How Much Does It Cost to Run a Clothes Iron?
An iron is a hot 1,100-watt plate, but since a session lasts minutes, ironing costs pennies. At the US-average rate of 16.5¢/kWh, running a clothes iron costs about $1.65/month ($19.85/year) at typical use. Adjust the watts, hours, and your rate below for your exact number.
Cost to run a clothes iron
$20/yr
- Per day
- $0.05
- Per month
- $1.65
- Energy per year
- 120 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 clothes iron use?
At 1,100 W for 0.3 hours a day, a clothes iron uses about 0.3 kWh per day — roughly 10 kWh per month and 120 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 clothes iron draws.
Cost to run a clothes iron by electricity rate
Same 1,100 W appliance, 0.3 h/day — the bill changes with where you live.
| Scenario | Rate | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheapest states (North Dakota) | 11.5¢ | $1.16 | $13.86 |
| US average | 16.5¢ | $1.65 | $19.85 |
| Most expensive (Hawaii) | 42.9¢ | $4.30 | $51.62 |
Find your state's rate on the electricity rates by state page, or see the appliance wattage chart for more devices.
Measure what a clothes iron 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.
We earn a commission if you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. It does not change what we recommend — see our affiliate disclosure. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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
Frequently asked questions
Ask AI about this
Open an AI assistant with a question grounded in this page.