How much does it cost to run a bottle sterilizer and dryer?
A bottle sterilizer and dryer costs about 9.0¢ per hour, 3.9¢ a day, $1.17 a month and $14 a year at typical use (36 minutes a day, 5 days a week) and the U.S. average rate of 17.99¢/kWh. Steam sterilizer-dryers draw about 500 W for steaming and drying; one full cycle is about 0.3 kWh.
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Cost by hours of use
| Hours per day | kWh/day | Per day | Per month | Per year (all year) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour | 0.36 | 6.4¢ | $1.96 | $23 |
| 2 hours | 0.71 | 13¢ | $3.91 | $47 |
| 4 hours | 1.43 | 26¢ | $7.82 | $94 |
| 8 hours | 2.86 | 51¢ | $15.64 | $188 |
| 12 hours | 4.29 | 77¢ | $23.47 | $282 |
| 24 hours | 8.57 | $1.54 | $46.93 | $563 |
Cost to run a bottle sterilizer and dryer in every state
The same bottle sterilizer and dryer costs $10 a year in North Dakota and $34 in Hawaii, at each state's average residential rate (12 months ending July 2026).
| State | Rate | Per hour | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | 12.32¢ | 6.2¢ | $0.80 | $10 |
| Idaho | 12.65¢ | 6.3¢ | $0.83 | $10 |
| Nebraska | 12.86¢ | 6.4¢ | $0.84 | $10 |
| Louisiana | 12.99¢ | 6.5¢ | $0.85 | $10 |
| Utah | 13.32¢ | 6.7¢ | $0.87 | $10 |
| Nevada | 13.36¢ | 6.7¢ | $0.87 | $10 |
| Arkansas | 13.43¢ | 6.7¢ | $0.88 | $11 |
| Tennessee | 13.56¢ | 6.8¢ | $0.88 | $11 |
| Oklahoma | 13.70¢ | 6.8¢ | $0.89 | $11 |
| Montana | 13.84¢ | 6.9¢ | $0.90 | $11 |
| Kentucky | 13.92¢ | 7.0¢ | $0.91 | $11 |
| Missouri | 13.95¢ | 7.0¢ | $0.91 | $11 |
| Wyoming | 14.01¢ | 7.0¢ | $0.91 | $11 |
| Washington | 14.12¢ | 7.1¢ | $0.92 | $11 |
| Iowa | 14.13¢ | 7.1¢ | $0.92 | $11 |
| South Dakota | 14.20¢ | 7.1¢ | $0.93 | $11 |
| Mississippi | 14.77¢ | 7.4¢ | $0.96 | $12 |
| North Carolina | 14.77¢ | 7.4¢ | $0.96 | $12 |
| Kansas | 15.09¢ | 7.5¢ | $0.98 | $12 |
| Georgia | 15.12¢ | 7.6¢ | $0.99 | $12 |
| New Mexico | 15.32¢ | 7.7¢ | $1.00 | $12 |
| Florida | 15.39¢ | 7.7¢ | $1.00 | $12 |
| Arizona | 15.40¢ | 7.7¢ | $1.00 | $12 |
| West Virginia | 15.48¢ | 7.7¢ | $1.01 | $12 |
| Oregon | 15.50¢ | 7.8¢ | $1.01 | $12 |
| South Carolina | 15.64¢ | 7.8¢ | $1.02 | $12 |
| Texas | 15.96¢ | 8.0¢ | $1.04 | $12 |
| Minnesota | 16.22¢ | 8.1¢ | $1.06 | $13 |
| Alabama | 16.44¢ | 8.2¢ | $1.07 | $13 |
| Virginia | 16.48¢ | 8.2¢ | $1.07 | $13 |
| Colorado | 16.58¢ | 8.3¢ | $1.08 | $13 |
| Indiana | 16.94¢ | 8.5¢ | $1.10 | $13 |
| Delaware | 17.79¢ | 8.9¢ | $1.16 | $14 |
| Ohio | 18.25¢ | 9.1¢ | $1.19 | $14 |
| Wisconsin | 18.74¢ | 9.4¢ | $1.22 | $15 |
| Illinois | 18.79¢ | 9.4¢ | $1.23 | $15 |
| Pennsylvania | 20.70¢ | 10¢ | $1.35 | $16 |
| Maryland | 21.03¢ | 11¢ | $1.37 | $16 |
| Michigan | 21.05¢ | 11¢ | $1.37 | $16 |
| New Jersey | 23.78¢ | 12¢ | $1.55 | $19 |
| Vermont | 23.80¢ | 12¢ | $1.55 | $19 |
| District of Columbia | 24.20¢ | 12¢ | $1.58 | $19 |
| New Hampshire | 26.67¢ | 13¢ | $1.74 | $21 |
| Alaska | 26.85¢ | 13¢ | $1.75 | $21 |
