How much does it cost to run an iron?
EIA data · June 2026About 80.3¢ a month at the U.S. average price of 18.34¢ per kilowatt-hour — but that figure moves a long way depending on where you live. Set your state below.
4.4 kWh a month at the U.S. average, 18.34¢/kWh for June 2026. Excludes fixed charges, taxes and time-of-use rates, which vary by utility and are on your bill.
Typical 1,000–1,800 W. Use the figure on your own label if you have it.
40% duty cycle applied — it draws power for part of that time.
A clothes iron sits mid-table at #71 of 88, which means something else in the house costs more. See whether laundry or something else drives your bill.
Published figures for this appliance disagree by a wide margin. Why other sites price a clothes iron so differently.
How many watts a clothes iron uses
Domestic steam irons are rated 1,000–1,800 W. Like every plug-in heating appliance on a 120-volt circuit they are built below the 1,800 W ceiling.
- Low
- 1,000 W
- Typical
- 1,200 W
- High
- 1,800 W
What it costs across the country
Same appliance, same usage, different electricity price. Annual cost at 1,200 W and the default usage above.
| State | ¢/kWh | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 52.72 | $27.71 |
| California | 34.74 | $18.26 |
| Massachusetts | 29.61 | $15.56 |
| New York | 29.49 | $15.50 |
| Ohio | 19.19 | $10.09 |
| Texas | 15.94 | $8.38 |
| Florida | 15.10 | $7.94 |
| Utah | 13.37 | $7.03 |
| Nebraska | 13.25 | $6.96 |
| Nevada | 13.11 | $6.89 |
Worth knowing
- The element cycles hard against the thermostat, so an iron draws its full rating only in bursts.
- Steam costs more than dry ironing, because turning water to vapour needs considerably more energy than warming the plate.
- Ironing a full basket in one session is cheaper than several short sessions, since each one pays the warm-up again.
Other appliances
- Electric clothes dryer
- Washing machine
- Clothes steamer
- Space heater
- Central air conditioner
- Window air conditioner
- Electric water heater
- Refrigerator
Prices are statewide residential averages for June 2026 from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. They exclude fixed monthly charges, taxes and time-of-use rates. See how these figures are calculated.