How much does it cost to run an ice maker?
EIA data · June 2026About $14.06 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.
76.6 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 200–600 W. Use the figure on your own label if you have it.
30% duty cycle applied — it draws power for part of that time.
An ice maker sits mid-table at #19 of 88, which means something else in the house costs more. See whether kitchen or something else drives your bill.
Published figures for this appliance disagree by a wide margin. Why other sites price an ice maker so differently.
How many watts an ice maker uses
A countertop or undercounter ice maker draws roughly 200–500 W while its compressor runs. Larger undercounter units with a freezing plate reach about 600 W.
- Low
- 200 W
- Typical
- 350 W
- High
- 600 W
What it costs across the country
Same appliance, same usage, different electricity price. Annual cost at 350 W and the default usage above.
| State | ¢/kWh | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 52.72 | $485 |
| California | 34.74 | $320 |
| Massachusetts | 29.61 | $272 |
| New York | 29.49 | $271 |
| Ohio | 19.19 | $177 |
| Texas | 15.94 | $147 |
| Florida | 15.10 | $139 |
| Utah | 13.37 | $123 |
| Nebraska | 13.25 | $122 |
| Nevada | 13.11 | $121 |
Worth knowing
- An ice maker spends most of its time idle and cycles only to replace ice that has been taken or has sublimated away in the bin.
- Bins are not freezers. In most countertop units the ice slowly melts and is refrozen, which is a continuous background cost nobody notices.
- The built-in ice maker in a refrigerator is cheaper to run than a separate unit, because it shares one compressor and one insulated cabinet.
Other appliances
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.