outdoor · 350W typical
Running a garage door opener costs about $0.00/month.
That's the typical garage door opener at 350W, run 0.02 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
A garage door opener draws full power only while the thermostat/compressor is running — about 0.0 effective hours at 350W across your 0.02-hour window.
How you use it
Cost shifts with how long it's on.
The same garage door opener can cost very different amounts depending on usage patterns. Three common scenarios, at the US-average rate.
daily use
$0.00
per month
4-6 cycles per day, 15 sec each
standby with wifi
$0.42
per month
smart openers draw 2-5W continuous
Where you live
$0.00 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¢ | $0.00 | $0.01 |
| California | 31.4¢ | $0.00 | $0.01 |
| Massachusetts | 30.8¢ | $0.00 | $0.01 |
| Connecticut | 28.7¢ | $0.00 | $0.01 |
| Rhode Island | 27.9¢ | $0.00 | $0.01 |
| New Hampshire | 24.6¢ | $0.00 | $0.01 |
| Alaska | 24.3¢ | $0.00 | $0.01 |
| New York | 22.3¢ | $0.00 | $0.01 |
| Maine | 22.1¢ | $0.00 | $0.01 |
| Vermont | 21.5¢ | $0.00 | $0.01 |
| Michigan | 19.3¢ | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| New Jersey | 19.1¢ | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Maryland | 18.4¢ | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Pennsylvania | 18.1¢ | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| District of Columbia | 17.8¢ | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Wisconsin | 17.4¢ | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Delaware | 17.2¢ | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Illinois | 16.9¢ | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Ohio | 16.6¢ | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Nevada | 16.3¢ | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Indiana | 15.8¢ | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Virginia | 15.7¢ | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Minnesota | 15.6¢ | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Colorado | 15.4¢ | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Alabama | 15.2¢ | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| West Virginia | 15.2¢ | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Florida | 15.1¢ | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| New Mexico | 14.8¢ | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Texas | 14.8¢ | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Arizona | 14.7¢ | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| South Carolina | 14.7¢ | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Kansas | 14.6¢ | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Georgia | 14.2¢ | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Iowa | 14.1¢ | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| North Carolina | 13.9¢ | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Missouri | 13.6¢ | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Oregon | 13.4¢ | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Tennessee | 13.3¢ | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Kentucky | 13.2¢ | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Mississippi | 13.1¢ | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Oklahoma | 13.1¢ | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| South Dakota | 12.7¢ | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Montana | 12.4¢ | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Nebraska | 12.2¢ | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Arkansas | 12.1¢ | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Washington | 12.1¢ | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Louisiana | 11.9¢ | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Wyoming | 11.6¢ | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| North Dakota | 11.5¢ | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Utah | 11.4¢ | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Idaho | 11.3¢ | $0.00 | $0.00 |
Efficient vs. inefficient
A $0.01/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
5W
$0.00 per month
$0.00 per year
Typical
350W
$0.00 per month
$0.00 per year
High draw
750W
$0.00 per month
$0.01 per year
When it hits hardest
year-round peak
Constant daily use.
Ways to cut the cost
- 1
Replace AC-motor openers with DC-motor — lighter and more efficient
Saves 20-30 kWh/year
- 2
Check for standby draw — some smart openers pull 5-10W continuous
Potential 40-80 kWh/year savings
- 3
Insulate garage — reduces HVAC burden around the opener circuit
5-10% on attached-garage HVAC
Real-world wattages
Pulled from actual spec sheets.
| Brand | Model | Watts |
|---|---|---|
| Chamberlain | B6753T Belt-Drive | 350W |
| LiftMaster | 8550WLB | 400W |
| Genie | SilentMax 7155L-TKV | 325W |
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