How much does it cost to run a smart plug?
A smart plug costs about 0.01¢ per hour, 0.2¢ a day, $0.07 a month and $1 a year at typical use (24 hours a day) and the U.S. average rate of 17.99¢/kWh. Smart plugs themselves use about 0.3-1 W around the clock, roughly 3-9 kWh a year each, which is less than the standby they can eliminate.
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Cost by hours of use
| Hours per day | kWh/day | Per day | Per month | Per year (all year) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour | 0.00 | 0.01¢ | $0.00 | $0 |
| 2 hours | 0.00 | 0.02¢ | $0.01 | $0 |
| 4 hours | 0.00 | 0.04¢ | $0.01 | $0 |
| 8 hours | 0.00 | 0.07¢ | $0.02 | $0 |
| 12 hours | 0.01 | 0.1¢ | $0.03 | $0 |
| 24 hours | 0.01 | 0.2¢ | $0.07 | $1 |
Cost to run a smart plug in every state
The same smart plug costs $1 a year in North Dakota and $2 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¢ | 0.01¢ | $0.04 | $1 |
| Idaho | 12.65¢ | 0.01¢ | $0.05 | $1 |
| Nebraska | 12.86¢ | 0.01¢ | $0.05 | $1 |
| Louisiana | 12.99¢ | 0.01¢ | $0.05 | $1 |
| Utah | 13.32¢ | 0.01¢ | $0.05 | $1 |
| Nevada | 13.36¢ | 0.01¢ | $0.05 | $1 |
| Arkansas | 13.43¢ | 0.01¢ | $0.05 | $1 |
| Tennessee | 13.56¢ | 0.01¢ | $0.05 | $1 |
| Oklahoma | 13.70¢ | 0.01¢ | $0.05 | $1 |
| Montana | 13.84¢ | 0.01¢ | $0.05 | $1 |
| Kentucky | 13.92¢ | 0.01¢ | $0.05 | $1 |
| Missouri | 13.95¢ | 0.01¢ | $0.05 | $1 |
| Wyoming | 14.01¢ | 0.01¢ | $0.05 | $1 |
| Washington | 14.12¢ | 0.01¢ | $0.05 | $1 |
| Iowa | 14.13¢ | 0.01¢ | $0.05 | $1 |
| South Dakota | 14.20¢ | 0.01¢ | $0.05 | $1 |
| Mississippi | 14.77¢ | 0.01¢ | $0.05 | $1 |
| North Carolina | 14.77¢ | 0.01¢ | $0.05 | $1 |
| Kansas | 15.09¢ | 0.01¢ | $0.06 | $1 |
| Georgia | 15.12¢ | 0.01¢ | $0.06 | $1 |
| New Mexico | 15.32¢ | 0.01¢ | $0.06 | $1 |
| Florida | 15.39¢ | 0.01¢ | $0.06 | $1 |
| Arizona | 15.40¢ | 0.01¢ | $0.06 | $1 |
| West Virginia | 15.48¢ | 0.01¢ | $0.06 | $1 |
| Oregon | 15.50¢ | 0.01¢ | $0.06 | $1 |
| South Carolina | 15.64¢ | 0.01¢ | $0.06 | $1 |
| Texas | 15.96¢ | 0.01¢ | $0.06 | $1 |
| Minnesota | 16.22¢ | 0.01¢ | $0.06 | $1 |
| Alabama | 16.44¢ | 0.01¢ | $0.06 | $1 |
| Virginia | 16.48¢ | 0.01¢ | $0.06 | $1 |
| Colorado | 16.58¢ | 0.01¢ | $0.06 | $1 |
| Indiana | 16.94¢ | 0.01¢ | $0.06 | $1 |
| Delaware | 17.79¢ | 0.01¢ | $0.06 | $1 |
| Ohio | 18.25¢ | 0.01¢ | $0.07 | $1 |
| Wisconsin | 18.74¢ | 0.01¢ | $0.07 | $1 |
| Illinois | 18.79¢ | 0.01¢ | $0.07 | $1 |
| Pennsylvania | 20.70¢ | 0.01¢ | $0.08 | $1 |
| Maryland | 21.03¢ | 0.01¢ | $0.08 | $1 |
| Michigan | 21.05¢ | 0.01¢ | $0.08 | $1 |
| New Jersey | 23.78¢ | 0.01¢ | $0.09 | $1 |
| Vermont | 23.80¢ | 0.01¢ | $0.09 | $1 |
| District of Columbia | 24.20¢ | 0.01¢ | $0.09 | $1 |
| New Hampshire | 26.67¢ | 0.01¢ | $0.10 | $1 |
| Alaska | 26.85¢ | 0.01¢ | $0.10 | $1 |
| Connecticut | 27.99¢ | 0.01¢ | $0.10 | $1 |
| New York | 28.39¢ | 0.01¢ | $0.10 | $1 |
| Rhode Island | 29.27¢ | 0.01¢ | $0.11 | $1 |
| Maine | 29.31¢ | 0.01¢ | $0.11 | $1 |
| Massachusetts | 30.43¢ | 0.02¢ | $0.11 | $1 |
| California | 32.99¢ | 0.02¢ | $0.12 | $1 |
| Hawaii | 43.51¢ | 0.02¢ | $0.16 | $2 |
How to cut the cost
- Put them on devices with high standby: game consoles, TV setups, printers, coffee makers.
- Use energy-monitoring models to find which devices are worth controlling.
- Don't put a smart plug on a device with under 1 W of standby; it will use more than it saves.
Cheaper ways to get the job done
Shows real-time watts so you can find phantom loads.
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Compare with similar appliances
| Appliance | Watts | Typical use | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smart plug | 1 | 24 hours a day | $0.07 | $1 |
| Smart home hub | 3 | 24 hours a day | $0.39 | $5 |
| Smart bulb | 9 | 3 hours a day | $0.19 | $2 |
| Home security system | 8 | 24 hours a day | $1.05 | $13 |
| Video doorbell | 4 | 24 hours a day | $0.53 | $6 |
| Water softener | 4 | 24 hours a day | $0.53 | $6 |
| Security camera | 5 | 24 hours a day | $0.66 | $8 |
Head-to-head comparisons
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a smart plug per hour?
A smart plug drawing 1 watts uses 0.00 kWh per hour. At the U.S. average of 17.99¢/kWh that's 0.01¢ per hour. In North Dakota (12.32¢) it's 0.01¢. In Hawaii (43.51¢) it's 0.02¢.
How much does it cost to run a smart plug per month?
At typical use (24 hours a day), a smart plug costs about $0.07 a month and $1 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 smart plug use?
Most smart plugs use 0 to 2 watts. Check the label on the back or bottom for your model's exact rating.
How many kWh does a smart plug use?
About 0.01 kWh a day and 4 kWh a year at typical use (24 hours a day).
Does a smart plug use a lot of electricity?
No. At about 4 kWh a year it's a small share (0.0%) of the average U.S. home's 10,492 kWh.
Is it cheaper to run a smart plug or a smart home hub?
At typical use, a smart plug costs about $1 a year versus $5 for a smart home hub. So the smart plug is cheaper by about $4 a year. Use the comparison table above to compare them at your own settings.
How can I lower the cost of running a smart plug?
- Put them on devices with high standby: game consoles, TV setups, printers, coffee makers.
- Use energy-monitoring models to find which devices are worth controlling.
- Don't put a smart plug on a device with under 1 W of standby; it will use more than it saves.
Rates updated 2026-10-21: EIA data through July 2026. Typical wattage and usage reviewed against DOE, ENERGY STAR and manufacturer specs. Methodology.