How much does a electric water heater cost to run?

Tank water heaters draw 4,000–5,500 watts to heat water, cycling on several times per day to replace heat lost through the tank walls. In most homes, water heating is the second-largest energy cost after space conditioning.

Typical running cost (18.83¢/kWh, U.S. average, 2026-04)

BasisCost
Per hour (while running, 4500 W typical)$0.85
Per day (3 h/day, 7/7 days)$2.54
Per month$77.38
Per year$928.48
Hourly range (small 3500 W – large 5500 W)$0.66 – $1.04
Save: Insulate the tank and hot-water pipes, lower the thermostat to 120°F, and take shorter showers.

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