How much does it cost to run a clothes steamer?
EIA data · June 2026About $1.00 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.
5.5 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 800–1,800 W. Use the figure on your own label if you have it.
80% duty cycle applied — it draws power for part of that time.
A clothes steamer sits mid-table at #68 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 steamer so differently.
How many watts a clothes steamer uses
Handheld garment steamers are rated 800–1,500 W; upright models with a larger tank reach 1,800 W. All of it goes into boiling water.
- Low
- 800 W
- Typical
- 1,500 W
- High
- 1,800 W
What it costs across the country
Same appliance, same usage, different electricity price. Annual cost at 1,500 W and the default usage above.
| State | ¢/kWh | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 52.72 | $34.64 |
| California | 34.74 | $22.82 |
| Massachusetts | 29.61 | $19.45 |
| New York | 29.49 | $19.37 |
| Ohio | 19.19 | $12.61 |
| Texas | 15.94 | $10.47 |
| Florida | 15.10 | $9.92 |
| Utah | 13.37 | $8.78 |
| Nebraska | 13.25 | $8.71 |
| Nevada | 13.11 | $8.61 |
Worth knowing
- A steamer draws close to its rating continuously while producing steam, unlike an iron which cycles — so per minute it costs more.
- Sessions are short, so the annual total stays small even at high wattage.
- Descaling matters: mineral build-up makes the element work longer for the same steam output.
Other appliances
- Electric clothes dryer
- Washing machine
- Clothes iron
- 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.