How Much Does It Cost to Run a Countertop Ice Maker in Indiana? (2026)
Countertop ice makers are small refrigeration units that run for as long as they are making ice. Left on all day they can use as much electricity as a full-size fridge.
A typical countertop ice maker (150 W) costs $0.026 per hour, or about $3.15 per month at 4 hours a day in Indiana. Average running cost
| Wattage | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low 100 W | $0.018 | $0.070 | $2.10 | $25.56 |
| Typical 150 W | $0.026 | $0.11 | $3.15 | $38.35 |
| High 250 W | $0.044 | $0.18 | $5.25 | $63.91 |
Formula: watts ÷ 1000 × hours × price per kWh. Typical use is 4 h/day ≈ 219 kWh per year.
One hour of a countertop ice maker (0.15 kWh) is the same electricity as
- 3.0hours of a fridge
- 3.3hours of a laptop
- 15hours of Wi-Fi
- 17hours of an LED bulb
In Indiana, with electricity at 17.5¢ per kWh (source: EIA Table 5.6.A, 2026-06), a typical countertop ice maker costs $0.026 per hour and about $38.35 per year at 4 hours a day. That is about 5% less than the national average for the US ($3.30 per month), because electricity in Indiana costs 17.5¢ per kWh against 18.3¢ nationally. Each $1.00 of electricity buys roughly 38.1 hours of use.
How to lower the cost of running a countertop ice maker
- Make a batch, empty it into the freezer, and switch off.
- Use cold water. Warm water makes each cycle longer.
- Keep the lid closed so melting ice does not trigger extra cycles.
In standby it draws about 1 W, which adds roughly 9 kWh ($1.53) per year if it is never unplugged.
Frequently asked questions
How much electricity does an ice maker use?
About 0.6 kWh for 4 hours of ice making, around 18 kWh a month with daily use.
Is it cheaper to buy bagged ice?
For occasional use, often yes. For daily use, home ice costs pennies per day.
Does a nugget ice maker use more power?
Slightly, because it runs an auger motor continuously alongside the compressor.
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
Use the generic electricity cost calculator · Which uses more? Take the quiz