Electric water heater: electricity cost calculator
Quick answer: a typical electric water heater costs about $75/month while in use at the U.S. average electricity price (18.34¢/kWh) — about $904 per year. Your number depends on wattage, runtime and your state — calculate it below.
A standard tank water heater has a 4,500 W element that runs about 2–4 hours per day in total for a typical household, depending on hot-water use and tank insulation.
13.50 kWh/day used · 411 kWh/month in use · 4931 kWh/year at 18.34¢ per kWh
Low, typical and heavy use
Monthly cost while in use, at the U.S. average price of 18.34¢/kWh.
| Scenario | Watts | Hours/day | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light use | 3,500 W | 1.8 h | $35.17 |
| Typical | 4,500 W | 3.0 h | $75.36 |
| Heavy use | 5,500 W | 4.5 h | $138.16 |
Common questions
Does lowering the tank temperature save money?
Dropping the thermostat from 140°F to 120°F typically saves 4–10% of water-heating energy and reduces scalding risk.
Are heat pump water heaters worth it?
They use roughly a third of the electricity of a resistance tank. In states with average or high prices they usually pay back the price difference in 2–4 years.
Cost in every state
Monthly cost of a typical electric water heater (4,500 W, 3h/day) at each state's average residential price, June 2026.
| State | Avg price | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.40¢ | $67.39 |
| Alaska | 28.21¢ | $115.92 |
| Arizona | 15.18¢ | $62.38 |
| Arkansas | 14.12¢ | $58.02 |
| California | 34.74¢ | $142.75 |
| Colorado | 17.13¢ | $70.39 |
| Connecticut | 24.32¢ | $99.93 |
| Delaware | 19.29¢ | $79.26 |
| District of Columbia | 24.39¢ | $100.22 |
| Florida | 15.10¢ | $62.05 |
| Georgia | 16.36¢ | $67.22 |
| Hawaii | 52.72¢ | $216.63 |
| Idaho | 14.37¢ | $59.05 |
| Illinois | 19.89¢ | $81.73 |
| Indiana | 17.51¢ | $71.95 |
| Iowa | 15.93¢ | $65.46 |
| Kansas | 15.71¢ | $64.55 |
| Kentucky | 14.26¢ | $58.60 |
| Louisiana | 13.49¢ | $55.43 |
| Maine | 29.59¢ | $121.59 |
| Maryland | 21.84¢ | $89.74 |
| Massachusetts | 29.61¢ | $121.67 |
| Michigan | 22.99¢ | $94.47 |
| Minnesota | 17.52¢ | $71.99 |
| Mississippi | 14.88¢ | $61.14 |
| Missouri | 16.22¢ | $66.65 |
| Montana | 15.14¢ | $62.21 |
| Nebraska | 13.25¢ | $54.45 |
| Nevada | 13.11¢ | $53.87 |
| New Hampshire | 27.01¢ | $110.99 |
| New Jersey | 24.95¢ | $102.52 |
| New Mexico | 15.06¢ | $61.88 |
| New York | 29.49¢ | $121.18 |
| North Carolina | 14.74¢ | $60.57 |
| North Dakota | 14.12¢ | $58.02 |
| Ohio | 19.19¢ | $78.85 |
| Oklahoma | 14.33¢ | $58.88 |
| Oregon | 16.32¢ | $67.06 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.73¢ | $89.29 |
| Rhode Island | 29.23¢ | $120.11 |
| South Carolina | 15.55¢ | $63.90 |
| South Dakota | 15.36¢ | $63.12 |
| Tennessee | 14.07¢ | $57.81 |
| Texas | 15.94¢ | $65.50 |
| Utah | 13.37¢ | $54.94 |
| Vermont | 24.44¢ | $100.43 |
| Virginia | 17.22¢ | $70.76 |
| Washington | 14.91¢ | $61.27 |
| West Virginia | 15.45¢ | $63.49 |
| Wisconsin | 19.56¢ | $80.37 |
| Wyoming | 15.24¢ | $62.62 |
Related calculators
Heat pump water heater Same hot water for about a third of the electricity.
~550 W · 4h/day →
Electric tankless water heater Enormous draw, but only while hot water is flowing.
~18,000 W · 1h/day →
Washing machine Cold washes make it one of the cheapest appliances.
~500 W · 0.75h/day →
Electric clothes dryer Around 3 kWh per load for a standard electric dryer.
~3,000 W · 1h/day →
Heat pump dryer Slower cycles, less than half the energy per load.
~900 W · 1.5h/day →
Well pump A ½–2 HP motor that runs whenever water flows.
~1,000 W · 2h/day →
Methodology & sources
Cost = watts ÷ 1,000 × hours × price per kWh. Electricity prices are average residential prices by state from the EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A (June 2026). EIA averages include delivery charges and taxes but are not any specific utility tariff — for an exact figure, use the rate from your own bill. Wattage presets reflect common product ranges; check your appliance's nameplate or a plug-in power meter for its true draw.
Last verified: August 27, 2026. Prices refresh automatically each month when EIA publishes new data.