🍳 Kitchen
How Much Does a Food Dehydrator Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.3¢/kWh (July 2026), a food dehydrator costs about $22.25 per month at typical usage — 8 hours/day.
Per hour
9.2¢
at 300–1,000 W
Per day
$0.73
8 hours/day
Per month
$22.25
122 kWh
Per year
$267
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
$0.73
Per month
$22.25
Per year
$267
Uses 122 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 | 6.3¢ | $15.44 | $185 |
| Nevada | 12.8 | 6.4¢ | $15.56 | $187 |
| Utah | 13.1 | 6.6¢ | $15.93 | $191 |
| North Dakota | 13.4 | 6.7¢ | $16.29 | $196 |
| Idaho | 13.7 | 6.8¢ | $16.66 | $200 |
| Tennessee | 13.7 | 6.8¢ | $16.66 | $200 |
| Kentucky | 13.8 | 6.9¢ | $16.78 | $201 |
| Nebraska | 13.8 | 6.9¢ | $16.78 | $201 |
| Arkansas | 14.3 | 7.2¢ | $17.39 | $209 |
| Oklahoma | 14.4 | 7.2¢ | $17.51 | $210 |
| Wyoming | 14.4 | 7.2¢ | $17.51 | $210 |
| Mississippi | 14.5 | 7.2¢ | $17.63 | $212 |
| Washington | 14.7 | 7.3¢ | $17.88 | $215 |
| Florida | 15.0 | 7.5¢ | $18.24 | $219 |
| Montana | 15.0 | 7.5¢ | $18.24 | $219 |
| North Carolina | 15.2 | 7.6¢ | $18.48 | $222 |
| Kansas | 15.3 | 7.6¢ | $18.60 | $223 |
| Arizona | 15.4 | 7.7¢ | $18.73 | $225 |
| South Dakota | 15.4 | 7.7¢ | $18.73 | $225 |
| South Carolina | 15.5 | 7.8¢ | $18.85 | $226 |
| West Virginia | 15.8 | 7.9¢ | $19.21 | $231 |
| Texas | 15.9 | 8.0¢ | $19.33 | $232 |
| Iowa | 16.0 | 8.0¢ | $19.46 | $234 |
| Oregon | 16.0 | 8.0¢ | $19.46 | $234 |
| Missouri | 16.1 | 8.1¢ | $19.58 | $235 |
| New Mexico | 16.1 | 8.1¢ | $19.58 | $235 |
| Georgia | 16.3 | 8.2¢ | $19.82 | $238 |
| Alabama | 16.4 | 8.2¢ | $19.94 | $239 |
| Indiana | 16.7 | 8.3¢ | $20.31 | $244 |
| Colorado | 17.0 | 8.5¢ | $20.67 | $248 |
| Minnesota | 17.5 | 8.8¢ | $21.28 | $255 |
| Virginia | 17.6 | 8.8¢ | $21.40 | $257 |
| Delaware | 18.5 | 9.3¢ | $22.50 | $270 |
| Wisconsin | 19.1 | $0.10 | $23.23 | $279 |
| Illinois | 19.2 | $0.10 | $23.35 | $280 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | $0.10 | $23.71 | $285 |
| Maryland | 21.4 | $0.11 | $26.02 | $312 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.7 | $0.11 | $26.39 | $317 |
| Michigan | 23.1 | $0.12 | $28.09 | $337 |
| Vermont | 23.8 | $0.12 | $28.94 | $347 |
| Connecticut | 24.2 | $0.12 | $29.43 | $353 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.2 | $0.13 | $30.64 | $368 |
| New Jersey | 25.2 | $0.13 | $30.64 | $368 |
| New Hampshire | 26.6 | $0.13 | $32.35 | $388 |
| Rhode Island | 28.3 | $0.14 | $34.41 | $413 |
| Alaska | 28.8 | $0.14 | $35.02 | $420 |
| New York | 29.9 | $0.15 | $36.36 | $437 |
| Massachusetts | 30.5 | $0.15 | $37.09 | $445 |
| Maine | 32.4 | $0.16 | $39.40 | $473 |
| California | 33.6 | $0.17 | $40.86 | $491 |
| Hawaii | 48.0 | $0.24 | $58.37 | $701 |
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 18.3¢/kWh, one hour costs about 9.2¢. In Louisiana (12.7¢/kWh) it's 6.3¢, while in Hawaii (48¢/kWh) it's $0.24.
How much does a food dehydrator cost to run per month?
With typical usage (8 hours/day), expect about $22.25 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $15.44 in Louisiana up to $58.37 in Hawaii. Rates are as of July 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.