Bottle sterilizer and dryer vs. breast pump: running cost
A breast pump is cheaper to run: about $1 a year versus $14 for a bottle sterilizer and dryer at typical use and 17.99¢/kWh, a $13 difference.
| Bottle sterilizer and dryer | Breast pump | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical watts | 500 W | 10 W |
| Watt range | 300–600 W | 5–20 W |
| Typical use | 36 minutes a day, 5 days a week | 1.5 hours a day |
| Energy per year | 78 kWh | 5 kWh |
| Cost per hour | 9.0¢ | 0.2¢ |
| Cost per day | 3.9¢ | 0.3¢ |
| Cost per month | $1.17 | $0.08 |
| Cost per year | $14 | $1 |
| Per year in Hawaii (43.51¢) | $34 | $2 |
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What drives the difference
- Bottle sterilizer and dryer: Steam sterilizer-dryers draw about 500 W for steaming and drying; one full cycle is about 0.3 kWh.
- Breast pump: Electric breast pumps draw 5-15 W; even with heavy use the annual cost is under $3.
Ways to cut either cost
No electricity, useful for occasional sessions.
See options on AmazonUses a 2-3 minute microwave cycle instead of a 40-minute dryer cycle.
See options on AmazonWe may earn a commission from qualifying purchases. It never changes the numbers we show. Disclosure.
Frequently asked questions
Which costs more to run, a bottle sterilizer and dryer or a breast pump?
At typical use and the U.S. average rate (17.99¢/kWh), a bottle sterilizer and dryer costs about $14 a year versus $1 for a breast pump. That's $13 more, or 14.3× as much.
How many watts do bottle sterilizer and dryer and breast pump use?
A bottle sterilizer and dryer typically draws 500 W (range 300–600 W). A breast pump draws 10 W (range 5–20 W). Watts alone don't decide cost. Hours of use, cycling and standby matter just as much.
Rates: EIA, 12 months ending 2026-07. Methodology.