How much does it cost to run a electric water heater in Illinois?
A 4,500-watt electric water heater costs about $0.86 an hour in Illinois, or about $77.84 a month at 3 hours a day.
Hours are element run time, about 3 a day for a typical household.
Illinois electricity averages 19.22¢ per kWh, about 6% more than the U.S. average of 18.19¢. It ranks 36 of 51 from cheapest to most expensive.
Your cost
Cost by wattage
| Wattage | Hour | Day | Month | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low (3,000 W) | $0.58 | $1.73 | $51.89 | $631 |
| Typical (4,500 W) | $0.86 | $2.59 | $77.84 | $947 |
| High (5,500 W) | $1.06 | $3.17 | $95.14 | $1,158 |
Day, month and year assume 3 hours of use a day.
Other laundry costs
| Appliance | Typical | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Clothes dryer | 3,000 W | $17.30 |
| Washing machine | 500 W | $2.88 |
Ways to spend less
- Run full loads, and wash in cold water: most of a washer's energy cost is heating water.
- Clean the dryer lint filter every load; a clogged filter makes the dryer run longer.
Monthly cost in every state
| State | Rate | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | 12.36¢ | $50.06 |
| Nebraska | 12.90¢ | $52.25 |
| Idaho | 12.96¢ | $52.49 |
| Utah | 13.16¢ | $53.30 |
| Louisiana | 13.35¢ | $54.07 |
| Nevada | 13.53¢ | $54.80 |
| Oklahoma | 13.58¢ | $55.00 |
| Arkansas | 13.61¢ | $55.12 |
| Tennessee | 13.87¢ | $56.17 |
| Montana | 13.95¢ | $56.50 |
| Wyoming | 13.95¢ | $56.50 |
| Missouri | 13.96¢ | $56.54 |
| Iowa | 14.20¢ | $57.51 |
| Kentucky | 14.27¢ | $57.79 |
| Washington | 14.40¢ | $58.32 |
| South Dakota | 14.50¢ | $58.73 |
| North Carolina | 14.94¢ | $60.51 |
| New Mexico | 15.08¢ | $61.07 |
| Mississippi | 15.19¢ | $61.52 |
| Kansas | 15.21¢ | $61.60 |
| Florida | 15.30¢ | $61.97 |
| Georgia | 15.40¢ | $62.37 |
| Oregon | 15.40¢ | $62.37 |
| Arizona | 15.44¢ | $62.53 |
| West Virginia | 15.47¢ | $62.65 |
| South Carolina | 15.93¢ | $64.52 |
| Texas | 16.06¢ | $65.04 |
| Minnesota | 16.25¢ | $65.81 |
| Alabama | 16.54¢ | $66.99 |
| Colorado | 16.72¢ | $67.72 |
| Virginia | 16.83¢ | $68.16 |
| Indiana | 17.04¢ | $69.01 |
| Delaware | 17.86¢ | $72.33 |
| Ohio | 18.70¢ | $75.73 |
| Wisconsin | 19.00¢ | $76.95 |
| Illinois | 19.22¢ | $77.84 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.04¢ | $85.21 |
| Maryland | 21.30¢ | $86.27 |
| Michigan | 21.53¢ | $87.20 |
| Vermont | 23.95¢ | $97.00 |
| New Jersey | 23.98¢ | $97.12 |
| District of Columbia | 24.66¢ | $99.87 |
| New Hampshire | 26.79¢ | $108 |
| Alaska | 27.09¢ | $110 |
| Connecticut | 27.97¢ | $113 |
| Rhode Island | 29.22¢ | $118 |
| New York | 29.38¢ | $119 |
| Maine | 29.99¢ | $121 |
| Massachusetts | 30.14¢ | $122 |
| California | 33.25¢ | $135 |
| Hawaii | 46.28¢ | $187 |
At 4,500 watts for 3 hours a day, 30 days a month. Rates are average residential prices from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, January–July 2026 (EIA Electric Power Monthly). Your bill's rate may differ, so enter your own in the calculator.