How much does it cost to run a vacuum cleaner?
Short answer: A vacuum cleaner drawing 1,000 watts for 30 minutes costs about $0.09 per use at the U.S. average residential price of 18.31¢ per kWh. Used 2 times a week, that is about $0.79 per month and $9.52 per year. In Louisiana, the cheapest state, the same use costs $0.55 a month; in Hawaii, the most expensive, $2.08.
Vacuum cleaner cost calculator
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Minutes per use. For a cordless or robot vacuum, enter the charger's wattage and the charging time instead.
Uses 4.3 kWh per month. The starting price is the U.S. residential average; choose your state or type the price from your own bill.
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| Appliance | Usage | Per month | Remove |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | |||
| Per year |
A corded vacuum cleaner draws 1,000 to 1,400 watts, about as much as a microwave. An hour of vacuuming a week costs around a dollar a month. Cordless and robot vacuums use far less, because they run on a small battery.
Cost by size and setting
Costs below use the U.S. average price and 30 minutes per use, 2 times a week.
| Type | Power | Per use | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robot vacuum, while charging | 30 W | 0.3¢ | $0.02 |
| Upright | 1,000 W | $0.09 | $0.79 |
| Canister | 1,400 W | $0.13 | $1.11 |
Corded, cordless and robot
A corded upright uses about 0.5 kWh in half an hour. A cordless stick vacuum runs on a battery holding only a few hundredths of a kilowatt-hour, so a full charge costs about a cent. A robot vacuum charges at around 30 watts and spends most of its time idle on its dock using a watt or two.
What changes the cost
Only time and motor size. Suction settings on some models reduce the power for hard floors. A clogged filter or a full bag does not raise the wattage much, but it makes the job take longer.
How to lower the cost
- Empty the bin or change the bag before it is full, and wash or replace filters.
- Use the lower suction setting on bare floors.
- There is little to gain beyond that: vacuuming is a small part of any electric bill.
How a vacuum cleaner compares with other appliances
Typical power and use for each appliance, at the U.S. average price of 18.31¢ per kWh. Follow a link for that appliance's own calculator, or compare two side by side.
| Appliance | Power | Typical use | Energy per month | Cost per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vacuum cleaner | 1,000 W | 30 minutes per use, 2 times a week | 4.3 kWh | $0.79 |
| Washing machine | 500 W | 45 minutes per use, 5 times a week | 8.1 kWh | $1.49 |
| Clothes iron | 1,200 W | 20 minutes per use, 2 times a week | 3.5 kWh | $0.63 |
| Dishwasher | 600 W | 120 minutes per use, 5 times a week | 26.0 kWh | $4.76 |
| Hair dryer | 1,800 W | 10 minutes per use, 7 times a week | 9.1 kWh | $1.67 |
The math behind the numbers
1,000 watts ÷ 1,000 = 1 kW. 1 kW × 30 minutes ÷ 60 = 0.5 kWh per use. 0.5 kWh × $0.1831 = $0.09 per use. At 2 uses a week, that is 4.3 kWh and $0.79 a month.
Your own figure will differ if your appliance has a different wattage, if you use it more or less, or if your price per kWh is not the national average. Change any of those in the calculator at the top of this page. Our step-by-step guide explains where to find each number.
Cost to run a vacuum cleaner in every state
Based on 1,000 watts for 30 minutes per use, 2 times a week, at each state's average residential electricity price for July 2026.
