How Much Does It Cost to Run a Garment Steamer?
A steamer boils water at 1,500 watts, but a quick pass over a shirt lasts minutes. At the US-average rate of 16.5¢/kWh, running a garment steamer costs about $1.50/month ($18.05/year) at typical use. Adjust the watts, hours, and your rate below for your exact number.
Cost to run a garment steamer
$18/yr
- Per day
- $0.05
- Per month
- $1.50
- Energy per year
- 110 kWh
Cost = power (kW) × hours × days × your rate. Defaults are typical values: enter your appliance's actual watts (often on a label) and your real rate for a precise figure.
How much electricity does a garment steamer use?
At 1,500 W for 0.2 hours a day, a garment steamer uses about 0.3 kWh per day or roughly 9 kWh per month and 110 kWh per year. That's about 1% of the 863 kWh the average US home uses in a month. Energy use is the same everywhere: only the price per kWh changes your bill.
Wondering about the circuit instead? See how many amps a garment steamer draws.
Cost to run a garment steamer by electricity rate
Same 1,500 W appliance, 0.2 h/day: the bill changes with where you live.
| Scenario | Rate | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheapest states (North Dakota) | 11.5¢ | $1.05 | $12.60 |
| US average | 16.5¢ | $1.50 | $18.05 |
| Most expensive (Hawaii) | 42.9¢ | $3.91 | $46.93 |
Find your state's rate on the electricity rates by state page, or see the appliance wattage chart for more devices.
Measure what a garment steamer really costs you
The estimate above uses typical wattage and hours. A plug-in energy meter logs the kilowatt-hours this appliance actually uses: leave it in for a week, multiply by your rate, and the estimate becomes a measurement. A whole-home monitor does the same for every circuit at once, but its sensors install inside the panel.
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Plug-in power meter
P3 International Kill A Watt P4400
Best for: Measuring what one plug-in appliance really uses
Whole-home energy monitor
Emporia Vue 3 Home Energy Monitor (16 circuit sensors)
Best for: Measuring hardwired and 240 V loads, or every circuit at once
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