🍳 Kitchen
How Much Does a Countertop Ice Maker Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.3¢/kWh (July 2026), a countertop ice maker costs about $16.02 per month at typical usage — 24 hours/day (always on).
Per hour
2.2¢
at 90–200 W
Per day
$0.53
24 hours/day (always on)
Per month
$16.02
88 kWh
Per year
$192
1,051 kWh
Portable ice makers cycle continuously while switched on, averaging around 100–150 watts — more than many refrigerators. Running one only on party days rather than around the clock changes its cost by an order of magnitude.
Calculate it for your home
Per hour
2.2¢
Per day
$0.53
Per month
$16.02
Per year
$192
Uses 88 kWh/month at 18.3¢ 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | 12.7 | 1.5¢ | $11.12 | $134 |
| Nevada | 12.8 | 1.5¢ | $11.21 | $135 |
| Utah | 13.1 | 1.6¢ | $11.47 | $138 |
| North Dakota | 13.4 | 1.6¢ | $11.73 | $141 |
| Idaho | 13.7 | 1.6¢ | $11.99 | $144 |
| Tennessee | 13.7 | 1.6¢ | $11.99 | $144 |
| Kentucky | 13.8 | 1.7¢ | $12.08 | $145 |
| Nebraska | 13.8 | 1.7¢ | $12.08 | $145 |
| Arkansas | 14.3 | 1.7¢ | $12.52 | $150 |
| Oklahoma | 14.4 | 1.7¢ | $12.61 | $151 |
| Wyoming | 14.4 | 1.7¢ | $12.61 | $151 |
| Mississippi | 14.5 | 1.7¢ | $12.70 | $152 |
| Washington | 14.7 | 1.8¢ | $12.87 | $155 |
| Florida | 15.0 | 1.8¢ | $13.13 | $158 |
| Montana | 15.0 | 1.8¢ | $13.13 | $158 |
| North Carolina | 15.2 | 1.8¢ | $13.31 | $160 |
| Kansas | 15.3 | 1.8¢ | $13.40 | $161 |
| Arizona | 15.4 | 1.8¢ | $13.48 | $162 |
| South Dakota | 15.4 | 1.8¢ | $13.48 | $162 |
| South Carolina | 15.5 | 1.9¢ | $13.57 | $163 |
| West Virginia | 15.8 | 1.9¢ | $13.83 | $166 |
| Texas | 15.9 | 1.9¢ | $13.92 | $167 |
| Iowa | 16.0 | 1.9¢ | $14.01 | $168 |
| Oregon | 16.0 | 1.9¢ | $14.01 | $168 |
| Missouri | 16.1 | 1.9¢ | $14.10 | $169 |
| New Mexico | 16.1 | 1.9¢ | $14.10 | $169 |
| Georgia | 16.3 | 2.0¢ | $14.27 | $171 |
| Alabama | 16.4 | 2.0¢ | $14.36 | $172 |
| Indiana | 16.7 | 2.0¢ | $14.62 | $176 |
| Colorado | 17.0 | 2.0¢ | $14.88 | $179 |
| Minnesota | 17.5 | 2.1¢ | $15.32 | $184 |
| Virginia | 17.6 | 2.1¢ | $15.41 | $185 |
| Delaware | 18.5 | 2.2¢ | $16.20 | $194 |
| Wisconsin | 19.1 | 2.3¢ | $16.72 | $201 |
| Illinois | 19.2 | 2.3¢ | $16.81 | $202 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | 2.3¢ | $17.07 | $205 |
| Maryland | 21.4 | 2.6¢ | $18.74 | $225 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.7 | 2.6¢ | $19.00 | $228 |
| Michigan | 23.1 | 2.8¢ | $20.22 | $243 |
| Vermont | 23.8 | 2.9¢ | $20.84 | $250 |
| Connecticut | 24.2 | 2.9¢ | $21.19 | $254 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.2 | 3.0¢ | $22.06 | $265 |
| New Jersey | 25.2 | 3.0¢ | $22.06 | $265 |
| New Hampshire | 26.6 | 3.2¢ | $23.29 | $280 |
| Rhode Island | 28.3 | 3.4¢ | $24.78 | $297 |
| Alaska | 28.8 | 3.5¢ | $25.21 | $303 |
| New York | 29.9 | 3.6¢ | $26.18 | $314 |
| Massachusetts | 30.5 | 3.7¢ | $26.70 | $321 |
| Maine | 32.4 | 3.9¢ | $28.37 | $341 |
| California | 33.6 | 4.0¢ | $29.42 | $353 |
| Hawaii | 48.0 | 5.8¢ | $42.02 | $505 |
How to lower the cost
- Match the appliance to the portion: microwave and air fryer beat the big oven for anything small.
- Keep refrigerator coils clean and gaskets tight — it runs 24/7, so small inefficiencies compound.
- Run the dishwasher full and skip heated dry.
Frequently asked questions
How much electricity does a countertop ice maker use?
A typical countertop ice maker draws about 120 watts in use. At 24 hours/day (always on), that works out to roughly 2.9 kWh per day, or 88 kWh per month.
How much does it cost to run a countertop ice maker for 1 hour?
At the current U.S. average residential rate of 18.3¢/kWh, one hour costs about 2.2¢. In Louisiana (12.7¢/kWh) it's 1.5¢, while in Hawaii (48¢/kWh) it's 5.8¢.
How much does a countertop ice maker cost to run per month?
With typical usage (24 hours/day (always on)), expect about $16.02 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $11.12 in Louisiana up to $42.02 in Hawaii. Rates are as of July 2026.
Does a countertop ice maker use a lot of electricity?
It's a moderate load: roughly 10% of an average U.S. home's monthly consumption at typical usage. Noticeable, but not a bill-driver on its own.