How much does it cost to run an inkjet printer?
An inkjet printer costs about 0.3¢ per hour, 0.7¢ a day, $0.20 a month and $2 a year at typical use (6 minutes a day, 3 days a week) and the U.S. average rate of 17.99¢/kWh. Inkjets draw only 10-25 W printing; standby at 1-3 W is most of their energy 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 | 0.04 | 0.8¢ | $0.23 | $3 |
| 2 hours | 0.05 | 0.9¢ | $0.26 | $3 |
| 4 hours | 0.06 | 1.1¢ | $0.32 | $4 |
| 8 hours | 0.08 | 1.5¢ | $0.45 | $5 |
| 12 hours | 0.11 | 1.9¢ | $0.58 | $7 |
| 24 hours | 0.17 | 3.1¢ | $0.96 | $11 |
Cost to run an inkjet printer in every state
The same inkjet printer 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¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.14 | $2 |
| Idaho | 12.65¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.14 | $2 |
| Nebraska | 12.86¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.14 | $2 |
| Louisiana | 12.99¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.14 | $2 |
| Utah | 13.32¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.15 | $2 |
| Nevada | 13.36¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.15 | $2 |
| Arkansas | 13.43¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.15 | $2 |
| Tennessee | 13.56¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.15 | $2 |
| Oklahoma | 13.70¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.15 | $2 |
| Montana | 13.84¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.15 | $2 |
| Kentucky | 13.92¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.15 | $2 |
| Missouri | 13.95¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.16 | $2 |
| Wyoming | 14.01¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.16 | $2 |
| Washington | 14.12¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.16 | $2 |
| Iowa | 14.13¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.16 | $2 |
| South Dakota | 14.20¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.16 | $2 |
| Mississippi | 14.77¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.16 | $2 |
| North Carolina | 14.77¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.16 | $2 |
| Kansas | 15.09¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.17 | $2 |
| Georgia | 15.12¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.17 | $2 |
| New Mexico | 15.32¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.17 | $2 |
| Florida | 15.39¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.17 | $2 |
| Arizona | 15.40¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.17 | $2 |
| West Virginia | 15.48¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.17 | $2 |
| Oregon | 15.50¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.17 | $2 |
| South Carolina | 15.64¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.17 | $2 |
| Texas | 15.96¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.18 | $2 |
| Minnesota | 16.22¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.18 | $2 |
| Alabama | 16.44¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.18 | $2 |
| Virginia | 16.48¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.18 | $2 |
| Colorado | 16.58¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.18 | $2 |
| Indiana | 16.94¢ | 0.3¢ | $0.19 | $2 |
| Delaware | 17.79¢ | 0.3¢ | $0.20 | $2 |
| Ohio | 18.25¢ | 0.3¢ | $0.20 | $2 |
| Wisconsin | 18.74¢ | 0.3¢ | $0.21 | $3 |
| Illinois | 18.79¢ | 0.3¢ | $0.21 | $3 |
| Pennsylvania | 20.70¢ | 0.3¢ | $0.23 | $3 |
| Maryland | 21.03¢ | 0.3¢ | $0.23 | $3 |
| Michigan | 21.05¢ | 0.3¢ | $0.23 | $3 |
| New Jersey | 23.78¢ | 0.4¢ | $0.26 | $3 |
| Vermont | 23.80¢ | 0.4¢ | $0.26 | $3 |
| District of Columbia | 24.20¢ | 0.4¢ | $0.27 | $3 |
| New Hampshire | 26.67¢ | 0.4¢ | $0.30 | $4 |
| Alaska | 26.85¢ | 0.4¢ | $0.30 | $4 |
| Connecticut | 27.99¢ | 0.4¢ | $0.31 | $4 |
| New York | 28.39¢ | 0.4¢ | $0.32 | $4 |
| Rhode Island | 29.27¢ | 0.4¢ | $0.33 | $4 |
| Maine | 29.31¢ | 0.4¢ | $0.33 | $4 |
| Massachusetts | 30.43¢ | 0.5¢ | $0.34 | $4 |
| California | 32.99¢ | 0.5¢ | $0.37 | $4 |
| Hawaii | 43.51¢ | 0.7¢ | $0.48 | $6 |
How to cut the cost
- Enable auto power-off after 30 minutes.
- Print in draft mode for everyday documents to save ink and time.
- Leave it on standby rather than unplugging daily; each cold start runs an ink-wasting cleaning cycle.
Cheaper ways to get the job done
Cuts ink cost per page by 80-90%, which outweighs its electricity cost.
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Compare with similar appliances
| Appliance | Watts | Typical use | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inkjet printer | 15 | 6 minutes a day, 3 days a week | $0.20 | $2 |
| Laser printer | 500 | 6 minutes a day, 5 days a week | $0.46 | $5 |
| Desktop computer | 90 | 6 hours a day | $3.15 | $38 |
| Wi-Fi router | 10 | 24 hours a day | $1.31 | $16 |
| Mesh Wi-Fi system | 24 | 24 hours a day | $3.15 | $38 |
| Modem | 8 | 24 hours a day | $1.05 | $13 |
| NAS | 35 | 24 hours a day | $4.60 | $55 |
Head-to-head comparisons
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run an inkjet printer per hour?
An inkjet printer drawing 15 watts uses 0.01 kWh per hour. At the U.S. average of 17.99¢/kWh that's 0.3¢ per hour. In North Dakota (12.32¢) it's 0.2¢. In Hawaii (43.51¢) it's 0.7¢.
How much does it cost to run an inkjet printer per month?
At typical use (6 minutes a day, 3 days a week), an inkjet printer 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 an inkjet printer use?
Most inkjet printers use 10 to 30 watts. Plugged in but off, it still draws about 1.5 W of standby power. Check the label on the back or bottom for your model's exact rating.
How many kWh does an inkjet printer use?
About 0.04 kWh a day and 13 kWh a year at typical use (6 minutes a day, 3 days a week).
Does an inkjet printer 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 an inkjet printer or a laser printer?
At typical use, an inkjet printer costs about $2 a year versus $5 for a laser printer. So the inkjet printer is cheaper by about $3 a year. Use the comparison table above to compare them at your own settings.
How can I lower the cost of running an inkjet printer?
- Enable auto power-off after 30 minutes.
- Print in draft mode for everyday documents to save ink and time.
- Leave it on standby rather than unplugging daily; each cold start runs an ink-wasting cleaning cycle.
Rates updated 2026-10-21: EIA data through July 2026. Typical wattage and usage reviewed against DOE, ENERGY STAR and manufacturer specs. Methodology.