Energy costs · October 2026 prices
How much does it cost to run a clothes iron?
A typical clothes iron uses about 1,400 watts, so it costs about 27¢ an hour to run at the U.S. average electricity price of 19.0¢ per kWh (October 2026). Used 20 minutes twice a week, that is about 71¢ a month, or $8.51 a year.
Key figures
- 1,000–1,800 Wtypical wattage (U.S. Department of Energy)
- 27¢per hour at 19.0¢/kWh
- 71¢per month, used 20 minutes twice a week
- 3.7 kWhper month at that use
Irons and garment steamers heat quickly at high wattage, then cycle on and off to hold their temperature.
Cost by region
| Region | Price per kWh | Per hour | Per month (20 minutes twice a week) | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. average | 19.0¢ | 27¢ | 71¢ | $8.51 |
| Northeast | 26.6¢ | 37¢ | 99¢ | $11.92 |
| Midwest | 19.3¢ | 27¢ | 72¢ | $8.65 |
| South | 16.2¢ | 23¢ | 60¢ | $7.26 |
| West | 20.1¢ | 28¢ | 75¢ | $9.00 |
Cost per hour in every state (August 2026)
| State | ¢ per kWh | Per hour | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.3¢ | 23¢ | 61¢ |
| Alaska | 29.4¢ | 41¢ | $1.10 |
| Arizona | 15.1¢ | 21¢ | 56¢ |
| Arkansas | 14.4¢ | 20¢ | 54¢ |
| California | 29.8¢ | 42¢ | $1.11 |
| Colorado | 17.2¢ | 24¢ | 64¢ |
| Connecticut | 24.5¢ | 34¢ | 92¢ |
| Delaware | 18.7¢ | 26¢ | 70¢ |
| District of Columbia | 26.0¢ | 36¢ | 97¢ |
| Florida | 15.0¢ | 21¢ | 56¢ |
| Georgia | 15.9¢ | 22¢ | 59¢ |
| Hawaii | 47.2¢ | 66¢ | $1.76 |
| Idaho | 13.4¢ | 19¢ | 50¢ |
| Illinois | 19.3¢ | 27¢ | 72¢ |
| Indiana | 17.0¢ | 24¢ | 64¢ |
| Iowa | 17.1¢ | 24¢ | 64¢ |
| Kansas | 15.5¢ | 22¢ | 58¢ |
| Kentucky | 13.8¢ | 19¢ | 52¢ |
| Louisiana | 12.9¢ | 18¢ | 48¢ |
| Maine | 32.1¢ | 45¢ | $1.20 |
| Maryland | 21.4¢ | 30¢ | 80¢ |
| Massachusetts | 30.5¢ | 43¢ | $1.14 |
| Michigan | 23.0¢ | 32¢ | 86¢ |
| Minnesota | 17.2¢ | 24¢ | 64¢ |
| Mississippi | 14.4¢ | 20¢ | 54¢ |
| Missouri | 16.0¢ | 22¢ | 60¢ |
| Montana | 15.6¢ | 22¢ | 58¢ |
| Nebraska | 13.5¢ | 19¢ | 51¢ |
| Nevada | 12.7¢ | 18¢ | 47¢ |
| New Hampshire | 27.6¢ | 39¢ | $1.03 |
| New Jersey | 24.6¢ | 34¢ | 92¢ |
| New Mexico | 16.5¢ | 23¢ | 62¢ |
| New York | 28.7¢ | 40¢ | $1.07 |
| North Carolina | 15.0¢ | 21¢ | 56¢ |
| North Dakota | 13.3¢ | 19¢ | 50¢ |
| Ohio | 19.4¢ | 27¢ | 72¢ |
| Oklahoma | 14.8¢ | 21¢ | 55¢ |
| Oregon | 15.9¢ | 22¢ | 59¢ |
| Pennsylvania | 21.8¢ | 30¢ | 81¢ |
| Rhode Island | 28.2¢ | 39¢ | $1.05 |
| South Carolina | 15.8¢ | 22¢ | 59¢ |
| South Dakota | 15.2¢ | 21¢ | 57¢ |
| Tennessee | 13.4¢ | 19¢ | 50¢ |
| Texas | 15.9¢ | 22¢ | 59¢ |
| Utah | 13.3¢ | 19¢ | 50¢ |
| Vermont | 23.8¢ | 33¢ | 89¢ |
| Virginia | 17.6¢ | 25¢ | 66¢ |
| Washington | 14.6¢ | 20¢ | 55¢ |
| West Virginia | 16.3¢ | 23¢ | 61¢ |
| Wisconsin | 19.4¢ | 27¢ | 72¢ |
| Wyoming | 14.4¢ | 20¢ | 54¢ |
State prices: U.S. Energy Information Administration, residential customers.
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.
Compared with other appliances
| Appliance | Cost per hour of use |
|---|---|
| Clothes irons | 27¢ |
| Clothes dryers | 65¢ |
| Dishwashers | 34¢ |
| Hair dryers | 29¢ |
| Space heaters | 29¢ |
| Electric kettles | 29¢ |
| Toaster ovens | 23¢ |
| Vacuum cleaners | 23¢ |
| Toasters | 21¢ |
More about clothes irons
- Laundry & Garment Care: models and list prices
- Safety: 6 CPSC recalls since 2010 mention clothes irons or similar products. Search recalls
- Running costs of other appliances
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). Cost = watts × hours ÷ 1,000 × price per kWh. Your own price per kWh, including delivery charges and taxes, is on your electricity bill.