How much does it cost to run a circular saw?
A circular saw costs about 27¢ per hour, 1.0¢ a day, $0.29 a month and $4 a year at typical use (15 minutes a day, 1 days a week) and the U.S. average rate of 17.99¢/kWh. Corded circular saws are 13-15 A tools; energy use is tiny because cuts take seconds.
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Cost by hours of use
| Hours per day | kWh/day | Per day | Per month | Per year (all year) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour | 0.21 | 3.9¢ | $1.17 | $14 |
| 2 hours | 0.43 | 7.7¢ | $2.35 | $28 |
| 4 hours | 0.86 | 15¢ | $4.69 | $56 |
| 8 hours | 1.71 | 31¢ | $9.39 | $113 |
| 12 hours | 2.57 | 46¢ | $14.08 | $169 |
| 24 hours | 5.14 | 93¢ | $28.16 | $338 |
Cost to run a circular saw in every state
The same circular saw costs $2 a year in North Dakota and $9 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¢ | 18¢ | $0.20 | $2 |
| Idaho | 12.65¢ | 19¢ | $0.21 | $2 |
| Nebraska | 12.86¢ | 19¢ | $0.21 | $3 |
| Louisiana | 12.99¢ | 19¢ | $0.21 | $3 |
| Utah | 13.32¢ | 20¢ | $0.22 | $3 |
| Nevada | 13.36¢ | 20¢ | $0.22 | $3 |
| Arkansas | 13.43¢ | 20¢ | $0.22 | $3 |
| Tennessee | 13.56¢ | 20¢ | $0.22 | $3 |
| Oklahoma | 13.70¢ | 21¢ | $0.22 | $3 |
| Montana | 13.84¢ | 21¢ | $0.23 | $3 |
| Kentucky | 13.92¢ | 21¢ | $0.23 | $3 |
| Missouri | 13.95¢ | 21¢ | $0.23 | $3 |
| Wyoming | 14.01¢ | 21¢ | $0.23 | $3 |
| Washington | 14.12¢ | 21¢ | $0.23 | $3 |
| Iowa | 14.13¢ | 21¢ | $0.23 | $3 |
| South Dakota | 14.20¢ | 21¢ | $0.23 | $3 |
| Mississippi | 14.77¢ | 22¢ | $0.24 | $3 |
| North Carolina | 14.77¢ | 22¢ | $0.24 | $3 |
| Kansas | 15.09¢ | 23¢ | $0.25 | $3 |
| Georgia | 15.12¢ | 23¢ | $0.25 | $3 |
| New Mexico | 15.32¢ | 23¢ | $0.25 | $3 |
| Florida | 15.39¢ | 23¢ | $0.25 | $3 |
| Arizona | 15.40¢ | 23¢ | $0.25 | $3 |
| West Virginia | 15.48¢ | 23¢ | $0.25 | $3 |
| Oregon | 15.50¢ | 23¢ | $0.25 | $3 |
| South Carolina | 15.64¢ | 23¢ | $0.26 | $3 |
| Texas | 15.96¢ | 24¢ | $0.26 | $3 |
| Minnesota | 16.22¢ | 24¢ | $0.26 | $3 |
| Alabama | 16.44¢ | 25¢ | $0.27 | $3 |
| Virginia | 16.48¢ | 25¢ | $0.27 | $3 |
| Colorado | 16.58¢ | 25¢ | $0.27 | $3 |
| Indiana | 16.94¢ | 25¢ | $0.28 | $3 |
| Delaware | 17.79¢ | 27¢ | $0.29 | $3 |
| Ohio | 18.25¢ | 27¢ | $0.30 | $4 |
| Wisconsin | 18.74¢ | 28¢ | $0.31 | $4 |
| Illinois | 18.79¢ | 28¢ | $0.31 | $4 |
| Pennsylvania | 20.70¢ | 31¢ | $0.34 | $4 |
| Maryland | 21.03¢ | 32¢ | $0.34 | $4 |
| Michigan | 21.05¢ | 32¢ | $0.34 | $4 |
| New Jersey | 23.78¢ | 36¢ | $0.39 | $5 |
| Vermont | 23.80¢ | 36¢ | $0.39 | $5 |
| District of Columbia | 24.20¢ | 36¢ | $0.39 | $5 |
| New Hampshire | 26.67¢ | 40¢ | $0.43 | $5 |
| Alaska | 26.85¢ | 40¢ | $0.44 | $5 |
| Connecticut | 27.99¢ | 42¢ | $0.46 | $5 |
| New York | 28.39¢ | 43¢ | $0.46 | $6 |
| Rhode Island | 29.27¢ | 44¢ | $0.48 | $6 |
| Maine | 29.31¢ | 44¢ | $0.48 | $6 |
| Massachusetts | 30.43¢ | 46¢ | $0.50 | $6 |
| California | 32.99¢ | 49¢ | $0.54 | $6 |
| Hawaii | 43.51¢ | 65¢ | $0.71 | $9 |
How to cut the cost
- Use a sharp carbide blade.
- Make cuts in batches.
- Consider cordless for light work; charging uses a few watt-hours per cut session.
Cheaper ways to get the job done
Uses only charging energy and avoids extension cords.
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Compare with similar appliances
| Appliance | Watts | Typical use | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Circular saw | 1,500 | 15 minutes a day, 1 days a week | $0.29 | $4 |
| Table saw | 1,800 | 30 minutes a day, 1 days a week | $0.35 | $4 |
| Cordless drill (charging) | 70 | 1 hour a day, 1 days a week | $0.12 | $1 |
| Tool battery charger | 100 | 1 hour a day, 2 days a week | $0.29 | $3 |
| Air compressor | 1,500 | 1 hour a day, 1 days a week | $0.59 | $7 |
| Shop vac | 1,200 | 15 minutes a day, 1 days a week | $0.23 | $3 |
| Welder | 2,400 | 1 hour a day, 1 days a week | $0.56 | $7 |
Head-to-head comparisons
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a circular saw per hour?
A circular saw drawing 1,500 watts uses 1.50 kWh per hour. At the U.S. average of 17.99¢/kWh that's 27¢ per hour. In North Dakota (12.32¢) it's 18¢. In Hawaii (43.51¢) it's 65¢.
How much does it cost to run a circular saw per month?
At typical use (15 minutes a day, 1 days a week), a circular saw costs about $0.29 a month and $4 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 circular saw use?
Most circular saws use 1,000 to 1,800 watts. Check the label on the back or bottom for your model's exact rating.
How many kWh does a circular saw use?
About 0.05 kWh a day and 20 kWh a year at typical use (15 minutes a day, 1 days a week).
Does a circular saw use a lot of electricity?
No. At about 20 kWh a year it's a small share (0.2%) of the average U.S. home's 10,492 kWh.
Is it cheaper to run a circular saw or a table saw?
At typical use, a circular saw costs about $4 a year versus $4 for a table saw. So the circular saw is cheaper by about $1 a year. Use the comparison table above to compare them at your own settings.
How can I lower the cost of running a circular saw?
- Use a sharp carbide blade.
- Make cuts in batches.
- Consider cordless for light work; charging uses a few watt-hours per cut session.
Rates updated 2026-10-21: EIA data through July 2026. Typical wattage and usage reviewed against DOE, ENERGY STAR and manufacturer specs. Methodology.