🚗 Outdoor, Garage & EV
How Much Does a Electric Smoker Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.3¢/kWh (July 2026), a electric smoker costs about $26.70 per month at typical usage — 6 hours/day.
Per hour
$0.15
at 500–1,500 W
Per day
$0.88
6 hours/day
Per month
$26.70
146 kWh
Per year
$321
1,752 kWh
Electric smokers hold low temperatures with an 500–1,500 watt element cycling over many hours, so a long brisket smoke uses several kilowatt-hours. Still cheaper than a bag of lump charcoal in most states.
Calculate it for your home
Per hour
$0.15
Per day
$0.88
Per month
$26.70
Per year
$321
Uses 146 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 | $0.10 | $18.53 | $223 |
| Nevada | 12.8 | $0.10 | $18.68 | $224 |
| Utah | 13.1 | $0.10 | $19.12 | $230 |
| North Dakota | 13.4 | $0.11 | $19.55 | $235 |
| Idaho | 13.7 | $0.11 | $19.99 | $240 |
| Tennessee | 13.7 | $0.11 | $19.99 | $240 |
| Kentucky | 13.8 | $0.11 | $20.14 | $242 |
| Nebraska | 13.8 | $0.11 | $20.14 | $242 |
| Arkansas | 14.3 | $0.11 | $20.87 | $251 |
| Oklahoma | 14.4 | $0.12 | $21.01 | $252 |
| Wyoming | 14.4 | $0.12 | $21.01 | $252 |
| Mississippi | 14.5 | $0.12 | $21.16 | $254 |
| Washington | 14.7 | $0.12 | $21.45 | $258 |
| Florida | 15.0 | $0.12 | $21.89 | $263 |
| Montana | 15.0 | $0.12 | $21.89 | $263 |
| North Carolina | 15.2 | $0.12 | $22.18 | $266 |
| Kansas | 15.3 | $0.12 | $22.33 | $268 |
| Arizona | 15.4 | $0.12 | $22.47 | $270 |
| South Dakota | 15.4 | $0.12 | $22.47 | $270 |
| South Carolina | 15.5 | $0.12 | $22.62 | $272 |
| West Virginia | 15.8 | $0.13 | $23.06 | $277 |
| Texas | 15.9 | $0.13 | $23.20 | $279 |
| Iowa | 16.0 | $0.13 | $23.35 | $280 |
| Oregon | 16.0 | $0.13 | $23.35 | $280 |
| Missouri | 16.1 | $0.13 | $23.49 | $282 |
| New Mexico | 16.1 | $0.13 | $23.49 | $282 |
| Georgia | 16.3 | $0.13 | $23.78 | $286 |
| Alabama | 16.4 | $0.13 | $23.93 | $287 |
| Indiana | 16.7 | $0.13 | $24.37 | $293 |
| Colorado | 17.0 | $0.14 | $24.81 | $298 |
| Minnesota | 17.5 | $0.14 | $25.54 | $307 |
| Virginia | 17.6 | $0.14 | $25.68 | $308 |
| Delaware | 18.5 | $0.15 | $27.00 | $324 |
| Wisconsin | 19.1 | $0.15 | $27.87 | $335 |
| Illinois | 19.2 | $0.15 | $28.02 | $336 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | $0.16 | $28.45 | $342 |
| Maryland | 21.4 | $0.17 | $31.23 | $375 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.7 | $0.17 | $31.66 | $380 |
| Michigan | 23.1 | $0.18 | $33.71 | $405 |
| Vermont | 23.8 | $0.19 | $34.73 | $417 |
| Connecticut | 24.2 | $0.19 | $35.31 | $424 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.2 | $0.20 | $36.77 | $442 |
| New Jersey | 25.2 | $0.20 | $36.77 | $442 |
| New Hampshire | 26.6 | $0.21 | $38.81 | $466 |
| Rhode Island | 28.3 | $0.23 | $41.30 | $496 |
| Alaska | 28.8 | $0.23 | $42.02 | $505 |
| New York | 29.9 | $0.24 | $43.63 | $524 |
| Massachusetts | 30.5 | $0.24 | $44.51 | $534 |
| Maine | 32.4 | $0.26 | $47.28 | $568 |
| California | 33.6 | $0.27 | $49.03 | $589 |
| Hawaii | 48.0 | $0.38 | $70.04 | $841 |
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 electric smoker use?
A typical electric smoker draws about 800 watts in use. At 6 hours/day, that works out to roughly 4.8 kWh per day, or 146 kWh per month.
How much does it cost to run a electric smoker for 1 hour?
At the current U.S. average residential rate of 18.3¢/kWh, one hour costs about $0.15. In Louisiana (12.7¢/kWh) it's $0.10, while in Hawaii (48¢/kWh) it's $0.38.
How much does a electric smoker cost to run per month?
With typical usage (6 hours/day), expect about $26.70 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $18.53 in Louisiana up to $70.04 in Hawaii. Rates are as of July 2026.
Does a electric smoker use a lot of electricity?
Yes — at typical usage it accounts for roughly 16% of an average U.S. home's monthly consumption (885 kWh), which makes it one of the larger loads in the house.