🚗 Outdoor, Garage & EV
How Much Does a Bug Zapper Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.4¢/kWh (May 2026), a bug zapper costs about $1.79 per month at typical usage — 8 hours/day.
Per hour
0.7¢
at 20–100 W
Per day
5.9¢
8 hours/day
Per month
$1.79
9.7 kWh
Per year
$21.49
117 kWh
Bug zappers run 20–100 watts through summer evenings. A season of nightly operation costs a few dollars — though studies find they mostly kill harmless insects while mosquitoes ignore them.
Calculate it for your home
Per hour
0.7¢
Per day
5.9¢
Per month
$1.79
Per year
$21.49
Uses 9.7 kWh/month at 18.4¢ per kWh.
Cheapest and most expensive states
Monthly cost at typical usage, using each state's current average residential rate.
Cost in every state
| State | Rate (¢/kWh) | Per hour | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho | 12.4 | 0.5¢ | $1.21 | $14.48 |
| Utah | 13.0 | 0.5¢ | $1.26 | $15.18 |
| Oklahoma | 13.4 | 0.5¢ | $1.30 | $15.65 |
| Nebraska | 13.6 | 0.5¢ | $1.32 | $15.88 |
| Nevada | 13.6 | 0.5¢ | $1.32 | $15.88 |
| North Dakota | 13.6 | 0.5¢ | $1.32 | $15.88 |
| Missouri | 13.7 | 0.5¢ | $1.33 | $16.00 |
| Iowa | 14.1 | 0.6¢ | $1.37 | $16.47 |
| New Mexico | 14.1 | 0.6¢ | $1.37 | $16.47 |
| Louisiana | 14.2 | 0.6¢ | $1.38 | $16.59 |
| Arkansas | 14.4 | 0.6¢ | $1.40 | $16.82 |
| Tennessee | 14.5 | 0.6¢ | $1.41 | $16.94 |
| Montana | 14.7 | 0.6¢ | $1.43 | $17.17 |
| Wyoming | 14.8 | 0.6¢ | $1.44 | $17.29 |
| Kentucky | 15.0 | 0.6¢ | $1.46 | $17.52 |
| Washington | 15.0 | 0.6¢ | $1.46 | $17.52 |
| Kansas | 15.1 | 0.6¢ | $1.47 | $17.64 |
| North Carolina | 15.1 | 0.6¢ | $1.47 | $17.64 |
| Arizona | 15.2 | 0.6¢ | $1.48 | $17.75 |
| Florida | 15.2 | 0.6¢ | $1.48 | $17.75 |
| South Dakota | 15.7 | 0.6¢ | $1.53 | $18.34 |
| Georgia | 15.8 | 0.6¢ | $1.54 | $18.45 |
| Colorado | 16.2 | 0.6¢ | $1.58 | $18.92 |
| Mississippi | 16.2 | 0.6¢ | $1.58 | $18.92 |
| South Carolina | 16.2 | 0.6¢ | $1.58 | $18.92 |
| Oregon | 16.3 | 0.7¢ | $1.59 | $19.04 |
| Texas | 16.4 | 0.7¢ | $1.60 | $19.16 |
| Alabama | 16.8 | 0.7¢ | $1.63 | $19.62 |
| West Virginia | 16.8 | 0.7¢ | $1.63 | $19.62 |
| Minnesota | 17.0 | 0.7¢ | $1.65 | $19.86 |
| Virginia | 17.6 | 0.7¢ | $1.71 | $20.56 |
| Indiana | 18.2 | 0.7¢ | $1.77 | $21.26 |
| Delaware | 19.4 | 0.8¢ | $1.89 | $22.66 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | 0.8¢ | $1.90 | $22.78 |
| Wisconsin | 19.7 | 0.8¢ | $1.92 | $23.01 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.6 | 0.9¢ | $2.10 | $25.23 |
| Maryland | 21.8 | 0.9¢ | $2.12 | $25.46 |
| Michigan | 22.0 | 0.9¢ | $2.14 | $25.70 |
| New Jersey | 23.3 | 0.9¢ | $2.27 | $27.21 |
| Illinois | 23.9 | 1.0¢ | $2.32 | $27.92 |
| Vermont | 24.9 | 1.0¢ | $2.42 | $29.08 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.4 | 1.0¢ | $2.47 | $29.67 |
| New Hampshire | 27.3 | 1.1¢ | $2.66 | $31.89 |
| Connecticut | 27.4 | 1.1¢ | $2.67 | $32.00 |
| Alaska | 28.2 | 1.1¢ | $2.74 | $32.94 |
| Maine | 28.6 | 1.1¢ | $2.78 | $33.40 |
| Massachusetts | 28.8 | 1.2¢ | $2.80 | $33.64 |
| Rhode Island | 29.5 | 1.2¢ | $2.87 | $34.46 |
| New York | 29.9 | 1.2¢ | $2.91 | $34.92 |
| California | 33.3 | 1.3¢ | $3.24 | $38.89 |
| Hawaii | 52.0 | 2.1¢ | $5.06 | $60.74 |
How to lower the cost
- Charge vehicles and batteries overnight if your utility offers time-of-use rates.
- Standby draw hides in garages — openers, chargers, and old fridges add up around the clock.
- Electric yard tools cost pennies per session; the battery’s lifespan is the real economics.
Frequently asked questions
How much electricity does a bug zapper use?
A typical bug zapper draws about 40 watts in use. At 8 hours/day, that works out to roughly 0.3 kWh per day, or 9.7 kWh per month.
How much does it cost to run a bug zapper for 1 hour?
At the current U.S. average residential rate of 18.4¢/kWh, one hour costs about 0.7¢. In Idaho (12.4¢/kWh) it's 0.5¢, while in Hawaii (52¢/kWh) it's 2.1¢.
How much does a bug zapper cost to run per month?
With typical usage (8 hours/day), expect about $1.79 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $1.21 in Idaho up to $5.06 in Hawaii. Rates are as of May 2026.
Does a bug zapper use a lot of electricity?
Not really — at typical usage it's under 1% of an average home's monthly consumption. Heating, cooling, hot water, and drying are the loads that move bills.