How much does a vacuum cleaner cost to run?
Updated August 2026 · average residential rates
Quick answer: a vacuum cleaner (500–1,200 W) costs about 13.5¢ per hour to run at the US average rate. With 15 minutes/day, that's 3.4¢/day, $1.03/month and $12.34/year — using ~0.2 kWh a day. Your state's rate can move this from 68.1¢ to $2.56 monthly.
Run your own numbers
500–1,200 W · default assumes 15 minutes/day
Uses about 0.2 kWh/day at 15.6¢/kWh (Texas). National average would be $1.03/month.
Vacuum Cleaner cost by state
| State | Rate | Per hour | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 15.6¢/kWh | 12.5¢ | 94.8¢ |
| Alaska | 24.9¢/kWh | 19.9¢ | $1.51 |
| Arizona | 15.2¢/kWh | 12.2¢ | 92.4¢ |
| Arkansas | 12.7¢/kWh | 10.2¢ | 77.2¢ |
| California | 31.8¢/kWh | 25.4¢ | $1.93 |
| Colorado | 15.3¢/kWh | 12.2¢ | 93.0¢ |
| Connecticut | 32.3¢/kWh | 25.8¢ | $1.96 |
| Delaware | 16.8¢/kWh | 13.4¢ | $1.02 |
| District of Columbia | 17.6¢/kWh | 14.1¢ | $1.07 |
| Florida | 15.1¢/kWh | 12.1¢ | 91.8¢ |
| Georgia | 14.2¢/kWh | 11.4¢ | 86.3¢ |
| Hawaii | 42.1¢/kWh | 33.7¢ | $2.56 |
| Idaho | 11.6¢/kWh | 9.3¢ | 70.5¢ |
| Illinois | 16.4¢/kWh | 13.1¢ | 99.7¢ |
| Indiana | 15.7¢/kWh | 12.6¢ | 95.5¢ |
| Iowa | 13.7¢/kWh | 11.0¢ | 83.3¢ |
| Kansas | 14.3¢/kWh | 11.4¢ | 86.9¢ |
| Kentucky | 13.1¢/kWh | 10.5¢ | 79.6¢ |
| Louisiana | 12.1¢/kWh | 9.7¢ | 73.6¢ |
| Maine | 25.6¢/kWh | 20.5¢ | $1.56 |
| Maryland | 18.1¢/kWh | 14.5¢ | $1.10 |
| Massachusetts | 31.2¢/kWh | 25.0¢ | $1.90 |
| Michigan | 19.4¢/kWh | 15.5¢ | $1.18 |
| Minnesota | 15.1¢/kWh | 12.1¢ | 91.8¢ |
| Mississippi | 13.6¢/kWh | 10.9¢ | 82.7¢ |
| Missouri | 12.6¢/kWh | 10.1¢ | 76.6¢ |
| Montana | 12.8¢/kWh | 10.2¢ | 77.8¢ |
| Nebraska | 12.1¢/kWh | 9.7¢ | 73.6¢ |
| Nevada | 15.4¢/kWh | 12.3¢ | 93.6¢ |
| New Hampshire | 25.2¢/kWh | 20.2¢ | $1.53 |
| New Jersey | 19.6¢/kWh | 15.7¢ | $1.19 |
| New Mexico | 14.6¢/kWh | 11.7¢ | 88.8¢ |
| New York | 24.6¢/kWh | 19.7¢ | $1.50 |
| North Carolina | 14.1¢/kWh | 11.3¢ | 85.7¢ |
| North Dakota | 11.2¢/kWh | 9.0¢ | 68.1¢ |
| Ohio | 16.3¢/kWh | 13.0¢ | 99.1¢ |
| Oklahoma | 12.2¢/kWh | 9.8¢ | 74.2¢ |
| Oregon | 14.8¢/kWh | 11.8¢ | 90.0¢ |
| Pennsylvania | 18.4¢/kWh | 14.7¢ | $1.12 |
| Rhode Island | 30.4¢/kWh | 24.3¢ | $1.85 |
| South Carolina | 14.7¢/kWh | 11.8¢ | 89.4¢ |
| South Dakota | 12.6¢/kWh | 10.1¢ | 76.6¢ |
| Tennessee | 13.2¢/kWh | 10.6¢ | 80.3¢ |
| Texas | 15.6¢/kWh | 12.5¢ | 94.8¢ |
| Utah | 11.7¢/kWh | 9.4¢ | 71.1¢ |
| Vermont | 21.6¢/kWh | 17.3¢ | $1.31 |
| Virginia | 14.6¢/kWh | 11.7¢ | 88.8¢ |
| Washington | 12.3¢/kWh | 9.8¢ | 74.8¢ |
| West Virginia | 14.8¢/kWh | 11.8¢ | 90.0¢ |
| Wisconsin | 17.2¢/kWh | 13.8¢ | $1.05 |
| Wyoming | 11.8¢/kWh | 9.4¢ | 71.7¢ |
FAQ
How much electricity does a vacuum cleaner use?+
A typical vacuum cleaner draws 500–1,200 W. At 15 minutes/day, that's about 0.2 kWh per day.
How much does a vacuum cleaner cost to run per month?+
About $1.03 per month at the US average residential rate of 16.9¢/kWh — ranging from roughly 68.1¢ in North Dakota to $2.56 in Hawaii.
Is it expensive to leave a vacuum cleaner on?+
Running it costs about 13.5¢ 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.