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How Much Does It Cost to Run a Clothes Iron in New York? (2026)
A steam iron draws 1,500 to 2,400 watts while heating, then cycles to hold temperature. The real draw over an ironing session is around half the rated figure.
A typical clothes iron (1,500 W) costs $0.43 per hour, or about $3.26 per month at 0.25 hours a day in New York. Cheap to run
| Wattage | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low (1,000 W) | $0.29 | $0.072 | $2.17 | $26.46 |
| Typical (1,500 W) | $0.43 | $0.11 | $3.26 | $39.69 |
| High (2,400 W) | $0.70 | $0.17 | $5.22 | $63.51 |
Formula: watts ÷ 1000 × hours × price per kWh. Typical use is 0.25 h/day ≈ 137 kWh per year.
In New York, with electricity at $0.29 per kWh (source: EIA Table 5.6.A, 2026-06), a typical clothes iron costs $0.43 per hour and about $39.69 per year at 0.25 hours a day. That is about 61% more than the US national average of $2.02 per month, because electricity in New York costs $0.29 per kWh against $0.18 nationally. Each $1.00 of electricity buys roughly 2.3 hours of use.
How to lower the cost of running a clothes iron
- Iron in one session while the iron is hot rather than heating it up repeatedly.
- Iron heavier fabrics first while it is hottest, then lighter ones as it cools.
- Take clothes out of the dryer slightly damp to cut ironing time.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to iron for an hour?
About 0.75 to 1 kWh once it cycles. Check the hourly figure above.
Do steam generators use more electricity?
Yes, typically 2,000 to 3,000 watts, but they iron faster.
Does an iron use electricity when plugged in but off?
No.
Cost by region
- United States (average)
- California
- Texas
- New York
- Florida
- Canada (average)
- United Kingdom
- Germany
- France
- Australia
- India