🚗 Outdoor, Garage & EV
How Much Does a Welder (Home Shop) Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.4¢/kWh (May 2026), a welder (home shop) costs about $2.00 per month at typical usage — 1 use/week at 2.5 kWh each.
Per use
$0.46
2.5 kWh per use
Per day
6.6¢
1 use/week at 2.5 kWh each
Per month
$2.00
11 kWh
Per year
$23.99
130 kWh
A 240 V hobby welder can draw several kilowatts mid-arc, but actual arc-on time in a weekend project is minutes, not hours. Even regular hobby welding rarely adds more than a few dollars a month.
Calculate it for your home
Per use
$0.46
Per day
6.6¢
Per month
$2.00
Per year
$23.99
Uses 11 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 use | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho | 12.4 | $0.31 | $1.35 | $16.16 |
| Utah | 13.0 | $0.33 | $1.41 | $16.95 |
| Oklahoma | 13.4 | $0.34 | $1.45 | $17.47 |
| Nebraska | 13.6 | $0.34 | $1.48 | $17.73 |
| Nevada | 13.6 | $0.34 | $1.48 | $17.73 |
| North Dakota | 13.6 | $0.34 | $1.48 | $17.73 |
| Missouri | 13.7 | $0.34 | $1.49 | $17.86 |
| Iowa | 14.1 | $0.35 | $1.53 | $18.38 |
| New Mexico | 14.1 | $0.35 | $1.53 | $18.38 |
| Louisiana | 14.2 | $0.35 | $1.54 | $18.51 |
| Arkansas | 14.4 | $0.36 | $1.56 | $18.77 |
| Tennessee | 14.5 | $0.36 | $1.57 | $18.90 |
| Montana | 14.7 | $0.37 | $1.60 | $19.16 |
| Wyoming | 14.8 | $0.37 | $1.61 | $19.29 |
| Kentucky | 15.0 | $0.38 | $1.63 | $19.55 |
| Washington | 15.0 | $0.38 | $1.63 | $19.55 |
| Kansas | 15.1 | $0.38 | $1.64 | $19.68 |
| North Carolina | 15.1 | $0.38 | $1.64 | $19.68 |
| Arizona | 15.2 | $0.38 | $1.65 | $19.81 |
| Florida | 15.2 | $0.38 | $1.65 | $19.81 |
| South Dakota | 15.7 | $0.39 | $1.70 | $20.47 |
| Georgia | 15.8 | $0.40 | $1.72 | $20.60 |
| Colorado | 16.2 | $0.41 | $1.76 | $21.12 |
| Mississippi | 16.2 | $0.41 | $1.76 | $21.12 |
| South Carolina | 16.2 | $0.41 | $1.76 | $21.12 |
| Oregon | 16.3 | $0.41 | $1.77 | $21.25 |
| Texas | 16.4 | $0.41 | $1.78 | $21.38 |
| Alabama | 16.8 | $0.42 | $1.82 | $21.90 |
| West Virginia | 16.8 | $0.42 | $1.82 | $21.90 |
| Minnesota | 17.0 | $0.43 | $1.85 | $22.16 |
| Virginia | 17.6 | $0.44 | $1.91 | $22.94 |
| Indiana | 18.2 | $0.45 | $1.98 | $23.73 |
| Delaware | 19.4 | $0.48 | $2.11 | $25.29 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | $0.49 | $2.12 | $25.42 |
| Wisconsin | 19.7 | $0.49 | $2.14 | $25.68 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.6 | $0.54 | $2.35 | $28.16 |
| Maryland | 21.8 | $0.55 | $2.37 | $28.42 |
| Michigan | 22.0 | $0.55 | $2.39 | $28.68 |
| New Jersey | 23.3 | $0.58 | $2.53 | $30.37 |
| Illinois | 23.9 | $0.60 | $2.59 | $31.16 |
| Vermont | 24.9 | $0.62 | $2.70 | $32.46 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.4 | $0.64 | $2.76 | $33.11 |
| New Hampshire | 27.3 | $0.68 | $2.96 | $35.59 |
| Connecticut | 27.4 | $0.68 | $2.97 | $35.72 |
| Alaska | 28.2 | $0.70 | $3.06 | $36.76 |
| Maine | 28.6 | $0.72 | $3.11 | $37.28 |
| Massachusetts | 28.8 | $0.72 | $3.13 | $37.54 |
| Rhode Island | 29.5 | $0.74 | $3.20 | $38.46 |
| New York | 29.9 | $0.75 | $3.25 | $38.98 |
| California | 33.3 | $0.83 | $3.62 | $43.41 |
| Hawaii | 52.0 | $1.30 | $5.65 | $67.79 |
How to lower the cost
- Charge vehicles and batteries overnight if your utility offers time-of-use rates.
- Standby draw hides in garages — openers, chargers, and old fridges add up around the clock.
- Electric yard tools cost pennies per session; the battery’s lifespan is the real economics.
Frequently asked questions
How much electricity does a welder (home shop) use?
A typical welder (home shop) uses about 2.5 kWh per use. At 1 uses per week, that's roughly 11 kWh per month.
How much does one use of a welder (home shop) cost?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.4¢/kWh, each use costs about $0.46. That ranges from $0.31 in Idaho to $1.30 in Hawaii.
How much does a welder (home shop) cost to run per month?
With typical usage (1 use/week at 2.5 kWh each), expect about $2.00 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $1.35 in Idaho up to $5.65 in Hawaii. Rates are as of May 2026.
Does a welder (home shop) 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.