How Much Does It Cost to Run a Hair Straightener in Australia? (2026)
Flat irons and curling irons heat quickly to a set temperature and then cycle, so they average only 30 to 150 watts in use. Their cost is negligible.
A typical hair straightener (60 W) costs A$0.021 per hour, or about A$0.16 per month at 0.25 hours a day in Australia. Cheap to run
| Wattage | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low 30 W | A$0.010 | A$0.003 | A$0.079 | A$0.96 |
| Typical 60 W | A$0.021 | A$0.005 | A$0.16 | A$1.92 |
| High 150 W | A$0.052 | A$0.013 | A$0.39 | A$4.79 |
Formula: watts ÷ 1000 × hours × price per kWh. Typical use is 0.25 h/day ≈ 5 kWh per year.
One day of a hair straightener (1.4 kWh) is the same electricity as
- 8.0km in an electric car
- 14hours of TV
- 32hours of a laptop
- 160hours of an LED bulb
In Australia, with electricity at 35.0¢ per kWh (source: AER Default Market Offer 2026–27, 2026-07), a typical hair straightener costs A$0.021 per hour and about A$1.92 per year at 0.25 hours a day. Each A$1.00 of electricity buys roughly 47.6 hours of use.
How to lower the cost of running a hair straightener
- Turn it off as soon as you finish. Leaving it on is the only meaningful cost, and a fire risk.
- Use the lowest temperature that works for your hair.
- Straighten dry hair. Damp hair takes longer and damages more.
Frequently asked questions
How much electricity does a hair straightener use?
Around 0.015 kWh per 15 minute session, a fraction of a cent.
Does a straightener use power when on but idle?
Yes, it cycles to hold temperature, similar to in-use draw.
Are high-wattage straighteners more expensive to run?
Not meaningfully. Session times are short.
Cost by region
US states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Canadian provinces
Related appliances
- Hair Dryer1,800 W typical
- Electric Toothbrush Charger1 W typical
- Heated Towel Rail150 W typical
- Bathroom Exhaust Fan30 W typical
Use the generic electricity cost calculator · Which uses more? Take the quiz