How much does it cost to run a vacuum cleaner?
A vacuum cleaner drawing 800 watts, used about 15 minutes a day, uses about 0.20 kWh per day and costs about $0.04 per day, $1.18 per month, and $14.17 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 vacuum draws roughly 800 watts while running, typically for 15-30 minutes at a time. Cordless models use less power but need charging; either way, vacuuming is a negligible share of a household bill.
Cost at different daily usage
Same vacuum cleaner at 800 watts, run for different amounts of time, at 19.4¢/kWh.
| Usage | kWh/day | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 min/day | 0.10 kWh | $0.02 | $0.57 | $6.80 |
| 15 min/day | 0.20 kWh | $0.04 | $1.18 | $14.17 |
| 30 min/day | 0.40 kWh | $0.08 | $2.36 | $28.34 |
| 1 h/day | 0.80 kWh | $0.16 | $4.73 | $56.68 |
Cost by model power draw
Not all models are equal. At 15 min/day, here is what the range costs.
| Model | Power | kWh/day | Per day | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low-draw model | 500 W | 0.12 kWh | $0.02 | $0.74 |
| Typical | 800 W | 0.20 kWh | $0.04 | $1.18 |
| High-draw model | 1,400 W | 0.35 kWh | $0.07 | $2.07 |
Cost by state
A vacuum cleaner at 800 W for 15 min/day, priced at each state's average residential rate.
| State | Rate | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.8¢ | $0.03 | $1.02 | $12.24 |
| Alaska | 28.2¢ | $0.06 | $1.72 | $20.61 |
| Arizona | 15.2¢ | $0.03 | $0.93 | $11.12 |
| Arkansas | 14.4¢ | $0.03 | $0.87 | $10.48 |
| California | 33.2¢ | $0.07 | $2.02 | $24.27 |
| Colorado | 16.2¢ | $0.03 | $0.98 | $11.80 |
| Connecticut | 27.4¢ | $0.05 | $1.67 | $19.98 |
| Delaware | 19.4¢ | $0.04 | $1.18 | $14.15 |
| District of Columbia | 25.4¢ | $0.05 | $1.55 | $18.54 |
| Florida | 15.2¢ | $0.03 | $0.92 | $11.07 |
| Georgia | 15.8¢ | $0.03 | $0.96 | $11.56 |
| Hawaii | 52.0¢ | $0.10 | $3.17 | $37.96 |
| Idaho | 12.3¢ | $0.02 | $0.75 | $9.02 |
| Illinois | 23.9¢ | $0.05 | $1.45 | $17.41 |
| Indiana | 18.1¢ | $0.04 | $1.10 | $13.25 |
| Iowa | 14.1¢ | $0.03 | $0.86 | $10.32 |
| Kansas | 15.1¢ | $0.03 | $0.92 | $11.04 |
| Kentucky | 15.0¢ | $0.03 | $0.91 | $10.94 |
| Louisiana | 14.2¢ | $0.03 | $0.86 | $10.33 |
| Maine | 28.6¢ | $0.06 | $1.74 | $20.90 |
| Maryland | 21.8¢ | $0.04 | $1.33 | $15.89 |
| Massachusetts | 28.8¢ | $0.06 | $1.75 | $21.04 |
| Michigan | 22.0¢ | $0.04 | $1.34 | $16.07 |
| Minnesota | 16.9¢ | $0.03 | $1.03 | $12.37 |
| Mississippi | 16.2¢ | $0.03 | $0.98 | $11.80 |
| Missouri | 13.7¢ | $0.03 | $0.83 | $9.99 |
| Montana | 14.7¢ | $0.03 | $0.89 | $10.71 |
| Nebraska | 13.6¢ | $0.03 | $0.83 | $9.92 |
| Nevada | 13.6¢ | $0.03 | $0.83 | $9.93 |
| New Hampshire | 27.3¢ | $0.05 | $1.66 | $19.95 |
| New Jersey | 23.3¢ | $0.05 | $1.42 | $16.99 |
| New Mexico | 14.1¢ | $0.03 | $0.86 | $10.31 |
| New York | 29.9¢ | $0.06 | $1.82 | $21.85 |
| North Carolina | 15.1¢ | $0.03 | $0.92 | $11.02 |
| North Dakota | 13.6¢ | $0.03 | $0.83 | $9.94 |
| Ohio | 19.5¢ | $0.04 | $1.19 | $14.25 |
| Oklahoma | 13.4¢ | $0.03 | $0.81 | $9.77 |
| Oregon | 16.3¢ | $0.03 | $0.99 | $11.88 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.6¢ | $0.04 | $1.31 | $15.73 |
| Rhode Island | 29.5¢ | $0.06 | $1.79 | $21.51 |
| South Carolina | 16.2¢ | $0.03 | $0.99 | $11.81 |
| South Dakota | 15.7¢ | $0.03 | $0.96 | $11.48 |
| Tennessee | 14.5¢ | $0.03 | $0.88 | $10.56 |
| Texas | 16.4¢ | $0.03 | $1.00 | $12.00 |
| Utah | 13.0¢ | $0.03 | $0.79 | $9.46 |
| Vermont | 24.9¢ | $0.05 | $1.52 | $18.17 |
| Virginia | 17.6¢ | $0.04 | $1.07 | $12.86 |
| Washington | 14.9¢ | $0.03 | $0.91 | $10.91 |
| West Virginia | 16.8¢ | $0.03 | $1.02 | $12.26 |
| Wisconsin | 19.7¢ | $0.04 | $1.20 | $14.41 |
| Wyoming | 14.8¢ | $0.03 | $0.90 | $10.80 |
How to cut the cost
- Empty the bin or bag and clean filters — a clogged vacuum works harder for worse results.
- Use a lower power setting on hard floors.
Compare with related appliances
Monthly cost at typical usage and 19.4¢/kWh.
Questions
How much electricity does vacuuming use?
Very little. Half an hour at 800 watts is about 0.4 kWh — a few cents in most states.
How do you calculate what a vacuum cleaner 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 vacuum cleaner: 800 W × 0.25 h ÷ 1,000 = 0.20 kWh per day, which at 19.4¢/kWh is $0.04 per day.
How many watts does a vacuum cleaner use?
Typically 800 watts, with most models falling between 500 and 1,400 watts. The label on the appliance or its power supply gives the figure for your specific unit.