Clothes iron vs. steam closet: running cost
A clothes iron is cheaper to run: about $6 a year versus $32 for a steam closet at typical use and 17.99¢/kWh, a $26 difference.
| Clothes iron | Steam closet | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical watts | 1,200 W | 1,600 W |
| Watt range | 800–1,800 W | 800–1,800 W |
| Typical use | 30 minutes a day, 2 days a week | 4 cycles a week |
| Energy per year | 31 kWh | 176 kWh |
| Cost per hour | 11¢ | 14¢ |
| Cost per day | 1.5¢ | 8.7¢ |
| Cost per month | $0.47 | $2.63 |
| Cost per year | $6 | $32 |
| Per year in Hawaii (43.51¢) | $14 | $76 |
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What drives the difference
- Clothes iron: Irons draw 1,000-1,800 W while heating; the thermostat cycles the plate on and off so average draw is about half.
- Steam closet: Steam closets such as the LG Styler use a steam generator and heat pump drying, using roughly 0.5-1 kWh per refresh cycle.
Ways to cut either cost
Wrinkle release spray
Removes light wrinkles with no electricity.
See options on Amazon Garment steamer
Uses about 0.3 kWh for a quick touch-up of one or two items.
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 clothes iron or a steam closet?
At typical use and the U.S. average rate (17.99¢/kWh), a steam closet costs about $32 a year versus $6 for a clothes iron. That's $26 more, or 5.6× as much.
How many watts do clothes iron and steam closet use?
A clothes iron typically draws 1,200 W (range 800–1,800 W). A steam closet draws 1,600 W (range 800–1,800 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.