Carpet cleaner vs. vacuum cleaner: running cost
A carpet cleaner is cheaper to run: about $2 a year versus $11 for a vacuum cleaner at typical use and 17.99¢/kWh, a $9 difference.
| Carpet cleaner | Vacuum cleaner | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical watts | 1,000 W | 1,200 W |
| Watt range | 400–1,500 W | 500–1,500 W |
| Typical use | 15 minutes a day, 1 days a week | 30 minutes a day, 2 days a week |
| Energy per year | 13 kWh | 63 kWh |
| Cost per hour | 18¢ | 22¢ |
| Cost per day | 0.6¢ | 3.1¢ |
| Cost per month | $0.20 | $0.94 |
| Cost per year | $2 | $11 |
| Per year in Hawaii (43.51¢) | $6 | $27 |
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What drives the difference
- Carpet cleaner: Upright carpet cleaners draw 800-1,500 W (heated models more). Most homes use them a few times a year, so the default spreads about one hour a month.
- Vacuum cleaner: Corded upright vacuums draw about 1,000-1,400 W; an hour of vacuuming a week is roughly 60-75 kWh a year.
Ways to cut either cost
Uses about 400 W for spills instead of running a full-size machine.
See options on AmazonUses about 0.05-0.1 kWh per charge, a fraction of a corded upright for quick cleanups.
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 carpet cleaner or a vacuum cleaner?
At typical use and the U.S. average rate (17.99¢/kWh), a vacuum cleaner costs about $11 a year versus $2 for a carpet cleaner. That's $9 more, or 4.8× as much.
How many watts do carpet cleaner and vacuum cleaner use?
A carpet cleaner typically draws 1,000 W (range 400–1,500 W). A vacuum cleaner draws 1,200 W (range 500–1,500 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.