🧺 Laundry
How Much Does a Garment Steamer Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.3¢/kWh (July 2026), a garment steamer costs about $0.32 per month at typical usage — 2 uses/week at 0.2 kWh each.
Per use
3.7¢
0.2 kWh per use
Per day
1.0¢
2 uses/week at 0.2 kWh each
Per month
$0.32
1.7 kWh
Per year
$3.82
21 kWh
Handheld and upright steamers boil water at 1,000–1,800 watts for a few minutes per session. Touching up a few outfits a week costs less than a dollar a year in most states.
Calculate it for your home
Per use
3.7¢
Per day
1.0¢
Per month
$0.32
Per year
$3.82
Uses 1.7 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 use | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | 12.7 | 2.5¢ | $0.22 | $2.65 |
| Nevada | 12.8 | 2.6¢ | $0.22 | $2.67 |
| Utah | 13.1 | 2.6¢ | $0.23 | $2.73 |
| North Dakota | 13.4 | 2.7¢ | $0.23 | $2.79 |
| Idaho | 13.7 | 2.7¢ | $0.24 | $2.86 |
| Tennessee | 13.7 | 2.7¢ | $0.24 | $2.86 |
| Kentucky | 13.8 | 2.8¢ | $0.24 | $2.88 |
| Nebraska | 13.8 | 2.8¢ | $0.24 | $2.88 |
| Arkansas | 14.3 | 2.9¢ | $0.25 | $2.98 |
| Oklahoma | 14.4 | 2.9¢ | $0.25 | $3.00 |
| Wyoming | 14.4 | 2.9¢ | $0.25 | $3.00 |
| Mississippi | 14.5 | 2.9¢ | $0.25 | $3.02 |
| Washington | 14.7 | 2.9¢ | $0.26 | $3.07 |
| Florida | 15.0 | 3.0¢ | $0.26 | $3.13 |
| Montana | 15.0 | 3.0¢ | $0.26 | $3.13 |
| North Carolina | 15.2 | 3.0¢ | $0.26 | $3.17 |
| Kansas | 15.3 | 3.1¢ | $0.27 | $3.19 |
| Arizona | 15.4 | 3.1¢ | $0.27 | $3.21 |
| South Dakota | 15.4 | 3.1¢ | $0.27 | $3.21 |
| South Carolina | 15.5 | 3.1¢ | $0.27 | $3.23 |
| West Virginia | 15.8 | 3.2¢ | $0.27 | $3.30 |
| Texas | 15.9 | 3.2¢ | $0.28 | $3.32 |
| Iowa | 16.0 | 3.2¢ | $0.28 | $3.34 |
| Oregon | 16.0 | 3.2¢ | $0.28 | $3.34 |
| Missouri | 16.1 | 3.2¢ | $0.28 | $3.36 |
| New Mexico | 16.1 | 3.2¢ | $0.28 | $3.36 |
| Georgia | 16.3 | 3.3¢ | $0.28 | $3.40 |
| Alabama | 16.4 | 3.3¢ | $0.28 | $3.42 |
| Indiana | 16.7 | 3.3¢ | $0.29 | $3.48 |
| Colorado | 17.0 | 3.4¢ | $0.30 | $3.55 |
| Minnesota | 17.5 | 3.5¢ | $0.30 | $3.65 |
| Virginia | 17.6 | 3.5¢ | $0.31 | $3.67 |
| Delaware | 18.5 | 3.7¢ | $0.32 | $3.86 |
| Wisconsin | 19.1 | 3.8¢ | $0.33 | $3.98 |
| Illinois | 19.2 | 3.8¢ | $0.33 | $4.00 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | 3.9¢ | $0.34 | $4.07 |
| Maryland | 21.4 | 4.3¢ | $0.37 | $4.46 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.7 | 4.3¢ | $0.38 | $4.53 |
| Michigan | 23.1 | 4.6¢ | $0.40 | $4.82 |
| Vermont | 23.8 | 4.8¢ | $0.41 | $4.96 |
| Connecticut | 24.2 | 4.8¢ | $0.42 | $5.05 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.2 | 5.0¢ | $0.44 | $5.26 |
| New Jersey | 25.2 | 5.0¢ | $0.44 | $5.26 |
| New Hampshire | 26.6 | 5.3¢ | $0.46 | $5.55 |
| Rhode Island | 28.3 | 5.7¢ | $0.49 | $5.90 |
| Alaska | 28.8 | 5.8¢ | $0.50 | $6.01 |
| New York | 29.9 | 6.0¢ | $0.52 | $6.24 |
| Massachusetts | 30.5 | 6.1¢ | $0.53 | $6.36 |
| Maine | 32.4 | 6.5¢ | $0.56 | $6.76 |
| California | 33.6 | 6.7¢ | $0.58 | $7.01 |
| Hawaii | 48.0 | $0.10 | $0.83 | $10.01 |
How to lower the cost
- Wash cold — water heating is most of a warm load’s energy.
- Use high spin speeds so the dryer works less; the washer’s spin is far cheaper than the dryer’s heat.
- Clean the dryer’s lint filter every load and the duct every year.
Frequently asked questions
How much electricity does a garment steamer use?
A typical garment steamer uses about 0.2 kWh per use. At 2 uses per week, that's roughly 1.7 kWh per month.
How much does one use of a garment steamer cost?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.3¢/kWh, each use costs about 3.7¢. That ranges from 2.5¢ in Louisiana to $0.10 in Hawaii.
How much does a garment steamer cost to run per month?
With typical usage (2 uses/week at 0.2 kWh each), expect about $0.32 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $0.22 in Louisiana up to $0.83 in Hawaii. Rates are as of July 2026.
Does a garment steamer use a lot of electricity?
Not really — at typical usage it's under 1% of an average home's monthly consumption. Heating, cooling, hot water, and drying are the loads that move bills.