity to residential customers.
How we calculate
We use the U.S. Department of Energy’s formula: watts × hours of use ÷ 1,000 = kWh, and kWh × price per kWh = cost. Typical wattages come from the DOE’s table of typical appliance wattages, or, where at least five models in our catalogue list their wattage, from the median of those models. Prices are the latest monthly averages published by the BLS; your own bill may include delivery charges and taxes that make your price per kWh higher or lower.
Sources: electricity prices from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Average Price Data, “Electricity per kWh” (about the data); U.S. Department of Energy typical wattages (Estimating Appliance and Home Electronic Energy Use, Virginia Cooperative Extension BSE-301NP, developed with DOE, 2020). Prices update monthly. See also our price methodology.