How much does it cost to run a vacuum cleaner?
EIA data · June 2026About $1.26 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.
6.8 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 450–1,400 W. Use the figure on your own label if you have it.
A vacuum cleaner sits mid-table at #64 of 88, which means something else in the house costs more. See whether home & cleaning or something else drives your bill.
Every figure here is priced per kilowatt-hour. What a kilowatt-hour actually is.
How many watts a vacuum cleaner uses
Upright and canister vacuums draw roughly 700–1,200 W. Cordless stick vacuums draw far less in use, and their real cost is the charging cycle rather than the motor.
- Low
- 450 W
- Typical
- 900 W
- High
- 1,400 W
What it costs across the country
Same appliance, same usage, different electricity price. Annual cost at 900 W and the default usage above.
| State | ¢/kWh | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 52.72 | $43.30 |
| California | 34.74 | $28.53 |
| Massachusetts | 29.61 | $24.32 |
| New York | 29.49 | $24.22 |
| Ohio | 19.19 | $15.76 |
| Texas | 15.94 | $13.09 |
| Florida | 15.10 | $12.40 |
| Utah | 13.37 | $10.98 |
| Nebraska | 13.25 | $10.88 |
| Nevada | 13.11 | $10.77 |
Worth knowing
- High draw, short runtime. Vacuuming the whole house twice a week costs a few dollars a year.
- Wattage is not suction. Modern vacuums achieve better cleaning at lower wattage through airflow design, so a higher number on the box is not a better machine.
- A clogged filter or full bag makes the motor work harder for less suction, which raises the draw and shortens the motor's life.
Other appliances
- Robot vacuum
- Hair dryer
- Air purifier
- Steam mop
- Space heater
- Central air conditioner
- Window air conditioner
- Electric water heater
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.