How much does a clothes iron cost to run in Iowa?
$0.48 a month
- A day of use
- $0.06
- An hour of running
- $0.11
- A year
- $5.81
1,400 W, 30 minutes, twice a week, with the thermostat cycling about half the time, at Iowa’s average rate of 15.9¢ per kWh (EIA, June 2026). How we calculate this
Change the watts, hours or rate
What it costs at other usage levels
| Use | A day | A month | A year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 minutes a day typical | $0.06 | $0.48 | $5.81 |
| 1 hour a day | $0.11 | $0.97 | $11.63 |
| 2 hours a day | $0.22 | $1.94 | $23.26 |
| 4 hours a day | $0.45 | $3.88 | $46.52 |
| 8 hours a day | $0.89 | $7.75 | $93.03 |
| 24 hours a day | $2.68 | $23.26 | $279.09 |
Models range from 1,000 W to 1,800 W (Virginia Cooperative Extension). We use 1,400 W, the middle of that range.
Iowa compared with other states
Iowa’s residential rate is the 23rd cheapest of 51 states and DC, 2.4¢ below the US average of 18.3¢ (−13%). Iowa’s rate is up 0.6¢ from June 2025 (15.3¢, +3.9%).
Ways to spend less
- Iron in one session a week instead of several. Saves about $0.24 a month.
- Start with fabrics that need the lowest heat.
- Take clothes out of the dryer promptly so they need less ironing.
Questions
How much does it cost to run a clothes iron per hour?
About $0.11 an hour in Iowa. A clothes iron at 1,400 W uses 0.700 kWh per hour, with its thermostat cycling it on about 50% of the time, and at Iowa’s average of 15.9¢ per kWh that comes to $0.11.
How much does a clothes iron add to your electric bill?
Used 30 minutes, twice a week, with the thermostat cycling about half the time, about $0.48 a month in Iowa, or $5.81 a year.
How much does it cost to run a clothes iron 24 hours a day?
Running nonstop, a clothes iron would use 16.8 kWh a day and cost $2.68 a day, or $81.40 over an average month in Iowa.
How many watts does a clothes iron use?
Models range from 1,000 W to 1,800 W (Virginia Cooperative Extension). We use 1,400 W, the middle of that range. Check the label on yours: cost scales directly with watts, so a 20% lower wattage means a 20% lower bill.
Why does a clothes iron cost more or less to run in Iowa than elsewhere?
Iowa’s residential rate is the 23rd cheapest of 51 states and DC, 2.4¢ below the US average of 18.3¢ (−13%). Iowa’s rate is up 0.6¢ from June 2025 (15.3¢, +3.9%). The appliance uses the same energy everywhere; only the price per kWh changes.
Sources
- Virginia Cooperative Extension: Estimating appliance and home electronic energy use (reproduces U.S. Department of Energy sample wattages)
- Penn State EGEE 102: Typical range of power consumption (wattage)
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A: average price of electricity to ultimate customers, residential, June 2026 Figures transcribed from republications of this table on September 26, 2026; pending direct verification from the EIA API.
- Carrier page: June 2026 residential average price, citing EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A
Usage assumptions (hours a day, season) are ours and listed on the methodology page. Found an error? Tell us.