| Connecticut | 27.99¢ | 14¢ | $1.83 | $22 |
| New York | 28.39¢ | 14¢ | $1.85 | $22 |
| Rhode Island | 29.27¢ | 15¢ | $1.91 | $23 |
| Maine | 29.31¢ | 15¢ | $1.91 | $23 |
| Massachusetts | 30.43¢ | 15¢ | $1.98 | $24 |
| California | 32.99¢ | 16¢ | $2.15 | $26 |
| Hawaii | 43.51¢ | 22¢ | $2.84 | $34 |
How to cut the cost
- Use steam-only mode and air-dry bottles on a rack.
- Run full loads once a day instead of partial loads.
- After 3 months, most pediatric guidance says hot soapy water or the dishwasher is enough.
Cheaper ways to get the job done
Uses a 2-3 minute microwave cycle instead of a 40-minute dryer cycle.
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Compare with similar appliances
| Appliance | Watts | Typical use | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bottle sterilizer and dryer | 500 | 36 minutes a day, 5 days a week | $1.17 | $14 |
| Baby bottle warmer | 400 | 30 minutes a day | $1.16 | $14 |
| Breast pump | 10 | 1.5 hours a day | $0.08 | $1 |
| Kids ride-on car (Power Wheels) | 25 | 2 hours a day, 3 days a week | $0.12 | $1 |
| Baby monitor | 5 | 24 hours a day | $0.66 | $8 |
| Sound machine | 3 | 10 hours a day | $0.20 | $2 |
Head-to-head comparisons
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a bottle sterilizer and dryer per hour?
A bottle sterilizer and dryer drawing 500 watts uses 0.50 kWh per hour. At the U.S. average of 17.99¢/kWh that's 9.0¢ per hour. In North Dakota (12.32¢) it's 6.2¢. In Hawaii (43.51¢) it's 22¢.
How much does it cost to run a bottle sterilizer and dryer per month?
At typical use (36 minutes a day, 5 days a week), a bottle sterilizer and dryer costs about $1.17 a month and $14 a year, at the U.S. average rate. Enter your ZIP in the calculator above for your utility's rate.
How many watts does a bottle sterilizer and dryer use?
Most bottle sterilizer and dryers use 300 to 600 watts. Check the label on the back or bottom for your model's exact rating.
How many kWh does a bottle sterilizer and dryer use?
About 0.21 kWh a day and 78 kWh a year at typical use (36 minutes a day, 5 days a week).
Does a bottle sterilizer and dryer use a lot of electricity?
No. At about 78 kWh a year it's a small share (0.7%) of the average U.S. home's 10,492 kWh.
Is it cheaper to run a bottle sterilizer and dryer or a baby bottle warmer?
At typical use, a bottle sterilizer and dryer costs about $14 a year versus $14 for a baby bottle warmer. So the baby bottle warmer is cheaper by about $0 a year. Use the comparison table above to compare them at your own settings.
How can I lower the cost of running a bottle sterilizer and dryer?
- Use steam-only mode and air-dry bottles on a rack.
- Run full loads once a day instead of partial loads.
- After 3 months, most pediatric guidance says hot soapy water or the dishwasher is enough.
Rates updated 2026-10-21: EIA data through July 2026. Typical wattage and usage reviewed against DOE, ENERGY STAR and manufacturer specs. Methodology.