How Much Does It Cost to Run a Water Softener?
A softener's electronics idle at a trickle and the motor only works during regeneration — salt costs more than the electricity. At the US-average rate of 16.5¢/kWh, running a water softener costs about $0.11/month ($1.26/year) at typical use. Adjust the watts, hours, and your rate below for your exact number.
Cost to run a water softener
$1/yr
- Per day
- $0.00
- Per month
- $0.11
- Energy per year
- 8 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 water softener use?
At 70 W for 0.3 hours a day, a water softener uses about 0.0 kWh per day — roughly 1 kWh per month and 8 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 water softener draws.
Cost to run a water softener by electricity rate
Same 70 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¢ | $0.07 | $0.88 |
| US average | 16.5¢ | $0.11 | $1.26 |
| Most expensive (Hawaii) | 42.9¢ | $0.27 | $3.29 |
Find your state's rate on the electricity rates by state page, or see the appliance wattage chart for more devices.
Measure what a water softener 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
Frequently asked questions
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