How much does it cost to run a tool battery charger?
A tool battery charger costs about 1.8¢ per hour, 0.9¢ a day, $0.29 a month and $3 a year at typical use (1 hour a day, 2 days a week) and the U.S. average rate of 17.99¢/kWh. Tool chargers draw 50-250 W while charging and 0.5-3 W when left plugged in with no battery.
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Cost by setting
| Setting | Watts | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compact charger | 50 | 0.9¢ | 0.7¢ | $0.21 | $2 |
| Standard charger | 100 | 1.8¢ | 0.9¢ | $0.29 | $3 |
| Rapid charger | 250 | 4.5¢ | 1.7¢ | $0.52 | $6 |
At 1 hour a day, 2 days a week and 17.99¢/kWh.
Cost by hours of use
| Hours per day | kWh/day | Per day | Per month | Per year (all year) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour | 0.05 | 0.9¢ | $0.29 | $3 |
| 2 hours | 0.08 | 1.4¢ | $0.44 | $5 |
| 4 hours | 0.14 | 2.5¢ | $0.75 | $9 |
| 8 hours | 0.25 | 4.5¢ | $1.37 | $16 |
| 12 hours | 0.36 | 6.5¢ | $1.99 | $24 |
| 24 hours | 0.70 | 13¢ | $3.85 | $46 |
Cost to run a tool battery charger in every state
The same tool battery charger costs $2 a year in North Dakota and $8 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¢ | 1.2¢ | $0.20 | $2 |
| Idaho | 12.65¢ | 1.3¢ | $0.20 | $2 |
| Nebraska | 12.86¢ | 1.3¢ | $0.20 | $2 |
| Louisiana | 12.99¢ | 1.3¢ | $0.21 | $2 |
| Utah | 13.32¢ | 1.3¢ | $0.21 | $3 |
| Nevada | 13.36¢ | 1.3¢ | $0.21 | $3 |
| Arkansas | 13.43¢ | 1.3¢ | $0.21 | $3 |
| Tennessee | 13.56¢ | 1.4¢ | $0.22 | $3 |
| Oklahoma | 13.70¢ | 1.4¢ | $0.22 | $3 |
| Montana | 13.84¢ | 1.4¢ | $0.22 | $3 |
| Kentucky | 13.92¢ | 1.4¢ | $0.22 | $3 |
| Missouri | 13.95¢ | 1.4¢ | $0.22 | $3 |
| Wyoming | 14.01¢ | 1.4¢ | $0.22 | $3 |
| Washington | 14.12¢ | 1.4¢ | $0.22 | $3 |
| Iowa | 14.13¢ | 1.4¢ | $0.22 | $3 |
| South Dakota | 14.20¢ | 1.4¢ | $0.23 | $3 |
| Mississippi | 14.77¢ | 1.5¢ | $0.24 | $3 |
| North Carolina | 14.77¢ | 1.5¢ | $0.24 | $3 |
| Kansas | 15.09¢ | 1.5¢ | $0.24 | $3 |
| Georgia | 15.12¢ | 1.5¢ | $0.24 | $3 |
| New Mexico | 15.32¢ | 1.5¢ | $0.24 | $3 |
| Florida | 15.39¢ | 1.5¢ | $0.24 | $3 |
| Arizona | 15.40¢ | 1.5¢ | $0.25 | $3 |
| West Virginia | 15.48¢ | 1.5¢ | $0.25 | $3 |
| Oregon | 15.50¢ | 1.6¢ | $0.25 | $3 |
| South Carolina | 15.64¢ | 1.6¢ | $0.25 | $3 |
| Texas | 15.96¢ | 1.6¢ | $0.25 | $3 |
| Minnesota | 16.22¢ | 1.6¢ | $0.26 | $3 |
| Alabama | 16.44¢ | 1.6¢ | $0.26 | $3 |
| Virginia | 16.48¢ | 1.6¢ | $0.26 | $3 |
| Colorado | 16.58¢ | 1.7¢ | $0.26 | $3 |
| Indiana | 16.94¢ | 1.7¢ | $0.27 | $3 |
| Delaware | 17.79¢ | 1.8¢ | $0.28 | $3 |
| Ohio | 18.25¢ | 1.8¢ | $0.29 | $3 |
| Wisconsin | 18.74¢ | 1.9¢ | $0.30 | $4 |
| Illinois | 18.79¢ | 1.9¢ | $0.30 | $4 |
| Pennsylvania | 20.70¢ | 2.1¢ | $0.33 | $4 |
| Maryland | 21.03¢ | 2.1¢ | $0.33 | $4 |
| Michigan | 21.05¢ | 2.1¢ | $0.33 | $4 |
| New Jersey | 23.78¢ | 2.4¢ | $0.38 | $5 |
| Vermont | 23.80¢ | 2.4¢ | $0.38 | $5 |
| District of Columbia | 24.20¢ | 2.4¢ | $0.39 | $5 |
| New Hampshire | 26.67¢ | 2.7¢ | $0.42 | $5 |
