Rowing machine vs. treadmill: running cost
A rowing machine is cheaper to run: about $2 a year versus $24 for a treadmill at typical use and 17.99¢/kWh, a $23 difference.
| Rowing machine | Treadmill | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical watts | 10 W | 700 W |
| Watt range | 0–120 W | 250–1,500 W |
| Typical use | 30 minutes a day, 4 days a week | 45 minutes a day, 4 days a week |
| Energy per year | 10 kWh | 135 kWh |
| Cost per hour | 0.2¢ | 13¢ |
| Cost per day | 0.5¢ | 6.7¢ |
| Cost per month | $0.15 | $2.03 |
| Cost per year | $2 | $24 |
| Per year in Hawaii (43.51¢) | $4 | $59 |
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What drives the difference
- Rowing machine: Air and water rowers are human-powered; screen rowers like Hydrow draw 50-100 W while in use.
- Treadmill: Treadmill motors draw far less than their peak horsepower rating; jogging on a home treadmill averages 500-900 W. Incline raises draw.
Ways to cut either cost
Air rowing machine
Battery-powered console uses essentially no grid electricity.
See options on Amazon Treadmill belt lubricant
Reduces friction so the motor draws less.
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 rowing machine or a treadmill?
At typical use and the U.S. average rate (17.99¢/kWh), a treadmill costs about $24 a year versus $2 for a rowing machine. That's $23 more, or 14.0× as much.
How many watts do rowing machine and treadmill use?
A rowing machine typically draws 10 W (range 0–120 W). A treadmill draws 700 W (range 250–1,500 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.