How much does it cost to run a robot vacuum?
A robot vacuum costs about 0.5¢ per hour, 2.3¢ a day, $0.69 a month and $8 a year at typical use (2 hours a day) and the U.S. average rate of 17.99¢/kWh. Robot vacuum batteries hold about 30-80 Wh; the dock charges at 20-50 W, then idles at 2-5 W. Self-emptying docks briefly draw about 1,000 W for 10-15 seconds per empty.
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Cost by hours of use
| Hours per day | kWh/day | Per day | Per month | Per year (all year) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour | 0.10 | 1.8¢ | $0.54 | $7 |
| 2 hours | 0.13 | 2.3¢ | $0.69 | $8 |
| 4 hours | 0.18 | 3.2¢ | $0.99 | $12 |
| 8 hours | 0.29 | 5.2¢ | $1.58 | $19 |
| 12 hours | 0.40 | 7.1¢ | $2.17 | $26 |
| 24 hours | 0.72 | 13¢ | $3.94 | $47 |
Cost to run a robot vacuum in every state
The same robot vacuum costs $6 a year in North Dakota and $20 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¢ | 0.4¢ | $0.47 | $6 |
| Idaho | 12.65¢ | 0.4¢ | $0.49 | $6 |
| Nebraska | 12.86¢ | 0.4¢ | $0.49 | $6 |
| Louisiana | 12.99¢ | 0.4¢ | $0.50 | $6 |
| Utah | 13.32¢ | 0.4¢ | $0.51 | $6 |
| Nevada | 13.36¢ | 0.4¢ | $0.51 | $6 |
| Arkansas | 13.43¢ | 0.4¢ | $0.52 | $6 |
| Tennessee | 13.56¢ | 0.4¢ | $0.52 | $6 |
| Oklahoma | 13.70¢ | 0.4¢ | $0.53 | $6 |
| Montana | 13.84¢ | 0.4¢ | $0.53 | $6 |
| Kentucky | 13.92¢ | 0.4¢ | $0.53 | $6 |
| Missouri | 13.95¢ | 0.4¢ | $0.53 | $6 |
| Wyoming | 14.01¢ | 0.4¢ | $0.54 | $6 |
| Washington | 14.12¢ | 0.4¢ | $0.54 | $6 |
| Iowa | 14.13¢ | 0.4¢ | $0.54 | $7 |
| South Dakota | 14.20¢ | 0.4¢ | $0.54 | $7 |
| Mississippi | 14.77¢ | 0.4¢ | $0.57 | $7 |
| North Carolina | 14.77¢ | 0.4¢ | $0.57 | $7 |
| Kansas | 15.09¢ | 0.5¢ | $0.58 | $7 |
| Georgia | 15.12¢ | 0.5¢ | $0.58 | $7 |
| New Mexico | 15.32¢ | 0.5¢ | $0.59 | $7 |
| Florida | 15.39¢ | 0.5¢ | $0.59 | $7 |
| Arizona | 15.40¢ | 0.5¢ | $0.59 | $7 |
| West Virginia | 15.48¢ | 0.5¢ | $0.59 | $7 |
| Oregon | 15.50¢ | 0.5¢ | $0.59 | $7 |
| South Carolina | 15.64¢ | 0.5¢ | $0.60 | $7 |
| Texas | 15.96¢ | 0.5¢ | $0.61 | $7 |
| Minnesota | 16.22¢ | 0.5¢ | $0.62 | $7 |
| Alabama | 16.44¢ | 0.5¢ | $0.63 | $8 |
| Virginia | 16.48¢ | 0.5¢ | $0.63 | $8 |
| Colorado | 16.58¢ | 0.5¢ | $0.64 | $8 |
| Indiana | 16.94¢ | 0.5¢ | $0.65 | $8 |
| Delaware | 17.79¢ | 0.5¢ | $0.68 | $8 |
| Ohio | 18.25¢ | 0.5¢ | $0.70 | $8 |
| Wisconsin | 18.74¢ | 0.6¢ | $0.72 | $9 |
| Illinois | 18.79¢ | 0.6¢ | $0.72 | $9 |
| Pennsylvania | 20.70¢ | 0.6¢ | $0.79 | $10 |
| Maryland | 21.03¢ | 0.6¢ | $0.81 | $10 |
| Michigan | 21.05¢ | 0.6¢ | $0.81 | $10 |
| New Jersey | 23.78¢ | 0.7¢ | $0.91 | $11 |
| Vermont | 23.80¢ | 0.7¢ | $0.91 | $11 |
| District of Columbia | 24.20¢ | 0.7¢ | $0.93 | $11 |
| New Hampshire | 26.67¢ | 0.8¢ | $1.02 | $12 |
| Alaska | 26.85¢ | 0.8¢ | $1.03 | $12 |
