How much does it cost to run a treadmill?
A treadmill drawing 700 watts, used about 45 minutes a day, uses about 0.53 kWh per day and costs about $0.10 per day, $3.10 per month, and $37.19 per year at the US average residential rate of 19.4¢/kWh. Enter your own wattage, hours, and state below for an exact figure.
Estimates only — based on typical wattages and average state rates, not your actual bill.
What drives the cost
A treadmill's draw depends heavily on speed, incline, and user weight — the motor works harder under load, so nameplate horsepower overstates typical use. Sessions are short, which keeps total cost modest, but many treadmills also draw standby power continuously for their console.
Cost at different daily usage
Same treadmill at 700 watts, run for different amounts of time, at 19.4¢/kWh.
| Usage | kWh/day | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 min/day | 0.27 kWh | $0.05 | $1.57 | $18.85 |
| 45 min/day | 0.53 kWh | $0.10 | $3.10 | $37.19 |
| 1.5 h/day | 1.05 kWh | $0.20 | $6.20 | $74.39 |
| 3 h/day | 2.10 kWh | $0.41 | $12.41 | $148.78 |
Cost by model power draw
Not all models are equal. At 45 min/day, here is what the range costs.
| Model | Power | kWh/day | Per day | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low-draw model | 300 W | 0.23 kWh | $0.04 | $1.33 |
| Typical | 700 W | 0.53 kWh | $0.10 | $3.10 |
| High-draw model | 1,500 W | 1.12 kWh | $0.22 | $6.65 |
Cost by state
A treadmill at 700 W for 45 min/day, priced at each state's average residential rate.
| State | Rate | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.8¢ | $0.09 | $2.68 | $32.14 |
| Alaska | 28.2¢ | $0.15 | $4.51 | $54.10 |
| Arizona | 15.2¢ | $0.08 | $2.43 | $29.18 |
| Arkansas | 14.4¢ | $0.08 | $2.29 | $27.52 |
| California | 33.2¢ | $0.17 | $5.31 | $63.72 |
| Colorado | 16.2¢ | $0.08 | $2.58 | $30.97 |
| Connecticut | 27.4¢ | $0.14 | $4.37 | $52.45 |
| Delaware | 19.4¢ | $0.10 | $3.10 | $37.14 |
| District of Columbia | 25.4¢ | $0.13 | $4.06 | $48.67 |
| Florida | 15.2¢ | $0.08 | $2.42 | $29.07 |
| Georgia | 15.8¢ | $0.08 | $2.53 | $30.35 |
| Hawaii | 52.0¢ | $0.27 | $8.31 | $99.65 |
| Idaho | 12.3¢ | $0.06 | $1.97 | $23.67 |
| Illinois | 23.9¢ | $0.13 | $3.81 | $45.70 |
| Indiana | 18.1¢ | $0.10 | $2.90 | $34.78 |
| Iowa | 14.1¢ | $0.07 | $2.26 | $27.10 |
| Kansas | 15.1¢ | $0.08 | $2.42 | $28.99 |
| Kentucky | 15.0¢ | $0.08 | $2.39 | $28.71 |
| Louisiana | 14.2¢ | $0.07 | $2.26 | $27.11 |
| Maine | 28.6¢ | $0.15 | $4.58 | $54.86 |
| Maryland | 21.8¢ | $0.11 | $3.48 | $41.72 |
| Massachusetts | 28.8¢ | $0.15 | $4.61 | $55.23 |
| Michigan | 22.0¢ | $0.12 | $3.52 | $42.18 |
| Minnesota | 16.9¢ | $0.09 | $2.71 | $32.48 |
| Mississippi | 16.2¢ | $0.08 | $2.58 | $30.97 |
| Missouri | 13.7¢ | $0.07 | $2.19 | $26.21 |
| Montana | 14.7¢ | $0.08 | $2.34 | $28.11 |
| Nebraska | 13.6¢ | $0.07 | $2.17 | $26.04 |
| Nevada | 13.6¢ | $0.07 | $2.17 | $26.06 |
| New Hampshire | 27.3¢ | $0.14 | $4.37 | $52.37 |
| New Jersey | 23.3¢ | $0.12 | $3.72 | $44.59 |
| New Mexico | 14.1¢ | $0.07 | $2.26 | $27.06 |
| New York | 29.9¢ | $0.16 | $4.78 | $57.35 |
| North Carolina | 15.1¢ | $0.08 | $2.41 | $28.92 |
| North Dakota | 13.6¢ | $0.07 | $2.18 | $26.08 |
| Ohio | 19.5¢ | $0.10 | $3.12 | $37.41 |
| Oklahoma | 13.4¢ | $0.07 | $2.14 | $25.64 |
| Oregon | 16.3¢ | $0.09 | $2.60 | $31.18 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.6¢ | $0.11 | $3.44 | $41.30 |
| Rhode Island | 29.5¢ | $0.15 | $4.71 | $56.45 |
| South Carolina | 16.2¢ | $0.08 | $2.59 | $31.00 |
| South Dakota | 15.7¢ | $0.08 | $2.51 | $30.14 |
| Tennessee | 14.5¢ | $0.08 | $2.31 | $27.73 |
| Texas | 16.4¢ | $0.09 | $2.63 | $31.50 |
| Utah | 13.0¢ | $0.07 | $2.07 | $24.83 |
| Vermont | 24.9¢ | $0.13 | $3.98 | $47.70 |
| Virginia | 17.6¢ | $0.09 | $2.81 | $33.75 |
| Washington | 14.9¢ | $0.08 | $2.39 | $28.65 |
| West Virginia | 16.8¢ | $0.09 | $2.68 | $32.19 |
| Wisconsin | 19.7¢ | $0.10 | $3.15 | $37.83 |
| Wyoming | 14.8¢ | $0.08 | $2.37 | $28.36 |
How to cut the cost
- Unplug or switch off at the wall between sessions if the console stays lit.
- Keep the belt properly lubricated and tensioned; a dragging belt makes the motor work harder.
- Use incline rather than maximum speed for intensity — it is easier on the motor.
Compare with related appliances
Monthly cost at typical usage and 19.4¢/kWh.
Questions
Do treadmills use a lot of electricity?
Less than expected. A 45-minute session at 700 watts is about 0.5 kWh. Standby draw from an always-lit console can rival the workouts themselves.
How do you calculate what a treadmill costs to run?
Multiply its wattage by the hours it runs per day, divide by 1,000 to get kilowatt-hours, then multiply by your electricity rate. For a treadmill: 700 W × 0.75 h ÷ 1,000 = 0.53 kWh per day, which at 19.4¢/kWh is $0.10 per day.
How many watts does a treadmill use?
Typically 700 watts, with most models falling between 300 and 1,500 watts. The label on the appliance or its power supply gives the figure for your specific unit.