How much does it cost to run a laser printer?
A laser printer costs about 9.0¢ per hour, 1.5¢ a day, $0.46 a month and $5 a year at typical use (6 minutes a day, 5 days a week) and the U.S. average rate of 17.99¢/kWh. Laser printers draw 400-600 W while printing (fusing toner) and spike higher on warm-up, but print only minutes a day; sleep draw of 1-3 W makes up most 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 | 0.40 | 7.3¢ | $2.21 | $27 |
| 2 hours | 0.76 | 14¢ | $4.16 | $50 |
| 4 hours | 1.47 | 26¢ | $8.05 | $97 |
| 8 hours | 2.89 | 52¢ | $15.85 | $190 |
| 12 hours | 4.32 | 78¢ | $23.64 | $284 |
| 24 hours | 8.59 | $1.54 | $47.01 | $564 |
Cost to run a laser printer in every state
The same laser printer costs $4 a year in North Dakota and $13 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¢ | $0.31 | $4 |
| Idaho | 12.65¢ | 6.3¢ | $0.32 | $4 |
| Nebraska | 12.86¢ | 6.4¢ | $0.33 | $4 |
| Louisiana | 12.99¢ | 6.5¢ | $0.33 | $4 |
| Utah | 13.32¢ | 6.7¢ | $0.34 | $4 |
| Nevada | 13.36¢ | 6.7¢ | $0.34 | $4 |
| Arkansas | 13.43¢ | 6.7¢ | $0.34 | $4 |
| Tennessee | 13.56¢ | 6.8¢ | $0.34 | $4 |
| Oklahoma | 13.70¢ | 6.8¢ | $0.35 | $4 |
| Montana | 13.84¢ | 6.9¢ | $0.35 | $4 |
| Kentucky | 13.92¢ | 7.0¢ | $0.35 | $4 |
| Missouri | 13.95¢ | 7.0¢ | $0.35 | $4 |
| Wyoming | 14.01¢ | 7.0¢ | $0.36 | $4 |
| Washington | 14.12¢ | 7.1¢ | $0.36 | $4 |
| Iowa | 14.13¢ | 7.1¢ | $0.36 | $4 |
| South Dakota | 14.20¢ | 7.1¢ | $0.36 | $4 |
| Mississippi | 14.77¢ | 7.4¢ | $0.38 | $5 |
| North Carolina | 14.77¢ | 7.4¢ | $0.38 | $5 |
| Kansas | 15.09¢ | 7.5¢ | $0.38 | $5 |
| Georgia | 15.12¢ | 7.6¢ | $0.38 | $5 |
| New Mexico | 15.32¢ | 7.7¢ | $0.39 | $5 |
| Florida | 15.39¢ | 7.7¢ | $0.39 | $5 |
| Arizona | 15.40¢ | 7.7¢ | $0.39 | $5 |
| West Virginia | 15.48¢ | 7.7¢ | $0.39 | $5 |
| Oregon | 15.50¢ | 7.8¢ | $0.39 | $5 |
| South Carolina | 15.64¢ | 7.8¢ | $0.40 | $5 |
| Texas | 15.96¢ | 8.0¢ | $0.41 | $5 |
| Minnesota | 16.22¢ | 8.1¢ | $0.41 | $5 |
| Alabama | 16.44¢ | 8.2¢ | $0.42 | $5 |
| Virginia | 16.48¢ | 8.2¢ | $0.42 | $5 |
| Colorado | 16.58¢ | 8.3¢ | $0.42 | $5 |
| Indiana | 16.94¢ | 8.5¢ | $0.43 | $5 |
| Delaware | 17.79¢ | 8.9¢ | $0.45 | $5 |
| Ohio | 18.25¢ | 9.1¢ | $0.46 | $6 |
| Wisconsin | 18.74¢ | 9.4¢ | $0.48 | $6 |
| Illinois | 18.79¢ | 9.4¢ | $0.48 | $6 |
| Pennsylvania | 20.70¢ | 10¢ | $0.53 | $6 |
| Maryland | 21.03¢ | 11¢ | $0.53 | $6 |
| Michigan | 21.05¢ | 11¢ | $0.54 | $6 |
| New Jersey | 23.78¢ | 12¢ | $0.60 | $7 |
| Vermont | 23.80¢ | 12¢ | $0.61 | $7 |
| District of Columbia | 24.20¢ | 12¢ | $0.62 | $7 |
| New Hampshire | 26.67¢ | 13¢ | $0.68 | $8 |
| Alaska | 26.85¢ | 13¢ | $0.68 | $8 |
| Connecticut | 27.99¢ | 14¢ | $0.71 | $9 |
| New York | 28.39¢ | 14¢ | $0.72 | $9 |
| Rhode Island | 29.27¢ | 15¢ | $0.74 | $9 |
| Maine | 29.31¢ | 15¢ | $0.75 | $9 |
| Massachusetts | 30.43¢ | 15¢ | $0.77 | $9 |
| California | 32.99¢ | 16¢ | $0.84 | $10 |
| Hawaii | 43.51¢ | 22¢ | $1.11 | $13 |
How to cut the cost
- Set sleep or auto-off to 5-15 minutes in the printer menu.
- Print duplex and in batches so the fuser heats once.
- Turn it off at night and weekends if you print a few times a week.
Cheaper ways to get the job done
Certified models have deep-sleep modes under 1 W.
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Compare with similar appliances
| Appliance | Watts | Typical use | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laser printer | 500 | 6 minutes a day, 5 days a week | $0.46 | $5 |
| Inkjet printer | 15 | 6 minutes a day, 3 days a week | $0.20 | $2 |
| Paper shredder | 200 | 6 minutes a day, 2 days a week | $0.10 | $1 |
| Desktop computer | 90 | 6 hours a day | $3.15 | $38 |
| 3D printer | 120 | 4 hours a day, 3 days a week | $1.74 | $21 |
| Starlink | 55 | 24 hours a day | $7.23 | $87 |
| NAS | 35 | 24 hours a day | $4.60 | $55 |
Head-to-head comparisons
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a laser printer per hour?
A laser printer 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 laser printer per month?
At typical use (6 minutes a day, 5 days a week), a laser printer costs about $0.46 a month and $5 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 laser printer use?
Most laser printers use 300 to 1,000 watts. Plugged in but off, it still draws about 2 W of standby power. Check the label on the back or bottom for your model's exact rating.
How many kWh does a laser printer use?
About 0.08 kWh a day and 31 kWh a year at typical use (6 minutes a day, 5 days a week).
Does a laser printer use a lot of electricity?
No. At about 31 kWh a year it's a small share (0.3%) of the average U.S. home's 10,492 kWh.
Is it cheaper to run a laser printer or an inkjet printer?
At typical use, a laser printer costs about $5 a year versus $2 for an inkjet 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 a laser printer?
- Set sleep or auto-off to 5-15 minutes in the printer menu.
- Print duplex and in batches so the fuser heats once.
- Turn it off at night and weekends if you print a few times a week.
Rates updated 2026-10-21: EIA data through July 2026. Typical wattage and usage reviewed against DOE, ENERGY STAR and manufacturer specs. Methodology.