How Much Does It Cost to Run Electric Water Heater?
An electric water heater is one of the largest energy users in most homes — a 4,000-watt element reheating the tank several hours a day. At the US-average rate of 16.5¢/kWh, running an electric water heater costs about $60.15/month ($721.82/year) at typical use. Adjust the watts, hours, and your rate below for your exact number.
Cost to run an electric water heater
$722/yr
- Per day
- $1.98
- Per month
- $60.15
- Energy per year
- 4,380 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.
Cost to run an electric water heater by electricity rate
Same 4,000 W appliance, 3 h/day — the bill changes with where you live.
| Scenario | Rate | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheapest states (North Dakota) | 11.5¢ | $42.01 | $504.14 |
| US average | 16.5¢ | $60.15 | $721.82 |
| Most expensive (Hawaii) | 42.9¢ | $156.44 | $1,877.27 |
Find your state's rate on the electricity rates by state page, or see the appliance wattage chart for more devices.
Frequently asked questions
Ask AI about this
Open an AI assistant with a question grounded in this page.