🍳 Kitchen
How Much Does a Food Dehydrator Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.4¢/kWh (May 2026), a food dehydrator costs about $22.37 per month at typical usage — 8 hours/day.
Per hour
9.2¢
at 300–1,000 W
Per day
$0.74
8 hours/day
Per month
$22.37
122 kWh
Per year
$269
1,460 kWh
Dehydrators run low wattage for very long stretches — 8 to 24 hours per batch is normal — so a jerky run can quietly use several kilowatt-hours. Batch size and runtime, not rated watts, decide whether homemade dried food is a bargain.
Calculate it for your home
Per hour
9.2¢
Per day
$0.74
Per month
$22.37
Per year
$269
Uses 122 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 | 6.2¢ | $15.08 | $181 |
| Utah | 13.0 | 6.5¢ | $15.81 | $190 |
| Oklahoma | 13.4 | 6.7¢ | $16.29 | $196 |
| Nebraska | 13.6 | 6.8¢ | $16.54 | $199 |
| Nevada | 13.6 | 6.8¢ | $16.54 | $199 |
| North Dakota | 13.6 | 6.8¢ | $16.54 | $199 |
| Missouri | 13.7 | 6.8¢ | $16.66 | $200 |
| Iowa | 14.1 | 7.0¢ | $17.15 | $206 |
| New Mexico | 14.1 | 7.0¢ | $17.15 | $206 |
| Louisiana | 14.2 | 7.1¢ | $17.27 | $207 |
| Arkansas | 14.4 | 7.2¢ | $17.51 | $210 |
| Tennessee | 14.5 | 7.2¢ | $17.63 | $212 |
| Montana | 14.7 | 7.3¢ | $17.88 | $215 |
| Wyoming | 14.8 | 7.4¢ | $18.00 | $216 |
| Kentucky | 15.0 | 7.5¢ | $18.24 | $219 |
| Washington | 15.0 | 7.5¢ | $18.24 | $219 |
| Kansas | 15.1 | 7.5¢ | $18.36 | $220 |
| North Carolina | 15.1 | 7.5¢ | $18.36 | $220 |
| Arizona | 15.2 | 7.6¢ | $18.48 | $222 |
| Florida | 15.2 | 7.6¢ | $18.48 | $222 |
| South Dakota | 15.7 | 7.8¢ | $19.09 | $229 |
| Georgia | 15.8 | 7.9¢ | $19.21 | $231 |
| Colorado | 16.2 | 8.1¢ | $19.70 | $237 |
| Mississippi | 16.2 | 8.1¢ | $19.70 | $237 |
| South Carolina | 16.2 | 8.1¢ | $19.70 | $237 |
| Oregon | 16.3 | 8.2¢ | $19.82 | $238 |
| Texas | 16.4 | 8.2¢ | $19.94 | $239 |
| Alabama | 16.8 | 8.4¢ | $20.43 | $245 |
| West Virginia | 16.8 | 8.4¢ | $20.43 | $245 |
| Minnesota | 17.0 | 8.5¢ | $20.67 | $248 |
| Virginia | 17.6 | 8.8¢ | $21.40 | $257 |
| Indiana | 18.2 | 9.1¢ | $22.13 | $266 |
| Delaware | 19.4 | $0.10 | $23.59 | $283 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | $0.10 | $23.71 | $285 |
| Wisconsin | 19.7 | $0.10 | $23.96 | $288 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.6 | $0.11 | $26.27 | $315 |
| Maryland | 21.8 | $0.11 | $26.51 | $318 |
| Michigan | 22.0 | $0.11 | $26.75 | $321 |
| New Jersey | 23.3 | $0.12 | $28.33 | $340 |
| Illinois | 23.9 | $0.12 | $29.06 | $349 |
| Vermont | 24.9 | $0.12 | $30.28 | $364 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.4 | $0.13 | $30.89 | $371 |
| New Hampshire | 27.3 | $0.14 | $33.20 | $399 |
| Connecticut | 27.4 | $0.14 | $33.32 | $400 |
| Alaska | 28.2 | $0.14 | $34.29 | $412 |
| Maine | 28.6 | $0.14 | $34.78 | $418 |
| Massachusetts | 28.8 | $0.14 | $35.02 | $420 |
| Rhode Island | 29.5 | $0.15 | $35.87 | $431 |
| New York | 29.9 | $0.15 | $36.36 | $437 |
| California | 33.3 | $0.17 | $40.49 | $486 |
| Hawaii | 52.0 | $0.26 | $63.23 | $759 |
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 food dehydrator use?
A typical food dehydrator draws about 500 watts in use. At 8 hours/day, that works out to roughly 4.0 kWh per day, or 122 kWh per month.
How much does it cost to run a food dehydrator for 1 hour?
At the current U.S. average residential rate of 18.4¢/kWh, one hour costs about 9.2¢. In Idaho (12.4¢/kWh) it's 6.2¢, while in Hawaii (52¢/kWh) it's $0.26.
How much does a food dehydrator cost to run per month?
With typical usage (8 hours/day), expect about $22.37 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $15.08 in Idaho up to $63.23 in Hawaii. Rates are as of May 2026.
Does a food dehydrator use a lot of electricity?
Yes — at typical usage it accounts for roughly 14% of an average U.S. home's monthly consumption (885 kWh), which makes it one of the larger loads in the house.