How much does it cost to run a pressure washer?
EIA data · June 2026About $3.51 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.
19.2 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 1,200–2,200 W. Use the figure on your own label if you have it.
70% duty cycle applied — it draws power for part of that time.
A pressure washer sits mid-table at #38 of 88, which means something else in the house costs more. See whether water & outdoor or something else drives your bill.
Published figures for this appliance disagree by a wide margin. Why other sites price a pressure washer so differently.
How many watts a pressure washer uses
Electric pressure washers use a 1,200–2,200 W motor driving the pump. Domestic 120-volt units cluster near 1,800 W, the practical ceiling for a portable appliance.
- Low
- 1,200 W
- Typical
- 1,800 W
- High
- 2,200 W
What it costs across the country
Same appliance, same usage, different electricity price. Annual cost at 1,800 W and the default usage above.
| State | ¢/kWh | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 52.72 | $121 |
| California | 34.74 | $79.88 |
| Massachusetts | 29.61 | $68.09 |
| New York | 29.49 | $67.81 |
| Ohio | 19.19 | $44.13 |
| Texas | 15.94 | $36.65 |
| Florida | 15.10 | $34.72 |
| Utah | 13.37 | $30.74 |
| Nebraska | 13.25 | $30.47 |
| Nevada | 13.11 | $30.15 |
Worth knowing
- The motor runs only while the trigger is held, so real draw is well below the hours the machine is switched on.
- Total-stop systems cut the motor between trigger pulls and use noticeably less than older units that idle the pump.
- Water use, not electricity, is usually the larger resource cost of a pressure washing session.
Other appliances
- Electric water heater
- Electric vehicle charging
- Hot tub
- Pool pump
- Well pump
- Sump pump
- Water softener
- Electric sauna
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.