How much does a laser printer cost to run?
Updated August 2026 · average residential rates
Quick answer: a laser printer (400–800 W while printing (a few W idle)) costs about 8.4¢ per hour to run at the US average rate. With 15 minutes of printing/day, that's 2.1¢/day, 64.2¢/month and $7.71/year — using ~0.1 kWh a day. Your state's rate can move this from 42.6¢ to $1.60 monthly.
Run your own numbers
400–800 W while printing (a few W idle) · default assumes 15 minutes of printing/day
Uses about 0.1 kWh/day at 15.6¢/kWh (Texas). National average would be 64.2¢/month.
Laser Printer cost by state
| State | Rate | Per hour | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 15.6¢/kWh | 7.8¢ | 59.3¢ |
| Alaska | 24.9¢/kWh | 12.4¢ | 94.6¢ |
| Arizona | 15.2¢/kWh | 7.6¢ | 57.8¢ |
| Arkansas | 12.7¢/kWh | 6.3¢ | 48.3¢ |
| California | 31.8¢/kWh | 15.9¢ | $1.21 |
| Colorado | 15.3¢/kWh | 7.6¢ | 58.1¢ |
| Connecticut | 32.3¢/kWh | 16.1¢ | $1.23 |
| Delaware | 16.8¢/kWh | 8.4¢ | 63.8¢ |
| District of Columbia | 17.6¢/kWh | 8.8¢ | 66.9¢ |
| Florida | 15.1¢/kWh | 7.5¢ | 57.4¢ |
| Georgia | 14.2¢/kWh | 7.1¢ | 54.0¢ |
| Hawaii | 42.1¢/kWh | 21.1¢ | $1.60 |
| Idaho | 11.6¢/kWh | 5.8¢ | 44.1¢ |
| Illinois | 16.4¢/kWh | 8.2¢ | 62.3¢ |
| Indiana | 15.7¢/kWh | 7.8¢ | 59.7¢ |
| Iowa | 13.7¢/kWh | 6.8¢ | 52.1¢ |
| Kansas | 14.3¢/kWh | 7.2¢ | 54.3¢ |
| Kentucky | 13.1¢/kWh | 6.6¢ | 49.8¢ |
| Louisiana | 12.1¢/kWh | 6.0¢ | 46.0¢ |
| Maine | 25.6¢/kWh | 12.8¢ | 97.3¢ |
| Maryland | 18.1¢/kWh | 9.1¢ | 68.8¢ |
| Massachusetts | 31.2¢/kWh | 15.6¢ | $1.19 |
| Michigan | 19.4¢/kWh | 9.7¢ | 73.7¢ |
| Minnesota | 15.1¢/kWh | 7.5¢ | 57.4¢ |
| Mississippi | 13.6¢/kWh | 6.8¢ | 51.7¢ |
| Missouri | 12.6¢/kWh | 6.3¢ | 47.9¢ |
| Montana | 12.8¢/kWh | 6.4¢ | 48.6¢ |
| Nebraska | 12.1¢/kWh | 6.0¢ | 46.0¢ |
| Nevada | 15.4¢/kWh | 7.7¢ | 58.5¢ |
| New Hampshire | 25.2¢/kWh | 12.6¢ | 95.8¢ |
| New Jersey | 19.6¢/kWh | 9.8¢ | 74.5¢ |
| New Mexico | 14.6¢/kWh | 7.3¢ | 55.5¢ |
| New York | 24.6¢/kWh | 12.3¢ | 93.5¢ |
| North Carolina | 14.1¢/kWh | 7.0¢ | 53.6¢ |
| North Dakota | 11.2¢/kWh | 5.6¢ | 42.6¢ |
| Ohio | 16.3¢/kWh | 8.2¢ | 61.9¢ |
| Oklahoma | 12.2¢/kWh | 6.1¢ | 46.4¢ |
| Oregon | 14.8¢/kWh | 7.4¢ | 56.2¢ |
| Pennsylvania | 18.4¢/kWh | 9.2¢ | 69.9¢ |
| Rhode Island | 30.4¢/kWh | 15.2¢ | $1.16 |
| South Carolina | 14.7¢/kWh | 7.3¢ | 55.9¢ |
| South Dakota | 12.6¢/kWh | 6.3¢ | 47.9¢ |
| Tennessee | 13.2¢/kWh | 6.6¢ | 50.2¢ |
| Texas | 15.6¢/kWh | 7.8¢ | 59.3¢ |
| Utah | 11.7¢/kWh | 5.8¢ | 44.5¢ |
| Vermont | 21.6¢/kWh | 10.8¢ | 82.1¢ |
| Virginia | 14.6¢/kWh | 7.3¢ | 55.5¢ |
| Washington | 12.3¢/kWh | 6.2¢ | 46.7¢ |
| West Virginia | 14.8¢/kWh | 7.4¢ | 56.2¢ |
| Wisconsin | 17.2¢/kWh | 8.6¢ | 65.4¢ |
| Wyoming | 11.8¢/kWh | 5.9¢ | 44.8¢ |
FAQ
How much electricity does a laser printer use?+
A typical laser printer draws 400–800 W while printing (a few W idle). At 15 minutes of printing/day, that's about 0.1 kWh per day.
How much does a laser printer cost to run per month?+
About 64.2¢ per month at the US average residential rate of 16.9¢/kWh — ranging from roughly 42.6¢ in North Dakota to $1.60 in Hawaii.
Is it expensive to leave a laser printer on?+
Running it costs about 8.4¢ per hour at average rates. Multiply by your actual hours — and check your state's rate above, since electricity prices vary almost 4× across the US.