How much does it cost to run a garage door opener?
A garage door opener costs about 8.1¢ per hour, 2.0¢ a day, $0.60 a month and $7 a year at typical use (2 minutes a day) and the U.S. average rate of 17.99¢/kWh. Garage door openers draw 300-600 W for about 10-15 seconds per cycle, but standby (receiver, safety sensors, Wi-Fi) runs 24/7 at 2-8 W, which is most of the annual use.
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Cost by hours of use
| Hours per day | kWh/day | Per day | Per month | Per year (all year) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour | 0.54 | 9.8¢ | $2.97 | $36 |
| 2 hours | 0.99 | 18¢ | $5.41 | $65 |
| 4 hours | 1.88 | 34¢ | $10.29 | $124 |
| 8 hours | 3.66 | 66¢ | $20.06 | $241 |
| 12 hours | 5.45 | 98¢ | $29.83 | $358 |
| 24 hours | 10.80 | $1.94 | $59.14 | $710 |
Cost to run a garage door opener in every state
The same garage door opener costs $5 a year in North Dakota and $17 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¢ | 5.5¢ | $0.41 | $5 |
| Idaho | 12.65¢ | 5.7¢ | $0.42 | $5 |
| Nebraska | 12.86¢ | 5.8¢ | $0.43 | $5 |
| Louisiana | 12.99¢ | 5.8¢ | $0.43 | $5 |
| Utah | 13.32¢ | 6.0¢ | $0.44 | $5 |
| Nevada | 13.36¢ | 6.0¢ | $0.44 | $5 |
| Arkansas | 13.43¢ | 6.0¢ | $0.45 | $5 |
| Tennessee | 13.56¢ | 6.1¢ | $0.45 | $5 |
| Oklahoma | 13.70¢ | 6.2¢ | $0.46 | $5 |
| Montana | 13.84¢ | 6.2¢ | $0.46 | $6 |
| Kentucky | 13.92¢ | 6.3¢ | $0.46 | $6 |
| Missouri | 13.95¢ | 6.3¢ | $0.46 | $6 |
| Wyoming | 14.01¢ | 6.3¢ | $0.47 | $6 |
| Washington | 14.12¢ | 6.4¢ | $0.47 | $6 |
| Iowa | 14.13¢ | 6.4¢ | $0.47 | $6 |
| South Dakota | 14.20¢ | 6.4¢ | $0.47 | $6 |
| Mississippi | 14.77¢ | 6.6¢ | $0.49 | $6 |
| North Carolina | 14.77¢ | 6.6¢ | $0.49 | $6 |
| Kansas | 15.09¢ | 6.8¢ | $0.50 | $6 |
| Georgia | 15.12¢ | 6.8¢ | $0.50 | $6 |
| New Mexico | 15.32¢ | 6.9¢ | $0.51 | $6 |
| Florida | 15.39¢ | 6.9¢ | $0.51 | $6 |
| Arizona | 15.40¢ | 6.9¢ | $0.51 | $6 |
| West Virginia | 15.48¢ | 7.0¢ | $0.52 | $6 |
| Oregon | 15.50¢ | 7.0¢ | $0.52 | $6 |
| South Carolina | 15.64¢ | 7.0¢ | $0.52 | $6 |
| Texas | 15.96¢ | 7.2¢ | $0.53 | $6 |
| Minnesota | 16.22¢ | 7.3¢ | $0.54 | $6 |
| Alabama | 16.44¢ | 7.4¢ | $0.55 | $7 |
| Virginia | 16.48¢ | 7.4¢ | $0.55 | $7 |
| Colorado | 16.58¢ | 7.5¢ | $0.55 | $7 |
| Indiana | 16.94¢ | 7.6¢ | $0.56 | $7 |
| Delaware | 17.79¢ | 8.0¢ | $0.59 | $7 |
| Ohio | 18.25¢ | 8.2¢ | $0.61 | $7 |
| Wisconsin | 18.74¢ | 8.4¢ | $0.62 | $7 |
| Illinois | 18.79¢ | 8.5¢ | $0.63 | $8 |
| Pennsylvania | 20.70¢ | 9.3¢ | $0.69 | $8 |
| Maryland | 21.03¢ | 9.5¢ | $0.70 | $8 |
| Michigan | 21.05¢ | 9.5¢ | $0.70 | $8 |
| New Jersey | 23.78¢ | 11¢ | $0.79 | $10 |
| Vermont | 23.80¢ | 11¢ | $0.79 | $10 |
| District of Columbia | 24.20¢ | 11¢ | $0.81 | $10 |
| New Hampshire | 26.67¢ | 12¢ | $0.89 | $11 |
| Alaska | 26.85¢ | 12¢ | $0.89 | $11 |
| Connecticut | 27.99¢ | 13¢ | $0.93 | $11 |
| New York | 28.39¢ | 13¢ | $0.95 | $11 |