| Connecticut | 27.99¢ | 0.8¢ | $1.07 | $13 |
| New York | 28.39¢ | 0.9¢ | $1.09 | $13 |
| Rhode Island | 29.27¢ | 0.9¢ | $1.12 | $13 |
| Maine | 29.31¢ | 0.9¢ | $1.12 | $13 |
| Massachusetts | 30.43¢ | 0.9¢ | $1.17 | $14 |
| California | 32.99¢ | 1.0¢ | $1.27 | $15 |
| Hawaii | 43.51¢ | 1.3¢ | $1.67 | $20 |
How to cut the cost
- Schedule runs every other day instead of daily if pets and traffic allow; it halves charging energy.
- Use room maps to clean only high-traffic rooms on most runs.
- Clean brushes and sensors weekly so runs finish without recharging mid-job.
- Turn off auto-empty after every run and empty once per few runs if your dock allows.
Cheaper ways to get the job done
Systematic navigation finishes faster than random-bounce models, using less battery per clean.
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Compare with similar appliances
| Appliance | Watts | Typical use | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robot vacuum | 30 | 2 hours a day | $0.69 | $8 |
| Vacuum cleaner | 1,200 | 30 minutes a day, 2 days a week | $0.94 | $11 |
| Cordless stick vacuum | 30 | 3.5 hours a day, 3 days a week | $0.31 | $4 |
| 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 |
| Carpet cleaner | 1,000 | 15 minutes a day, 1 days a week | $0.20 | $2 |
| Central vacuum | 1,600 | 30 minutes a day, 2 days a week | $1.25 | $15 |
Head-to-head comparisons
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a robot vacuum per hour?
A robot vacuum drawing 30 watts uses 0.03 kWh per hour. At the U.S. average of 17.99¢/kWh that's 0.5¢ per hour. In North Dakota (12.32¢) it's 0.4¢. In Hawaii (43.51¢) it's 1.3¢.
How much does it cost to run a robot vacuum per month?
At typical use (2 hours a day), a robot vacuum costs about $0.69 a month and $8 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 robot vacuum use?
Most robot vacuums use 15 to 60 watts. Plugged in but off, it still draws about 3 W of standby power. Check the label on the back or bottom for your model's exact rating.
How many kWh does a robot vacuum use?
About 0.13 kWh a day and 46 kWh a year at typical use (2 hours a day).
Does a robot vacuum use a lot of electricity?
No. At about 46 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 robot vacuum or a vacuum cleaner?
At typical use, a robot vacuum costs about $8 a year versus $11 for a vacuum cleaner. So the robot vacuum 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 robot vacuum?
- Schedule runs every other day instead of daily if pets and traffic allow; it halves charging energy.
- Use room maps to clean only high-traffic rooms on most runs.
- Clean brushes and sensors weekly so runs finish without recharging mid-job.
Rates updated 2026-10-21: EIA data through July 2026. Typical wattage and usage reviewed against DOE, ENERGY STAR and manufacturer specs. Methodology.