Heating · US average
How Much Does It Cost to Run an Electric Water Heater?
The short answer
A typical 4,500W electric water heater costs about $0.82 per hour to run at the US average electricity rate, or $75.19 a month at 3 hours a day.
Based on the US average residential rate of 18.3¢/kWh (EIA, July 2026). Costs range from $52.24/month in Louisiana to $197/month in Hawaii — pick your state below for an exact figure.
Source: U.S. EIA, July 2026 data · Updated
Electric Water Heater running cost at the US average rate
| Daily use | kWh/month | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour/day | 136.9 | $0.82 | $25.06 | $301 |
| 2 hours/day | 273.8 | $1.65 | $50.13 | $601 |
| 4 hours/day | 547.6 | $3.30 | $100 | $1,203 |
| 8 hours/day | 1,095.1 | $6.59 | $201 | $2,406 |
| 12 hours/day | 1,642.7 | $9.89 | $301 | $3,609 |
| 24 hours/day | 3,285.4 | $19.77 | $602 | $7,218 |
Cost to run an electric water heater in every state
At 3 hours a day and each state’s average residential rate. Select a state for its full breakdown.
| Alabama | 16.4¢ | $0.74 | $67.35 | $808 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 28.8¢ | $1.30 | $118 | $1,421 |
| Arizona | 15.4¢ | $0.69 | $63.16 | $758 |
| Arkansas | 14.3¢ | $0.64 | $58.85 | $706 |
| California | 33.6¢ | $1.51 | $138 | $1,656 |
| Colorado | 17.0¢ | $0.77 | $69.81 | $838 |
| Connecticut | 24.2¢ | $1.09 | $99.22 | $1,190 |
| Delaware | 18.5¢ | $0.83 | $75.89 | $911 |
| District of Columbia | 25.2¢ | $1.13 | $104 | $1,242 |
| Florida | 15.0¢ | $0.68 | $61.72 | $741 |
| Georgia | 16.3¢ | $0.73 | $66.82 | $802 |
| Hawaii | 48.0¢ | $2.16 | $197 | $2,365 |
| Idaho | 13.7¢ | $0.62 | $56.38 | $677 |
| Illinois | 19.2¢ | $0.86 | $78.93 | $947 |
| Indiana | 16.7¢ | $0.75 | $68.71 | $824 |
| Iowa | 16.0¢ | $0.72 | $65.67 | $788 |
| Kansas | 15.3¢ | $0.69 | $62.71 | $752 |
| Kentucky | 13.8¢ | $0.62 | $56.71 | $680 |
| Louisiana | 12.7¢ | $0.57 | $52.24 | $627 |
| Maine | 32.4¢ | $1.46 | $133 | $1,597 |
| Maryland | 21.4¢ | $0.96 | $87.92 | $1,055 |
| Massachusetts | 30.5¢ | $1.37 | $125 | $1,502 |
| Michigan | 23.1¢ | $1.04 | $94.66 | $1,136 |
| Minnesota | 17.5¢ | $0.79 | $71.66 | $860 |
| Mississippi | 14.5¢ | $0.65 | $59.71 | $716 |
| Missouri | 16.1¢ | $0.72 | $66.08 | $793 |
| Montana | 15.0¢ | $0.67 | $61.56 | $739 |
| Nebraska | 13.8¢ | $0.62 | $56.59 | $679 |
| Nevada | 12.8¢ | $0.57 | $52.44 | $629 |
| New Hampshire | 26.6¢ | $1.20 | $109 | $1,311 |
| New Jersey | 25.2¢ | $1.13 | $103 | $1,241 |
| New Mexico | 16.1¢ | $0.72 | $66.08 | $793 |
| New York | 29.9¢ | $1.35 | $123 | $1,473 |
| North Carolina | 15.2¢ | $0.68 | $62.26 | $747 |
| North Dakota | 13.4¢ | $0.60 | $55.07 | $661 |
| Ohio | 19.5¢ | $0.88 | $79.88 | $958 |
| Oklahoma | 14.4¢ | $0.65 | $58.93 | $707 |
| Oregon | 16.0¢ | $0.72 | $65.58 | $787 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.7¢ | $0.98 | $89.20 | $1,070 |
| Rhode Island | 28.3¢ | $1.27 | $116 | $1,394 |
| South Carolina | 15.5¢ | $0.70 | $63.53 | $762 |
| South Dakota | 15.4¢ | $0.69 | $63.12 | $757 |
| Tennessee | 13.7¢ | $0.62 | $56.30 | $676 |
| Texas | 15.9¢ | $0.71 | $65.21 | $782 |
| Utah | 13.1¢ | $0.59 | $53.88 | $646 |
| Vermont | 23.8¢ | $1.07 | $97.53 | $1,170 |
| Virginia | 17.6¢ | $0.79 | $72.07 | $865 |
| Washington | 14.7¢ | $0.66 | $60.41 | $725 |
| West Virginia | 15.8¢ | $0.71 | $64.80 | $778 |
| Wisconsin | 19.1¢ | $0.86 | $78.27 | $939 |
| Wyoming | 14.4¢ | $0.65 | $58.97 | $708 |
How much electricity does an electric water heater use?
A standard electric tank water heater has 4,500W elements, and the average one runs about 3 hours a day in total.
Electric tank water heaters keep 40–80 gallons of water hot around the clock, switching their heating elements on whenever you use hot water or the tank cools down. The elements are typically 4,500W, and total run time for a family is roughly 2–4 hours a day, which is why water heating is often the second-biggest line on an all-electric home's bill. Heat pump water heaters do the same job with 2–3 times less electricity.
Ways to cut the cost
- Set the tank to 120°F (49°C) — many ship at 140°F, which wastes energy.
- Insulate the first few feet of hot water pipe and fix dripping hot taps.
- Consider a heat pump water heater when your tank needs replacing — they use about a third of the electricity.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run an electric water heater per month?
At 3 hours a day, a typical electric water heater costs about $75.19 a month at the US average rate of 18.3¢/kWh. Depending on your state, the same usage costs between $52.24 and $197.
How many watts does an electric water heater use?
Electric water heaters typically draw 3,000W–5,500W, with 4,500W a common figure. A standard electric tank water heater has 4,500W elements, and the average one runs about 3 hours a day in total.
Which state is cheapest to run an electric water heater in?
Louisiana is currently the cheapest at about $627 a year for typical use, and Hawaii the most expensive at about $2,365 a year.
How many hours a day does an electric water heater run?
For a typical household, about 2–4 hours a day in total, spread across showers, laundry and dishes, plus short reheats to make up for standby heat loss.
Related appliances
Sources & method
- Electricity rates: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly — average residential retail price, July 2026 (latest available). Retrieved .
- CO₂: EIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024 emissions rate of in-state power generation.
- Formulas, duty cycles and limitations: methodology. Data download: open data (CC BY 4.0).