An electric water heater uses 4,500 to 5,500 watts. At the U.S. average electricity price of 18.31¢ per kWh in July 2026, that costs 82¢ to $1.01 for every hour it runs. The wattage range is for a typical 40-gallon tank.
Calculate what your electric water heater costs
Cost to run an electric water heater
| Use | kWh | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| One hour | 5.00 | 92¢ |
| 1 hour a day for a month | 152.0 | $27.83 |
| 4 hours a day for a month | 608.0 | $111.32 |
| 8 hours a day for a month | 1216.0 | $222.65 |
| 4 hours a day for a year | 7,300 | $1,337 |
On average, homes that have an electric water heater use about 2,705 kWh a year on it (EIA's 2020 Residential Energy Consumption Survey), which costs $495 a year at the U.S. average price.
Cost to run an electric water heater in every state
| # | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louisiana | 12.72¢ | $344 |
| 2 | Nevada | 12.77¢ | $345 |
| 3 | Utah | 13.12¢ | $355 |
| 4 | North Dakota | 13.41¢ | $363 |
| 5 | Tennessee | 13.71¢ | $371 |
| 6 | Idaho | 13.73¢ | $371 |
| 7 | Nebraska | 13.78¢ | $373 |
| 8 | Kentucky | 13.81¢ | $374 |
| 9 | Arkansas | 14.33¢ | $388 |
| 10 | Oklahoma | 14.35¢ | $388 |
| 11 | Wyoming | 14.36¢ | $388 |
| 12 | Mississippi | 14.54¢ | $393 |
| 13 | Washington | 14.71¢ | $398 |
| 14 | Montana | 14.99¢ | $405 |
| 15 | Florida | 15.03¢ | $407 |
| 16 | North Carolina | 15.16¢ | $410 |
| 17 | Kansas | 15.27¢ | $413 |
| 18 | South Dakota | 15.37¢ | $416 |
| 19 | Arizona | 15.38¢ | $416 |
| 20 | South Carolina | 15.47¢ | $418 |
| 21 | West Virginia | 15.78¢ | $427 |
| 22 | Texas | 15.88¢ | $430 |
| 23 | Oregon | 15.97¢ | $432 |
| 24 | Iowa | 15.99¢ | $433 |
| 25 | Missouri | 16.09¢ | $435 |
| 26 | New Mexico | 16.09¢ | $435 |
| 27 | Georgia | 16.27¢ | $440 |
| 28 | Alabama | 16.40¢ | $444 |
| 29 | Indiana | 16.73¢ | $453 |
| 30 | Colorado | 17.00¢ | $460 |
| 31 | Minnesota | 17.45¢ | $472 |
| 32 | Virginia | 17.55¢ | $475 |
| 33 | Delaware | 18.48¢ | $500 |
| 34 | Wisconsin | 19.06¢ | $516 |
| 35 | Illinois | 19.22¢ | $520 |
| 36 | Ohio | 19.45¢ | $526 |
| 37 | Maryland | 21.41¢ | $579 |
| 38 | Pennsylvania | 21.72¢ | $588 |
| 39 | Michigan | 23.05¢ | $624 |
| 40 | Vermont | 23.75¢ | $642 |
| 41 | Connecticut | 24.16¢ | $654 |
| 42 | New Jersey | 25.19¢ | $681 |
| 43 | District of Columbia | 25.21¢ | $682 |
| 44 | New Hampshire | 26.60¢ | $720 |
| 45 | Rhode Island | 28.29¢ | $765 |
| 46 | Alaska | 28.83¢ | $780 |
| 47 | New York | 29.90¢ | $809 |
| 48 | Massachusetts | 30.49¢ | $825 |
| 49 | Maine | 32.41¢ | $877 |
| 50 | California | 33.61¢ | $909 |
| 51 | Hawaii | 48.00¢ | $1,298 |
Electric Water Heater energy use FAQ
How many watts does an electric water heater use?
An electric water heater typically uses 4,500 to 5,500 watts. Check the label on yours for its exact rating.
How much does it cost to run an electric water heater?
At the U.S. average of 18.31¢ per kWh (July 2026), it costs 82¢ to $1.01 an hour. Used one hour a day, that is $27.83 a month at 5,000 watts.
Where is it cheapest to run an electric water heater?
With electricity at 12.72¢ per kWh, Louisiana is the cheapest state: $344 a year for 2,705 kWh a year. The same use costs $1,298 in Hawaii.
Sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2020 Residential Energy Consumption Survey; U.S. Department of Energy typical appliance wattages (via Virginia Cooperative Extension); electricity prices: EIA retail sales data (July 2026). Last updated 2026-10-20.