utility · 75W typical
Running a curling iron / flat iron costs about $0.07/month.
That's the typical curling iron / flat iron at 75W, run 0.2 hours a day at the US-average rate of 16.5¢/kWh. Change any of those and the number moves — use the calculator below to see yours.
Estimated cost
Full-power draw for 0.2 hours at 16.5¢/kWh.
How you use it
Cost shifts with how long it's on.
The same curling iron / flat iron can cost very different amounts depending on usage patterns. Three common scenarios, at the US-average rate.
daily styling
$0.07
per month
12 min per day
weekend only
$0.02
per month
less-frequent use
Where you live
$0.13 spread between the cheapest and priciest states.
Same appliance, same hours of use, different zip code — the monthly cost varies this much.
| State | Rate | Monthly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 41.2¢ | $0.19 | $2.26 |
| California | 31.4¢ | $0.14 | $1.72 |
| Massachusetts | 30.8¢ | $0.14 | $1.69 |
| Connecticut | 28.7¢ | $0.13 | $1.57 |
| Rhode Island | 27.9¢ | $0.13 | $1.53 |
| New Hampshire | 24.6¢ | $0.11 | $1.35 |
| Alaska | 24.3¢ | $0.11 | $1.33 |
| New York | 22.3¢ | $0.10 | $1.22 |
| Maine | 22.1¢ | $0.10 | $1.21 |
| Vermont | 21.5¢ | $0.10 | $1.18 |
| Michigan | 19.3¢ | $0.09 | $1.06 |
| New Jersey | 19.1¢ | $0.09 | $1.05 |
| Maryland | 18.4¢ | $0.08 | $1.01 |
| Pennsylvania | 18.1¢ | $0.08 | $0.99 |
| District of Columbia | 17.8¢ | $0.08 | $0.97 |
| Wisconsin | 17.4¢ | $0.08 | $0.95 |
| Delaware | 17.2¢ | $0.08 | $0.94 |
| Illinois | 16.9¢ | $0.08 | $0.93 |
| Ohio | 16.6¢ | $0.07 | $0.91 |
| Nevada | 16.3¢ | $0.07 | $0.89 |
| Indiana | 15.8¢ | $0.07 | $0.87 |
| Virginia | 15.7¢ | $0.07 | $0.86 |
| Minnesota | 15.6¢ | $0.07 | $0.85 |
| Colorado | 15.4¢ | $0.07 | $0.84 |
| Alabama | 15.2¢ | $0.07 | $0.83 |
| West Virginia | 15.2¢ | $0.07 | $0.83 |
| Florida | 15.1¢ | $0.07 | $0.83 |
| New Mexico | 14.8¢ | $0.07 | $0.81 |
| Texas | 14.8¢ | $0.07 | $0.81 |
| Arizona | 14.7¢ | $0.07 | $0.80 |
| South Carolina | 14.7¢ | $0.07 | $0.80 |
| Kansas | 14.6¢ | $0.07 | $0.80 |
| Georgia | 14.2¢ | $0.06 | $0.78 |
| Iowa | 14.1¢ | $0.06 | $0.77 |
| North Carolina | 13.9¢ | $0.06 | $0.76 |
| Missouri | 13.6¢ | $0.06 | $0.74 |
| Oregon | 13.4¢ | $0.06 | $0.73 |
| Tennessee | 13.3¢ | $0.06 | $0.73 |
| Kentucky | 13.2¢ | $0.06 | $0.72 |
| Mississippi | 13.1¢ | $0.06 | $0.72 |
| Oklahoma | 13.1¢ | $0.06 | $0.72 |
| South Dakota | 12.7¢ | $0.06 | $0.70 |
| Montana | 12.4¢ | $0.06 | $0.68 |
| Nebraska | 12.2¢ | $0.05 | $0.67 |
| Arkansas | 12.1¢ | $0.05 | $0.66 |
| Washington | 12.1¢ | $0.05 | $0.66 |
| Louisiana | 11.9¢ | $0.05 | $0.65 |
| Wyoming | 11.6¢ | $0.05 | $0.64 |
| North Dakota | 11.5¢ | $0.05 | $0.63 |
| Utah | 11.4¢ | $0.05 | $0.62 |
| Idaho | 11.3¢ | $0.05 | $0.62 |
Efficient vs. inefficient
A $1.93/year difference across the wattage range.
Swapping a high-draw model for an efficient one pays for itself. Here's what that looks like annually at typical usage.
Most efficient
40W
$0.04 per month
$0.48 per year
Typical
75W
$0.07 per month
$0.90 per year
High draw
200W
$0.20 per month
$2.41 per year
When it hits hardest
year-round peak
Daily use.
Ways to cut the cost
- 1
Use auto-off models — curling irons left on are a safety and energy hazard
Prevents hours of wasted heating
- 2
Unplug when done — most draw 1-3W standby
Saves 10-20 kWh/year
- 3
Use smart plug with 30-minute max timer
Peace of mind AND energy savings
Real-world wattages
Pulled from actual spec sheets.
| Brand | Model | Watts |
|---|---|---|
| Conair | CD117 1-inch Curling | 85W |
| ghd | Platinum+ Styler | 150W |
| BaByliss | Pro Titanium Curling | 75W |
Picks that actually move the needle
Three products worth comparing if you're thinking about upgrading or supplementing what you have.
Some links below are affiliate links. If you buy, we may earn a small commission — it never changes the price you pay, and we only recommend picks we would stand behind.
See also
Related appliances
Sources: www.energy.gov · www.energystar.gov
Last updated: 2026-04-13