💧 Water, Pool & Spa
How Much Does a Electric Water Heater Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.4¢/kWh (May 2026), a electric water heater costs about $73.00 per month at typical usage — 2.9 hours/day.
Per hour
$0.83
at 3,500–5,500 W
Per day
$2.40
2.9 hours/day
Per month
$73.00
397 kWh
Per year
$876
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
$0.83
Per day
$2.40
Per month
$73.00
Per year
$876
Uses 397 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 | $0.56 | $49.19 | $591 |
| Utah | 13.0 | $0.58 | $51.57 | $619 |
| Oklahoma | 13.4 | $0.60 | $53.16 | $638 |
| Nebraska | 13.6 | $0.61 | $53.95 | $648 |
| Nevada | 13.6 | $0.61 | $53.95 | $648 |
| North Dakota | 13.6 | $0.61 | $53.95 | $648 |
| Missouri | 13.7 | $0.62 | $54.35 | $653 |
| Iowa | 14.1 | $0.63 | $55.94 | $672 |
| New Mexico | 14.1 | $0.63 | $55.94 | $672 |
| Louisiana | 14.2 | $0.64 | $56.33 | $676 |
| Arkansas | 14.4 | $0.65 | $57.13 | $686 |
| Tennessee | 14.5 | $0.65 | $57.52 | $691 |
| Montana | 14.7 | $0.66 | $58.32 | $700 |
| Wyoming | 14.8 | $0.67 | $58.71 | $705 |
| Kentucky | 15.0 | $0.67 | $59.51 | $714 |
| Washington | 15.0 | $0.67 | $59.51 | $714 |
| Kansas | 15.1 | $0.68 | $59.90 | $719 |
| North Carolina | 15.1 | $0.68 | $59.90 | $719 |
| Arizona | 15.2 | $0.68 | $60.30 | $724 |
| Florida | 15.2 | $0.68 | $60.30 | $724 |
| South Dakota | 15.7 | $0.71 | $62.29 | $748 |
| Georgia | 15.8 | $0.71 | $62.68 | $753 |
| Colorado | 16.2 | $0.73 | $64.27 | $772 |
| Mississippi | 16.2 | $0.73 | $64.27 | $772 |
| South Carolina | 16.2 | $0.73 | $64.27 | $772 |
| Oregon | 16.3 | $0.73 | $64.67 | $776 |
| Texas | 16.4 | $0.74 | $65.06 | $781 |
| Alabama | 16.8 | $0.76 | $66.65 | $800 |
| West Virginia | 16.8 | $0.76 | $66.65 | $800 |
| Minnesota | 17.0 | $0.77 | $67.44 | $810 |
| Virginia | 17.6 | $0.79 | $69.82 | $838 |
| Indiana | 18.2 | $0.82 | $72.20 | $867 |
| Delaware | 19.4 | $0.87 | $76.96 | $924 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | $0.88 | $77.36 | $929 |
| Wisconsin | 19.7 | $0.89 | $78.15 | $938 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.6 | $0.97 | $85.69 | $1,029 |
| Maryland | 21.8 | $0.98 | $86.48 | $1,038 |
| Michigan | 22.0 | $0.99 | $87.28 | $1,048 |
| New Jersey | 23.3 | $1.05 | $92.44 | $1,110 |
| Illinois | 23.9 | $1.08 | $94.82 | $1,138 |
| Vermont | 24.9 | $1.12 | $98.78 | $1,186 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.4 | $1.14 | $101 | $1,210 |
| New Hampshire | 27.3 | $1.23 | $108 | $1,300 |
| Connecticut | 27.4 | $1.23 | $109 | $1,305 |
| Alaska | 28.2 | $1.27 | $112 | $1,343 |
| Maine | 28.6 | $1.29 | $113 | $1,362 |
| Massachusetts | 28.8 | $1.30 | $114 | $1,372 |
| Rhode Island | 29.5 | $1.33 | $117 | $1,405 |
| New York | 29.9 | $1.35 | $119 | $1,424 |
| California | 33.3 | $1.50 | $132 | $1,586 |
| Hawaii | 52.0 | $2.34 | $206 | $2,477 |
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 18.4¢/kWh, one hour costs about $0.83. In Idaho (12.4¢/kWh) it's $0.56, while in Hawaii (52¢/kWh) it's $2.34.
How much does a electric water heater cost to run per month?
With typical usage (2.9 hours/day), expect about $73.00 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $49.19 in Idaho up to $206 in Hawaii. Rates are as of May 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.