| Alaska | 26.85¢ | 2.7¢ | $0.43 | $5 |
| Connecticut | 27.99¢ | 2.8¢ | $0.45 | $5 |
| New York | 28.39¢ | 2.8¢ | $0.45 | $5 |
| Rhode Island | 29.27¢ | 2.9¢ | $0.47 | $6 |
| Maine | 29.31¢ | 2.9¢ | $0.47 | $6 |
| Massachusetts | 30.43¢ | 3.0¢ | $0.48 | $6 |
| California | 32.99¢ | 3.3¢ | $0.53 | $6 |
| Hawaii | 43.51¢ | 4.4¢ | $0.69 | $8 |
How to cut the cost
- Plug chargers into a switched power strip and turn it off when batteries are full.
- Charge only batteries you'll use soon.
- Avoid storing lithium batteries on the charger long-term.
Cheaper ways to get the job done
Eliminates charger standby between uses.
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Compare with similar appliances
| Appliance | Watts | Typical use | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tool battery charger | 100 | 1 hour a day, 2 days a week | $0.29 | $3 |
| Cordless drill (charging) | 70 | 1 hour a day, 1 days a week | $0.12 | $1 |
| Battery tender / trickle charger | 10 | 24 hours a day for 5 months a year | $1.31 | $7 |
| Battery lawn mower | 300 | 1.5 hours a day, 1 days a week for 7 months a year | $0.48 | $3 |
| Bench grinder | 400 | 15 minutes a day, 1 days a week | $0.08 | $1 |
| Shop vac | 1,200 | 15 minutes a day, 1 days a week | $0.23 | $3 |
| Air compressor | 1,500 | 1 hour a day, 1 days a week | $0.59 | $7 |
Head-to-head comparisons
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a tool battery charger per hour?
A tool battery charger drawing 100 watts uses 0.10 kWh per hour. At the U.S. average of 17.99¢/kWh that's 1.8¢ per hour. In North Dakota (12.32¢) it's 1.2¢. In Hawaii (43.51¢) it's 4.4¢.
How much does it cost to run a tool battery charger per month?
At typical use (1 hour a day, 2 days a week), a tool battery charger costs about $0.29 a month and $3 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 tool battery charger use?
Most tool battery chargers use 30 to 300 watts, depending on the setting (compact charger 50 W, standard charger 100 W, rapid charger 250 W). 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 tool battery charger use?
About 0.05 kWh a day and 19 kWh a year at typical use (1 hour a day, 2 days a week).
Does a tool battery charger use a lot of electricity?
No. At about 19 kWh a year it's a small share (0.2%) of the average U.S. home's 10,492 kWh.
Is it cheaper to run a tool battery charger or a cordless drill (charging)?
At typical use, a tool battery charger costs about $3 a year versus $1 for a cordless drill (charging). So the cordless drill (charging) is cheaper by about $2 a year. Use the comparison table above to compare them at your own settings.
How can I lower the cost of running a tool battery charger?
- Plug chargers into a switched power strip and turn it off when batteries are full.
- Charge only batteries you'll use soon.
- Avoid storing lithium batteries on the charger long-term.
Rates updated 2026-10-21: EIA data through July 2026. Typical wattage and usage reviewed against DOE, ENERGY STAR and manufacturer specs. Methodology.