How much does a vacuum cleaner cost to run in Iowa?
$0.84 a month
- A day of use
- $0.19
- An hour of running
- $0.19
- A year
- $10.13
1,220 W, 1 hour a week, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour a day typical | $0.19 | $0.84 | $10.13 |
| 2 hours a day | $0.39 | $1.69 | $20.27 |
| 4 hours a day | $0.78 | $3.38 | $40.54 |
| 8 hours a day | $1.55 | $6.76 | $81.07 |
| 24 hours a day | $4.66 | $20.27 | $243.21 |
Models range from 1,000 W to 1,440 W (Virginia Cooperative Extension). We use 1,220 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
- Empty the bag or bin before it is full; suction drops as it fills.
- Clean the filter so the motor doesn't have to work harder.
- Use the lowest suction setting that does the job on hard floors.
Questions
How much does it cost to run a vacuum cleaner per hour?
About $0.19 an hour in Iowa. A vacuum cleaner at 1,220 W uses 1.22 kWh per hour, and at Iowa’s average of 15.9¢ per kWh that comes to $0.19.
How much does a vacuum cleaner add to your electric bill?
Used 1 hour a week, about $0.84 a month in Iowa, or $10.13 a year.
How much does it cost to run a vacuum cleaner 24 hours a day?
Running nonstop, a vacuum cleaner would use 29.3 kWh a day and cost $4.66 a day, or $141.87 over an average month in Iowa.
How many watts does a vacuum cleaner use?
Models range from 1,000 W to 1,440 W (Virginia Cooperative Extension). We use 1,220 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 vacuum cleaner 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.