How much does it cost to run a carpet cleaner?
A carpet cleaner costs about 18¢ per hour, 0.6¢ a day, $0.20 a month and $2 a year at typical use (15 minutes a day, 1 days a week) and the U.S. average rate of 17.99¢/kWh. 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.
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Cost by setting
| Setting | Watts | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portable spot cleaner | 400 | 7.2¢ | 0.3¢ | $0.08 | $1 |
| Upright carpet cleaner | 1,000 | 18¢ | 0.6¢ | $0.20 | $2 |
| Heated upright | 1,400 | 25¢ | 0.9¢ | $0.27 | $3 |
At 15 minutes a day, 1 days a week and 17.99¢/kWh.
Cost by hours of use
| Hours per day | kWh/day | Per day | Per month | Per year (all year) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour | 0.14 | 2.6¢ | $0.78 | $9 |
| 2 hours | 0.29 | 5.1¢ | $1.56 | $19 |
| 4 hours | 0.57 | 10¢ | $3.13 | $38 |
| 8 hours | 1.14 | 21¢ | $6.26 | $75 |
| 12 hours | 1.71 | 31¢ | $9.39 | $113 |
| 24 hours | 3.43 | 62¢ | $18.77 | $225 |
Cost to run a carpet cleaner in every state
The same carpet cleaner costs $2 a year in North Dakota and $6 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¢ | 12¢ | $0.13 | $2 |
| Idaho | 12.65¢ | 13¢ | $0.14 | $2 |
| Nebraska | 12.86¢ | 13¢ | $0.14 | $2 |
| Louisiana | 12.99¢ | 13¢ | $0.14 | $2 |
| Utah | 13.32¢ | 13¢ | $0.14 | $2 |
| Nevada | 13.36¢ | 13¢ | $0.15 | $2 |
| Arkansas | 13.43¢ | 13¢ | $0.15 | $2 |
| Tennessee | 13.56¢ | 14¢ | $0.15 | $2 |
| Oklahoma | 13.70¢ | 14¢ | $0.15 | $2 |
| Montana | 13.84¢ | 14¢ | $0.15 | $2 |
| Kentucky | 13.92¢ | 14¢ | $0.15 | $2 |
| Missouri | 13.95¢ | 14¢ | $0.15 | $2 |
| Wyoming | 14.01¢ | 14¢ | $0.15 | $2 |
| Washington | 14.12¢ | 14¢ | $0.15 | $2 |
| Iowa | 14.13¢ | 14¢ | $0.15 | $2 |
| South Dakota | 14.20¢ | 14¢ | $0.15 | $2 |
| Mississippi | 14.77¢ | 15¢ | $0.16 | $2 |
| North Carolina | 14.77¢ | 15¢ | $0.16 | $2 |
| Kansas | 15.09¢ | 15¢ | $0.16 | $2 |
| Georgia | 15.12¢ | 15¢ | $0.16 | $2 |
| New Mexico | 15.32¢ | 15¢ | $0.17 | $2 |
| Florida | 15.39¢ | 15¢ | $0.17 | $2 |
| Arizona | 15.40¢ | 15¢ | $0.17 | $2 |
| West Virginia | 15.48¢ | 15¢ | $0.17 | $2 |
| Oregon | 15.50¢ | 16¢ | $0.17 | $2 |
| South Carolina | 15.64¢ | 16¢ | $0.17 | $2 |
| Texas | 15.96¢ | 16¢ | $0.17 | $2 |
| Minnesota | 16.22¢ | 16¢ | $0.18 | $2 |
| Alabama | 16.44¢ | 16¢ | $0.18 | $2 |
| Virginia | 16.48¢ | 16¢ | $0.18 | $2 |
| Colorado | 16.58¢ | 17¢ | $0.18 | $2 |
| Indiana | 16.94¢ | 17¢ | $0.18 | $2 |
| Delaware | 17.79¢ | 18¢ | $0.19 | $2 |
| Ohio | 18.25¢ | 18¢ | $0.20 | $2 |
| Wisconsin | 18.74¢ | 19¢ | $0.20 | $2 |
| Illinois | 18.79¢ | 19¢ | $0.20 | $2 |
| Pennsylvania | 20.70¢ | 21¢ | $0.23 | $3 |
| Maryland | 21.03¢ | 21¢ | $0.23 | $3 |
| Michigan | 21.05¢ | 21¢ | $0.23 | $3 |
| New Jersey | 23.78¢ | 24¢ | $0.26 | $3 |
| Vermont | 23.80¢ | 24¢ | $0.26 | $3 |
| District of Columbia | 24.20¢ | 24¢ | $0.26 | $3 |
| New Hampshire | 26.67¢ | 27¢ | $0.29 | $3 |
| Alaska | 26.85¢ | 27¢ | $0.29 | $4 |
| Connecticut | 27.99¢ | 28¢ | $0.30 | $4 |
