Energy costs · October 2026 prices
How much does it cost to run a vacuum cleaner?
A typical vacuum cleaner uses about 1,220 watts, so it costs about 23¢ an hour to run at the U.S. average electricity price of 19.0¢ per kWh (October 2026). Used 30 minutes twice a week, that is about 93¢ a month, or $11.13 a year.
Key figures
- 1,000–1,440 Wtypical wattage (U.S. Department of Energy)
- 23¢per hour at 19.0¢/kWh
- 93¢per month, used 30 minutes twice a week
- 4.9 kWhper month at that use
Corded upright and canister vacuums draw 1,000 watts or more. Cordless and robot vacuums use far less, mostly to recharge their batteries.
Cost by region
| Region | Price per kWh | Per hour | Per month (30 minutes twice a week) | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. average | 19.0¢ | 23¢ | 93¢ | $11.13 |
| Northeast | 26.6¢ | 32¢ | $1.30 | $15.58 |
| Midwest | 19.3¢ | 24¢ | 94¢ | $11.30 |
| South | 16.2¢ | 20¢ | 79¢ | $9.49 |
| West | 20.1¢ | 25¢ | 98¢ | $11.77 |
Cost per hour in every state (August 2026)
| State | ¢ per kWh | Per hour | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.3¢ | 20¢ | 80¢ |
| Alaska | 29.4¢ | 36¢ | $1.44 |
| Arizona | 15.1¢ | 18¢ | 73¢ |
| Arkansas | 14.4¢ | 18¢ | 70¢ |
| California | 29.8¢ | 36¢ | $1.45 |
| Colorado | 17.2¢ | 21¢ | 84¢ |
| Connecticut | 24.5¢ | 30¢ | $1.20 |
| Delaware | 18.7¢ | 23¢ | 91¢ |
| District of Columbia | 26.0¢ | 32¢ | $1.27 |
| Florida | 15.0¢ | 18¢ | 73¢ |
| Georgia | 15.9¢ | 19¢ | 78¢ |
| Hawaii | 47.2¢ | 58¢ | $2.30 |
| Idaho | 13.4¢ | 16¢ | 65¢ |
| Illinois | 19.3¢ | 24¢ | 94¢ |
| Indiana | 17.0¢ | 21¢ | 83¢ |
| Iowa | 17.1¢ | 21¢ | 83¢ |
| Kansas | 15.5¢ | 19¢ | 75¢ |
| Kentucky | 13.8¢ | 17¢ | 67¢ |
| Louisiana | 12.9¢ | 16¢ | 63¢ |
| Maine | 32.1¢ | 39¢ | $1.57 |
| Maryland | 21.4¢ | 26¢ | $1.04 |
| Massachusetts | 30.5¢ | 37¢ | $1.49 |
| Michigan | 23.0¢ | 28¢ | $1.12 |
| Minnesota | 17.2¢ | 21¢ | 84¢ |
| Mississippi | 14.4¢ | 18¢ | 70¢ |
| Missouri | 16.0¢ | 20¢ | 78¢ |
| Montana | 15.6¢ | 19¢ | 76¢ |
| Nebraska | 13.5¢ | 17¢ | 66¢ |
| Nevada | 12.7¢ | 16¢ | 62¢ |
| New Hampshire | 27.6¢ | 34¢ | $1.35 |
| New Jersey | 24.6¢ | 30¢ | $1.20 |
| New Mexico | 16.5¢ | 20¢ | 81¢ |
| New York | 28.7¢ | 35¢ | $1.40 |
| North Carolina | 15.0¢ | 18¢ | 73¢ |
| North Dakota | 13.3¢ | 16¢ | 65¢ |
| Ohio | 19.4¢ | 24¢ | 95¢ |
| Oklahoma | 14.8¢ | 18¢ | 72¢ |
| Oregon | 15.9¢ | 19¢ | 78¢ |
| Pennsylvania | 21.8¢ | 27¢ | $1.06 |
| Rhode Island | 28.2¢ | 34¢ | $1.38 |
| South Carolina | 15.8¢ | 19¢ | 77¢ |
| South Dakota | 15.2¢ | 18¢ | 74¢ |
| Tennessee | 13.4¢ | 16¢ | 65¢ |
| Texas | 15.9¢ | 19¢ | 78¢ |
| Utah | 13.3¢ | 16¢ | 65¢ |
| Vermont | 23.8¢ | 29¢ | $1.16 |
| Virginia | 17.6¢ | 22¢ | 86¢ |
| Washington | 14.6¢ | 18¢ | 71¢ |
| West Virginia | 16.3¢ | 20¢ | 80¢ |
| Wisconsin | 19.4¢ | 24¢ | 95¢ |
| Wyoming | 14.4¢ | 18¢ | 70¢ |
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 |
|---|---|
| Vacuum cleaners | 23¢ |
| Clothes dryers | 65¢ |
| Dishwashers | 34¢ |
| Hair dryers | 29¢ |
| Space heaters | 29¢ |
| Electric kettles | 29¢ |
| Clothes irons | 27¢ |
| Toaster ovens | 23¢ |
| Toasters | 21¢ |
More about vacuum cleaners
- Vacuum Cleaners: models and list prices
- Safety: 24 CPSC recalls since 2010 mention vacuum cleaners 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.