Wet dry vacuum mop vs. cordless stick vacuum: running cost
A wet dry vacuum mop is cheaper to run: about $3 a year versus $4 for a cordless stick vacuum at typical use and 17.99¢/kWh, a $1 difference.
| Wet dry vacuum mop | Cordless stick vacuum | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical watts | 560 W | 30 W |
| Watt range | 60–600 W | 15–100 W |
| Typical use | 15 minutes a day, 2 days a week | 3.5 hours a day, 3 days a week |
| Energy per year | 15 kWh | 21 kWh |
| Cost per hour | 10¢ | 0.5¢ |
| Cost per day | 0.7¢ | 1.0¢ |
| Cost per month | $0.22 | $0.31 |
| Cost per year | $3 | $4 |
| Per year in Hawaii (43.51¢) | $6 | $9 |
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What drives the difference
- Wet dry vacuum mop: Corded wet-dry floor cleaners like the Bissell CrossWave draw about 560 W; cordless models like Tineco charge a ~0.1 kWh battery at roughly 50-80 W.
- Cordless stick vacuum: Stick vacuum batteries hold about 0.05-0.1 kWh; the charger draws 20-60 W for 3-4.5 hours to refill a fully drained pack. The cost is a few dollars a year.
Ways to cut either cost
No electricity for quick touch-ups between deep cleans.
See options on AmazonA clean filter keeps suction high so you finish faster on each charge.
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Frequently asked questions
Which costs more to run, a wet dry vacuum mop or a cordless stick vacuum?
At typical use and the U.S. average rate (17.99¢/kWh), a cordless stick vacuum costs about $4 a year versus $3 for a wet dry vacuum mop. That's $1 more, or 1.4× as much.
How many watts do wet dry vacuum mop and cordless stick vacuum use?
A wet dry vacuum mop typically draws 560 W (range 60–600 W). A cordless stick vacuum draws 30 W (range 15–100 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.