| Rhode Island | 29.27¢ | 13¢ | $0.97 | $12 |
| Maine | 29.31¢ | 13¢ | $0.98 | $12 |
| Massachusetts | 30.43¢ | 14¢ | $1.01 | $12 |
| California | 32.99¢ | 15¢ | $1.10 | $13 |
| Hawaii | 43.51¢ | 20¢ | $1.45 | $17 |
How to cut the cost
- Replace incandescent opener bulbs with LED bulbs rated for garage door openers.
- Shorten the light-on timer to 1.5 minutes.
- Lubricate the rails and rollers twice a year so the motor works less.
- Choose a DC motor opener with low standby (under 2 W) when replacing.
Cheaper ways to get the job done
Cuts a 60 W incandescent to about 9 W and resists vibration.
See options on AmazonEfficient DC motors with soft start and lower standby than older AC units.
See options on AmazonWe may earn a commission from qualifying purchases. It never changes the numbers we show. Disclosure.
Compare with similar appliances
| Appliance | Watts | Typical use | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garage door opener | 450 | 2 minutes a day | $0.60 | $7 |
| Video doorbell | 4 | 24 hours a day | $0.53 | $6 |
| Security camera | 5 | 24 hours a day | $0.66 | $8 |
| Smart home hub | 3 | 24 hours a day | $0.39 | $5 |
| Water pressure booster pump | 700 | 45 minutes a day | $2.87 | $34 |
| Sump pump | 800 | 18 minutes a day | $1.31 | $16 |
| Electric gate opener | 250 | 3 minutes a day | $0.72 | $9 |
Head-to-head comparisons
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a garage door opener per hour?
A garage door opener drawing 450 watts uses 0.45 kWh per hour. At the U.S. average of 17.99¢/kWh that's 8.1¢ per hour. In North Dakota (12.32¢) it's 5.5¢. In Hawaii (43.51¢) it's 20¢.
How much does it cost to run a garage door opener per month?
At typical use (2 minutes a day), a garage door opener costs about $0.60 a month and $7 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 garage door opener use?
Most garage door openers use 300 to 800 watts. Plugged in but off, it still draws about 4 W of standby power. Check the label on the back or bottom for your model's exact rating.
How many kWh does a garage door opener use?
About 0.11 kWh a day and 40 kWh a year at typical use (2 minutes a day).
Does a garage door opener use a lot of electricity?
No. At about 40 kWh a year it's a small share (0.4%) of the average U.S. home's 10,492 kWh.
Is it cheaper to run a garage door opener or a video doorbell?
At typical use, a garage door opener costs about $7 a year versus $6 for a video doorbell. So the video doorbell 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 garage door opener?
- Replace incandescent opener bulbs with LED bulbs rated for garage door openers.
- Shorten the light-on timer to 1.5 minutes.
- Lubricate the rails and rollers twice a year so the motor works less.
Rates updated 2026-10-21: EIA data through July 2026. Typical wattage and usage reviewed against DOE, ENERGY STAR and manufacturer specs. Methodology.