United States Laundry and water
How much does it cost to run an electric water heater?
A standard electric tank water heater has a 4,500 watt element and is the second largest electricity user in most all-electric American homes after heating and cooling. The element runs about two to three hours a day in a typical household, around 10 to 12 kWh.
A 4.5 kW electric water heater costs about 82 cents an hour to run in the US on average at 18.16 cents per kWh. Running it 2.5 hours a day comes to about $2.04 a day, $62.18 a month and $746.21 a year.
- Prices: EIA, August 2026, every state
- Wattage range with its source
- Checked 26 October 2026
Uses 11 kWh a day, 342 kWh a month, at 18.16 cents per kWh (US average).
The dial places the daily cost between a 50 watt fan and a 4.5 kW water heater on 2.5 hours a day.
A 4.5 kW electric water heater costs about 82 cents an hour to run in the US on average at 18.16 cents per kWh. Running it 2.5 hours a day comes to about $2.04 a day, $62.18 a month and $746.21 a year.
What this assumes
The default is a 4.5 kW electric water heater running 2.5 hours a day. Published typical ratings run from 3,800 to 5,500 watts. Your label or manual gives the exact figure, and the calculator takes it.
The price is the average residential rate in each state from the EIA's Electric Power Monthly for August 2026, released 23 October 2026. The next monthly table is due 24 November 2026. A fixed tariff, a time-of-use plan or a different payment method changes the rate, which is why the rate field is editable.
Cost to run an electric water heater in every state
Same 4.5 kW electric water heater, 2.5 hours a day, priced at each state's average residential rate for August 2026. Cheapest: Nevada at 12.72 cents per kWh. Dearest: Hawaii at 47.18. Change the numbers above and the table follows.
| State | Rate | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | 12.72c | 57 cents | $1.43 | $43.56 | $522.67 |
| Louisiana | 12.87c | 58 cents | $1.45 | $44.07 | $528.84 |
| North Dakota | 13.31c | 60 cents | $1.50 | $45.58 | $546.92 |
| Utah | 13.31c | 60 cents | $1.50 | $45.58 | $546.92 |
| Idaho | 13.37c | 60 cents | $1.50 | $45.78 | $549.38 |
| Tennessee | 13.42c | 60 cents | $1.51 | $45.95 | $551.44 |
| Nebraska | 13.54c | 61 cents | $1.52 | $46.36 | $556.37 |
| Kentucky | 13.8c | 62 cents | $1.55 | $47.25 | $567.05 |
| Arkansas | 14.37c | 65 cents | $1.62 | $49.21 | $590.47 |
| Mississippi | 14.43c | 65 cents | $1.62 | $49.41 | $592.94 |
| Wyoming | 14.43c | 65 cents | $1.62 | $49.41 | $592.94 |
| Washington | 14.63c | 66 cents | $1.65 | $50.10 | $601.16 |
| Oklahoma | 14.82c | 67 cents | $1.67 | $50.75 | $608.96 |
| North Carolina | 14.95c | 67 cents | $1.68 | $51.19 | $614.30 |
| Florida | 14.99c | 67 cents | $1.69 | $51.33 | $615.95 |
| Arizona | 15.05c | 68 cents | $1.69 | $51.53 | $618.41 |
| South Dakota | 15.15c | 68 cents | $1.70 | $51.88 | $622.52 |
| Kansas | 15.47c | 70 cents | $1.74 | $52.97 | $635.67 |
| Montana | 15.57c | 70 cents | $1.75 | $53.32 | $639.78 |
| South Carolina | 15.76c | 71 cents | $1.77 | $53.97 | $647.59 |
| Georgia | 15.9c | 72 cents | $1.79 | $54.45 | $653.34 |
| Texas | 15.91c | 72 cents | $1.79 | $54.48 | $653.75 |
| Oregon | 15.92c | 72 cents | $1.79 | $54.51 | $654.16 |
| Missouri | 16.02c | 72 cents | $1.80 | $54.86 | $658.27 |
| West Virginia | 16.31c | 73 cents | $1.83 | $55.85 | $670.19 |
| Alabama | 16.33c | 73 cents | $1.84 | $55.92 | $671.01 |
| New Mexico | 16.51c | 74 cents | $1.86 | $56.53 | $678.41 |
| Indiana | 17.02c | 77 cents | $1.91 | $58.28 | $699.36 |
| Iowa | 17.06c | 77 cents | $1.92 | $58.42 | $701.01 |
| Colorado | 17.17c | 77 cents | $1.93 | $58.79 | $705.53 |
| Minnesota | 17.2c | 77 cents | $1.94 | $58.90 | $706.76 |
| Virginia | 17.64c | 79 cents | $1.98 | $60.40 | $724.84 |
| Delaware | 18.7c | 84 cents | $2.10 | $64.03 | $768.39 |
| Illinois | 19.32c | 87 cents | $2.17 | $66.16 | $793.87 |
| Ohio | 19.38c | 87 cents | $2.18 | $66.36 | $796.34 |
| Wisconsin | 19.41c | 87 cents | $2.18 | $66.46 | $797.57 |
| Maryland | 21.4c | 96 cents | $2.41 | $73.28 | $879.34 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.77c | 98 cents | $2.45 | $74.55 | $894.54 |
| Michigan | 22.99c | $1.03 | $2.59 | $78.72 | $944.67 |
| Vermont | 23.84c | $1.07 | $2.68 | $81.63 | $979.60 |
| Connecticut | 24.51c | $1.10 | $2.76 | $83.93 | $1,007 |
| New Jersey | 24.61c | $1.11 | $2.77 | $84.27 | $1,011 |
| District of Columbia | 25.98c | $1.17 | $2.92 | $88.96 | $1,068 |
| New Hampshire | 27.64c | $1.24 | $3.11 | $94.65 | $1,136 |
| Rhode Island | 28.18c | $1.27 | $3.17 | $96.49 | $1,158 |
| New York | 28.65c | $1.29 | $3.22 | $98.10 | $1,177 |
| Alaska | 29.41c | $1.32 | $3.31 | $100.71 | $1,208 |
| California | 29.75c | $1.34 | $3.35 | $101.87 | $1,222 |
| Massachusetts | 30.48c | $1.37 | $3.43 | $104.37 | $1,252 |
| Maine | 32.11c | $1.44 | $3.61 | $109.95 | $1,319 |
| Hawaii | 47.18c | $2.12 | $5.31 | $161.55 | $1,939 |
Rates: EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A, residential sector, August 2026, preliminary. All rates with the year-on-year change.
How an electric water heater uses electricity
The hours depend on hot water use: showers, laundry on hot, dishwasher. A household of four uses more like 3 to 4 hours of element time a day. A single person, 1 to 1.5 hours.
A heat pump water heater does the same job on about a third of the electricity. It is the biggest single saving available in an all-electric home.
Ways to cut the cost
- Set the thermostat to 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Insulate the tank and the hot pipes.
- Fix dripping hot taps. A drip is a slow drain on the tank.
Questions people ask
How much does an electric water heater cost per month?
At 4,500 watts for 2.5 hours a day, about 340 kWh a month. At 18 cents that is about 61 dollars. It is the biggest line on many bills.
Is a tankless electric water heater cheaper to run?
A little, because there are no standby losses, but it draws 18,000 to 36,000 watts while running and needs a heavy electrical supply. The heat pump water heater is the bigger saver.
Other laundry and water costs
More in the US
Sources
The electricity price on this page is read from the data file that also lists the release it came from. The wattage range is a published typical range, not a measurement of your appliance.