How much does it cost to run a steam closet?
A steam closet costs about 8.7¢ a day, $2.63 a month and $32 a year at typical use (4 cycles a week) and the U.S. average rate of 17.99¢/kWh. Steam closets such as the LG Styler use a steam generator and heat pump drying, using roughly 0.5-1 kWh per refresh cycle.
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Cost to run a steam closet in every state
The same steam closet costs $22 a year in North Dakota and $76 in Hawaii, at each state's average residential rate (12 months ending July 2026).
| State | Rate | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | 12.32¢ | $1.80 | $22 |
| Idaho | 12.65¢ | $1.85 | $22 |
| Nebraska | 12.86¢ | $1.88 | $23 |
| Louisiana | 12.99¢ | $1.90 | $23 |
| Utah | 13.32¢ | $1.95 | $23 |
| Nevada | 13.36¢ | $1.96 | $23 |
| Arkansas | 13.43¢ | $1.97 | $24 |
| Tennessee | 13.56¢ | $1.99 | $24 |
| Oklahoma | 13.70¢ | $2.01 | $24 |
| Montana | 13.84¢ | $2.03 | $24 |
| Kentucky | 13.92¢ | $2.04 | $24 |
| Missouri | 13.95¢ | $2.04 | $25 |
| Wyoming | 14.01¢ | $2.05 | $25 |
| Washington | 14.12¢ | $2.07 | $25 |
| Iowa | 14.13¢ | $2.07 | $25 |
| South Dakota | 14.20¢ | $2.08 | $25 |
| Mississippi | 14.77¢ | $2.16 | $26 |
| North Carolina | 14.77¢ | $2.16 | $26 |
| Kansas | 15.09¢ | $2.21 | $27 |
| Georgia | 15.12¢ | $2.21 | $27 |
| New Mexico | 15.32¢ | $2.24 | $27 |
| Florida | 15.39¢ | $2.25 | $27 |
| Arizona | 15.40¢ | $2.26 | $27 |
| West Virginia | 15.48¢ | $2.27 | $27 |
| Oregon | 15.50¢ | $2.27 | $27 |
| South Carolina | 15.64¢ | $2.29 | $27 |
| Texas | 15.96¢ | $2.34 | $28 |
| Minnesota | 16.22¢ | $2.38 | $29 |
| Alabama | 16.44¢ | $2.41 | $29 |
| Virginia | 16.48¢ | $2.41 | $29 |
| Colorado | 16.58¢ | $2.43 | $29 |
| Indiana | 16.94¢ | $2.48 | $30 |
| Delaware | 17.79¢ | $2.61 | $31 |
| Ohio | 18.25¢ | $2.67 | $32 |
| Wisconsin | 18.74¢ | $2.74 | $33 |
| Illinois | 18.79¢ | $2.75 | $33 |
| Pennsylvania | 20.70¢ | $3.03 | $36 |
| Maryland | 21.03¢ | $3.08 | $37 |
| Michigan | 21.05¢ | $3.08 | $37 |
| New Jersey | 23.78¢ | $3.48 | $42 |
| Vermont | 23.80¢ | $3.49 | $42 |
| District of Columbia | 24.20¢ | $3.54 | $43 |
| New Hampshire | 26.67¢ | $3.91 | $47 |
| Alaska | 26.85¢ | $3.93 | $47 |
| Connecticut | 27.99¢ | $4.10 | $49 |
| New York | 28.39¢ | $4.16 | $50 |
| Rhode Island | 29.27¢ | $4.29 | $51 |
| Maine | 29.31¢ | $4.29 | $52 |
| Massachusetts | 30.43¢ | $4.46 | $53 |
| California | 32.99¢ | $4.83 | $58 |
| Hawaii | 43.51¢ | $6.37 | $76 |
How to cut the cost
- Use the shorter Refresh cycle rather than Sanitary for everyday items.
- Fill it with multiple garments per cycle.
- Keep the water tank clean and descaled.
Cheaper ways to get the job done
Uses about 0.3 kWh for a quick touch-up of one or two items.
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Compare with similar appliances
| Appliance | Watts | Typical use | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steam closet | 1,600 | 4 cycles a week | $2.63 | $32 |
| Garment steamer | 1,500 | 15 minutes a day, 3 days a week | $0.79 | $10 |
| Clothes iron | 1,200 | 30 minutes a day, 2 days a week | $0.47 | $6 |
| Electric clothes dryer | 5,000 | 6 loads a week | $12.33 | $148 |
| Compact dryer | 1,800 | 5 loads a week | $7.95 | $95 |
| Washer dryer combo | 1,800 | 5 loads a week | $12.00 | $144 |
| Heat pump dryer | 800 | 6 loads a week | $5.76 | $69 |
Head-to-head comparisons
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a steam closet per hour?
A steam closet is usually measured per cycle rather than per hour. Each cycle uses about 0.8 kWh, or 14¢ at 17.99¢/kWh.
How much does it cost to run a steam closet per month?
At typical use (4 cycles a week), a steam closet costs about $2.63 a month and $32 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 steam closet use?
Most steam closets use 800 to 1,800 watts. Plugged in but off, it still draws about 1 W of standby power. Check the label on the back or bottom for your model's exact rating.
How many kWh does a steam closet use?
About 0.48 kWh a day and 176 kWh a year at typical use (4 cycles a week).
Does a steam closet use a lot of electricity?
No. At about 176 kWh a year it's a small share (1.7%) of the average U.S. home's 10,492 kWh.
Is it cheaper to run a steam closet or a garment steamer?
At typical use, a steam closet costs about $32 a year versus $10 for a garment steamer. So the garment steamer is cheaper by about $22 a year. Use the comparison table above to compare them at your own settings.
How can I lower the cost of running a steam closet?
- Use the shorter Refresh cycle rather than Sanitary for everyday items.
- Fill it with multiple garments per cycle.
- Keep the water tank clean and descaled.
Rates updated 2026-10-21: EIA data through July 2026. Typical wattage and usage reviewed against DOE, ENERGY STAR and manufacturer specs. Methodology.