| New York | 28.39¢ | 28¢ | $0.31 | $4 |
| Rhode Island | 29.27¢ | 29¢ | $0.32 | $4 |
| Maine | 29.31¢ | 29¢ | $0.32 | $4 |
| Massachusetts | 30.43¢ | 30¢ | $0.33 | $4 |
| California | 32.99¢ | 33¢ | $0.36 | $4 |
| Hawaii | 43.51¢ | 44¢ | $0.47 | $6 |
How to cut the cost
- Use hot tap water rather than heated-cleaner settings when your machine allows; tap water at 120°F works well.
- Make slow dry passes to extract more water so carpet dries faster without fans.
- Vacuum thoroughly first so you need fewer cleaning passes.
Cheaper ways to get the job done
Uses about 400 W for spills instead of running a full-size machine.
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Compare with similar appliances
| Appliance | Watts | Typical use | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpet cleaner | 1,000 | 15 minutes a day, 1 days a week | $0.20 | $2 |
| Vacuum cleaner | 1,200 | 30 minutes a day, 2 days a week | $0.94 | $11 |
| Steam mop | 1,300 | 15 minutes a day, 1 days a week | $0.18 | $2 |
| Wet dry vacuum mop | 560 | 15 minutes a day, 2 days a week | $0.22 | $3 |
| Central vacuum | 1,600 | 30 minutes a day, 2 days a week | $1.25 | $15 |
| Cordless stick vacuum | 30 | 3.5 hours a day, 3 days a week | $0.31 | $4 |
| Robot vacuum | 30 | 2 hours a day | $0.69 | $8 |
Head-to-head comparisons
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a carpet cleaner per hour?
A carpet cleaner drawing 1,000 watts uses 1.00 kWh per hour. At the U.S. average of 17.99¢/kWh that's 18¢ per hour. In North Dakota (12.32¢) it's 12¢. In Hawaii (43.51¢) it's 44¢.
How much does it cost to run a carpet cleaner per month?
At typical use (15 minutes a day, 1 days a week), a carpet cleaner costs about $0.20 a month and $2 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 carpet cleaner use?
Most carpet cleaners use 400 to 1,500 watts, depending on the setting (portable spot cleaner 400 W, upright carpet cleaner 1,000 W, heated upright 1,400 W). Check the label on the back or bottom for your model's exact rating.
How many kWh does a carpet cleaner use?
About 0.04 kWh a day and 13 kWh a year at typical use (15 minutes a day, 1 days a week).
Does a carpet cleaner use a lot of electricity?
No. At about 13 kWh a year it's a small share (0.1%) of the average U.S. home's 10,492 kWh.
Is it cheaper to run a carpet cleaner or a vacuum cleaner?
At typical use, a carpet cleaner costs about $2 a year versus $11 for a vacuum cleaner. So the carpet cleaner is cheaper by about $9 a year. Use the comparison table above to compare them at your own settings.
How can I lower the cost of running a carpet cleaner?
- Use hot tap water rather than heated-cleaner settings when your machine allows; tap water at 120°F works well.
- Make slow dry passes to extract more water so carpet dries faster without fans.
- Vacuum thoroughly first so you need fewer cleaning passes.
Rates updated 2026-10-21: EIA data through July 2026. Typical wattage and usage reviewed against DOE, ENERGY STAR and manufacturer specs. Methodology.