💧 Water, Pool & Spa
How Much Does a Electric Water Heater Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.3¢/kWh (July 2026), a electric water heater costs about $72.60 per month at typical usage — 2.9 hours/day.
Per hour
$0.82
at 3,500–5,500 W
Per day
$2.39
2.9 hours/day
Per month
$72.60
397 kWh
Per year
$872
4,763 kWh
A standard electric tank water heater is typically the second-largest energy user in an all-electric home, burning 10–15 kWh a day for a family's showers, laundry, and dishes. Its 4,500-watt elements run about three hours a day in aggregate.
Calculate it for your home
Per hour
$0.82
Per day
$2.39
Per month
$72.60
Per year
$872
Uses 397 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 | $0.57 | $50.38 | $605 |
| Nevada | 12.8 | $0.58 | $50.78 | $610 |
| Utah | 13.1 | $0.59 | $51.97 | $624 |
| North Dakota | 13.4 | $0.60 | $53.16 | $638 |
| Idaho | 13.7 | $0.62 | $54.35 | $653 |
| Tennessee | 13.7 | $0.62 | $54.35 | $653 |
| Kentucky | 13.8 | $0.62 | $54.75 | $657 |
| Nebraska | 13.8 | $0.62 | $54.75 | $657 |
| Arkansas | 14.3 | $0.64 | $56.73 | $681 |
| Oklahoma | 14.4 | $0.65 | $57.13 | $686 |
| Wyoming | 14.4 | $0.65 | $57.13 | $686 |
| Mississippi | 14.5 | $0.65 | $57.52 | $691 |
| Washington | 14.7 | $0.66 | $58.32 | $700 |
| Florida | 15.0 | $0.67 | $59.51 | $714 |
| Montana | 15.0 | $0.67 | $59.51 | $714 |
| North Carolina | 15.2 | $0.68 | $60.30 | $724 |
| Kansas | 15.3 | $0.69 | $60.70 | $729 |
| Arizona | 15.4 | $0.69 | $61.09 | $734 |
| South Dakota | 15.4 | $0.69 | $61.09 | $734 |
| South Carolina | 15.5 | $0.70 | $61.49 | $738 |
| West Virginia | 15.8 | $0.71 | $62.68 | $753 |
| Texas | 15.9 | $0.72 | $63.08 | $757 |
| Iowa | 16.0 | $0.72 | $63.48 | $762 |
| Oregon | 16.0 | $0.72 | $63.48 | $762 |
| Missouri | 16.1 | $0.72 | $63.87 | $767 |
| New Mexico | 16.1 | $0.72 | $63.87 | $767 |
| Georgia | 16.3 | $0.73 | $64.67 | $776 |
| Alabama | 16.4 | $0.74 | $65.06 | $781 |
| Indiana | 16.7 | $0.75 | $66.25 | $795 |
| Colorado | 17.0 | $0.77 | $67.44 | $810 |
| Minnesota | 17.5 | $0.79 | $69.43 | $834 |
| Virginia | 17.6 | $0.79 | $69.82 | $838 |
| Delaware | 18.5 | $0.83 | $73.39 | $881 |
| Wisconsin | 19.1 | $0.86 | $75.77 | $910 |
| Illinois | 19.2 | $0.86 | $76.17 | $915 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | $0.88 | $77.36 | $929 |
| Maryland | 21.4 | $0.96 | $84.90 | $1,019 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.7 | $0.98 | $86.09 | $1,034 |
| Michigan | 23.1 | $1.04 | $91.64 | $1,100 |
| Vermont | 23.8 | $1.07 | $94.42 | $1,134 |
| Connecticut | 24.2 | $1.09 | $96.01 | $1,153 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.2 | $1.13 | $99.97 | $1,200 |
| New Jersey | 25.2 | $1.13 | $99.97 | $1,200 |
| New Hampshire | 26.6 | $1.20 | $106 | $1,267 |
| Rhode Island | 28.3 | $1.27 | $112 | $1,348 |
| Alaska | 28.8 | $1.30 | $114 | $1,372 |
| New York | 29.9 | $1.35 | $119 | $1,424 |
| Massachusetts | 30.5 | $1.37 | $121 | $1,453 |
| Maine | 32.4 | $1.46 | $129 | $1,543 |
| California | 33.6 | $1.51 | $133 | $1,600 |
| Hawaii | 48.0 | $2.16 | $190 | $2,286 |
How to lower the cost
- Set the thermostat to 120°F — hotter settings cost more and raise scald risk.
- Low-flow showerheads pay for themselves in weeks on electric hot water.
- If your utility offers a water-heater timer or off-peak program, a tank stores heat beautifully — enroll.
Frequently asked questions
How much electricity does a electric water heater use?
A typical electric water heater draws about 4,500 watts in use. At 2.9 hours/day, that works out to roughly 13 kWh per day, or 397 kWh per month.
How much does it cost to run a electric water heater for 1 hour?
At the current U.S. average residential rate of 18.3¢/kWh, one hour costs about $0.82. In Louisiana (12.7¢/kWh) it's $0.57, while in Hawaii (48¢/kWh) it's $2.16.
How much does a electric water heater cost to run per month?
With typical usage (2.9 hours/day), expect about $72.60 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $50.38 in Louisiana up to $190 in Hawaii. Rates are as of July 2026.
Does a electric water heater use a lot of electricity?
Yes — at typical usage it accounts for roughly 45% of an average U.S. home's monthly consumption (885 kWh), which makes it one of the larger loads in the house.