| State | Price per kWh | Per use | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.40¢ | $0.08 | $0.71 | $8.53 |
| Alaska | 28.83¢ | $0.14 | $1.25 | $14.99 |
| Arizona | 15.38¢ | $0.08 | $0.67 | $8.00 |
| Arkansas | 14.33¢ | $0.07 | $0.62 | $7.45 |
| California | 33.61¢ | $0.17 | $1.46 | $17.48 |
| Colorado | 17.00¢ | $0.09 | $0.74 | $8.84 |
| Connecticut | 24.16¢ | $0.12 | $1.05 | $12.56 |
| Delaware | 18.48¢ | $0.09 | $0.80 | $9.61 |
| District of Columbia | 25.21¢ | $0.13 | $1.09 | $13.11 |
| Florida | 15.03¢ | $0.08 | $0.65 | $7.82 |
| Georgia | 16.27¢ | $0.08 | $0.71 | $8.46 |
| Hawaii | 48.00¢ | $0.24 | $2.08 | $24.96 |
| Idaho | 13.73¢ | $0.07 | $0.59 | $7.14 |
| Illinois | 19.22¢ | $0.10 | $0.83 | $9.99 |
| Indiana | 16.73¢ | $0.08 | $0.72 | $8.70 |
| Iowa | 15.99¢ | $0.08 | $0.69 | $8.31 |
| Kansas | 15.27¢ | $0.08 | $0.66 | $7.94 |
| Kentucky | 13.81¢ | $0.07 | $0.60 | $7.18 |
| Louisiana | 12.72¢ | $0.06 | $0.55 | $6.61 |
| Maine | 32.41¢ | $0.16 | $1.40 | $16.85 |
| Maryland | 21.41¢ | $0.11 | $0.93 | $11.13 |
| Massachusetts | 30.49¢ | $0.15 | $1.32 | $15.85 |
| Michigan | 23.05¢ | $0.12 | $1.00 | $11.99 |
| Minnesota | 17.45¢ | $0.09 | $0.76 | $9.07 |
| Mississippi | 14.54¢ | $0.07 | $0.63 | $7.56 |
| Missouri | 16.09¢ | $0.08 | $0.70 | $8.37 |
| Montana | 14.99¢ | $0.07 | $0.65 | $7.79 |
| Nebraska | 13.78¢ | $0.07 | $0.60 | $7.17 |
| Nevada | 12.77¢ | $0.06 | $0.55 | $6.64 |
| New Hampshire | 26.60¢ | $0.13 | $1.15 | $13.83 |
| New Jersey | 25.19¢ | $0.13 | $1.09 | $13.10 |
| New Mexico | 16.09¢ | $0.08 | $0.70 | $8.37 |
| New York | 29.90¢ | $0.15 | $1.30 | $15.55 |
| North Carolina | 15.16¢ | $0.08 | $0.66 | $7.88 |
| North Dakota | 13.41¢ | $0.07 | $0.58 | $6.97 |
| Ohio | 19.45¢ | $0.10 | $0.84 | $10.11 |
| Oklahoma | 14.35¢ | $0.07 | $0.62 | $7.46 |
| Oregon | 15.97¢ | $0.08 | $0.69 | $8.30 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.72¢ | $0.11 | $0.94 | $11.29 |
| Rhode Island | 28.29¢ | $0.14 | $1.23 | $14.71 |
| South Carolina | 15.47¢ | $0.08 | $0.67 | $8.04 |
| South Dakota | 15.37¢ | $0.08 | $0.67 | $7.99 |
| Tennessee | 13.71¢ | $0.07 | $0.59 | $7.13 |
| Texas | 15.88¢ | $0.08 | $0.69 | $8.26 |
| Utah | 13.12¢ | $0.07 | $0.57 | $6.82 |
| Vermont | 23.75¢ | $0.12 | $1.03 | $12.35 |
| Virginia | 17.55¢ | $0.09 | $0.76 | $9.13 |
| Washington | 14.71¢ | $0.07 | $0.64 | $7.65 |
| West Virginia | 15.78¢ | $0.08 | $0.68 | $8.21 |
| Wisconsin | 19.06¢ | $0.10 | $0.83 | $9.91 |
| Wyoming | 14.36¢ | $0.07 | $0.62 | $7.47 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to vacuum for 30 minutes?
About $0.09 at the U.S. average electricity price with a 1,000-watt vacuum.
Do robot vacuums use a lot of electricity?
No. Charging uses around 30 watts for a couple of hours, and standby on the dock a watt or two. A year typically costs a few dollars.
How much does a vacuum add to a monthly bill?
About $0.79 a month for two half-hour sessions a week.
Sources
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly (state electricity prices)
- U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Saver: Appliances and Electronics
Electricity prices are the EIA figures for July 2026. Wattages are typical values; check the label on your own appliance.