How much does it cost to run an electric water heater?
Short answer: An electric water heater drawing 4,500 watts costs about $0.82 per hour at the U.S. average residential price of 18.31¢ per kWh. Used 3 hours a day, 30 days a month, that is about $74.16 per month and $889.87 per year. In Louisiana, the cheapest state, the same use costs $51.52 a month; in Hawaii, the most expensive, $194.40.
Electric water heater cost calculator
Hours per day the heating element is on. About 3 hours is typical for a household of three or four people.
Energy used: 405.0 kWh per month. Default price is the U.S. residential average; pick your state or type the price from your own bill.
Water heating is commonly the second-largest energy use in a home after heating and cooling. A standard electric tank has a 4,500-watt element that switches on for a total of roughly two to four hours a day, depending on how much hot water the household uses.
Cost by size and setting
Costs below use the U.S. average price and 3 hours a day, 30 days a month.
| Type | Power | Per hour | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heat pump water heater | 500 W | $0.09 | $8.24 |
| Standard tank, 4,500 W element | 4,500 W | $0.82 | $74.16 |
| Whole-house tankless | 18,000 W | $3.30 | $296.62 |
What decides the run time
The element only runs to reheat water you have used and to replace heat lost through the tank walls. A single person taking short showers may see one and a half hours of element time a day; a family of five with a teenager can exceed five hours.
The EnergyGuide label lists estimated kWh per year. For a standard 50-gallon electric tank it is usually around 3,000 to 3,500 kWh, which matches the three-hour default in the calculator.
Heat pump water heaters
A heat pump water heater moves heat from the surrounding air into the tank instead of generating it with a resistance element. It uses roughly one third of the electricity for the same hot water. Purchase price is higher, but in states where electricity is expensive the payback is among the fastest of any home efficiency upgrade.
How to lower the cost
- Set the tank thermostat to 120°F. Many are shipped set higher.
- Install low-flow showerheads; showers are the largest hot water use in most homes.
- Wash clothes in cold water. Modern detergents are designed for it.
- Insulate the first few feet of hot water pipe leaving the tank.
Cost to run an electric water heater in every state
Based on 4,500 watts for 3 hours a day, 30 days a month, at each state's average residential electricity price for July 2026.
| State | Price per kWh | Per hour | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.40¢ | $0.74 | $66.42 | $797.04 |
| Alaska | 28.83¢ | $1.30 | $116.76 | $1,401 |
| Arizona | 15.38¢ | $0.69 | $62.29 | $747.47 |
| Arkansas | 14.33¢ | $0.64 | $58.04 | $696.44 |
| California | 33.61¢ | $1.51 | $136.12 | $1,633 |
| Colorado | 17.00¢ | $0.77 | $68.85 | $826.20 |
| Connecticut | 24.16¢ | $1.09 | $97.85 | $1,174 |
| Delaware | 18.48¢ | $0.83 | $74.84 | $898.13 |
| District of Columbia | 25.21¢ | $1.13 | $102.10 | $1,225 |
| Florida | 15.03¢ | $0.68 | $60.87 | $730.46 |
| Georgia | 16.27¢ | $0.73 | $65.89 | $790.72 |
| Hawaii | 48.00¢ | $2.16 | $194.40 | $2,333 |
| Idaho | 13.73¢ | $0.62 | $55.61 | $667.28 |
| Illinois | 19.22¢ | $0.86 | $77.84 | $934.09 |
| Indiana | 16.73¢ | $0.75 | $67.76 | $813.08 |
| Iowa | 15.99¢ | $0.72 | $64.76 | $777.11 |
| Kansas | 15.27¢ | $0.69 | $61.84 | $742.12 |
| Kentucky | 13.81¢ | $0.62 | $55.93 | $671.17 |
| Louisiana | 12.72¢ | $0.57 | $51.52 | $618.19 |
| Maine | 32.41¢ | $1.46 | $131.26 | $1,575 |
| Maryland | 21.41¢ | $0.96 | $86.71 | $1,041 |
| Massachusetts | 30.49¢ | $1.37 | $123.48 | $1,482 |
| Michigan | 23.05¢ | $1.04 | $93.35 | $1,120 |
| Minnesota | 17.45¢ | $0.79 | $70.67 | $848.07 |
| Mississippi | 14.54¢ | $0.65 | $58.89 | $706.64 |
| Missouri | 16.09¢ | $0.72 | $65.16 | $781.97 |
| Montana | 14.99¢ | $0.67 | $60.71 | $728.51 |
| Nebraska | 13.78¢ | $0.62 | $55.81 | $669.71 |
| Nevada | 12.77¢ | $0.57 | $51.72 | $620.62 |
| New Hampshire | 26.60¢ | $1.20 | $107.73 | $1,293 |
| New Jersey | 25.19¢ | $1.13 | $102.02 | $1,224 |
| New Mexico | 16.09¢ | $0.72 | $65.16 | $781.97 |
| New York | 29.90¢ | $1.35 | $121.10 | $1,453 |
| North Carolina | 15.16¢ | $0.68 | $61.40 | $736.78 |
| North Dakota | 13.41¢ | $0.60 | $54.31 | $651.73 |
| Ohio | 19.45¢ | $0.88 | $78.77 | $945.27 |
| Oklahoma | 14.35¢ | $0.65 | $58.12 | $697.41 |
| Oregon | 15.97¢ | $0.72 | $64.68 | $776.14 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.72¢ | $0.98 | $87.97 | $1,056 |
| Rhode Island | 28.29¢ | $1.27 | $114.57 | $1,375 |
| South Carolina | 15.47¢ | $0.70 | $62.65 | $751.84 |
| South Dakota | 15.37¢ | $0.69 | $62.25 | $746.98 |
| Tennessee | 13.71¢ | $0.62 | $55.53 | $666.31 |
| Texas | 15.88¢ | $0.71 | $64.31 | $771.77 |
| Utah | 13.12¢ | $0.59 | $53.14 | $637.63 |
| Vermont | 23.75¢ | $1.07 | $96.19 | $1,154 |
| Virginia | 17.55¢ | $0.79 | $71.08 | $852.93 |
| Washington | 14.71¢ | $0.66 | $59.58 | $714.91 |
| West Virginia | 15.78¢ | $0.71 | $63.91 | $766.91 |
| Wisconsin | 19.06¢ | $0.86 | $77.19 | $926.32 |
| Wyoming | 14.36¢ | $0.65 | $58.16 | $697.90 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does an electric water heater cost per month?
At the default of 4,500 watts for 3 hours a day, about 405 kWh a month, or roughly $74.16 at the U.S. average price.
Does turning the water heater off when away save money?
For a weekend, barely. For a week or longer, switching to vacation mode avoids paying for standby heat loss and is worth doing.
Are tankless electric water heaters cheaper to run?
Slightly, because there is no standby loss, but they draw very high power while running and may require an electrical panel upgrade.