electronics · 5W typical
Running a phone charger costs about $0.08/month.
That's the typical phone charger at 5W, run 8 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 phone charger draws full power only while the thermostat/compressor is running — about 3.2 effective hours at 5W across your 8-hour window.
How you use it
Cost shifts with how long it's on.
The same phone charger can cost very different amounts depending on usage patterns. Three common scenarios, at the US-average rate.
overnight charge
$0.08
per month
charging while sleeping
top-off daytime
$0.02
per month
intermittent daytime
plugged in idle
$0.24
per month
standby draws 0.1-0.5W
Where you live
$0.14 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¢ | $0.20 | $2.41 |
| California | 31.4¢ | $0.15 | $1.83 |
| Massachusetts | 30.8¢ | $0.15 | $1.80 |
| Connecticut | 28.7¢ | $0.14 | $1.68 |
| Rhode Island | 27.9¢ | $0.13 | $1.63 |
| New Hampshire | 24.6¢ | $0.12 | $1.44 |
| Alaska | 24.3¢ | $0.12 | $1.42 |
| New York | 22.3¢ | $0.11 | $1.30 |
| Maine | 22.1¢ | $0.11 | $1.29 |
| Vermont | 21.5¢ | $0.10 | $1.26 |
| Michigan | 19.3¢ | $0.09 | $1.13 |
| New Jersey | 19.1¢ | $0.09 | $1.12 |
| Maryland | 18.4¢ | $0.09 | $1.07 |
| Pennsylvania | 18.1¢ | $0.09 | $1.06 |
| District of Columbia | 17.8¢ | $0.09 | $1.04 |
| Wisconsin | 17.4¢ | $0.08 | $1.02 |
| Delaware | 17.2¢ | $0.08 | $1.00 |
| Illinois | 16.9¢ | $0.08 | $0.99 |
| Ohio | 16.6¢ | $0.08 | $0.97 |
| Nevada | 16.3¢ | $0.08 | $0.95 |
| Indiana | 15.8¢ | $0.08 | $0.92 |
| Virginia | 15.7¢ | $0.08 | $0.92 |
| Minnesota | 15.6¢ | $0.07 | $0.91 |
| Colorado | 15.4¢ | $0.07 | $0.90 |
| Alabama | 15.2¢ | $0.07 | $0.89 |
| West Virginia | 15.2¢ | $0.07 | $0.89 |
| Florida | 15.1¢ | $0.07 | $0.88 |
| New Mexico | 14.8¢ | $0.07 | $0.86 |
| Texas | 14.8¢ | $0.07 | $0.86 |
| Arizona | 14.7¢ | $0.07 | $0.86 |
| South Carolina | 14.7¢ | $0.07 | $0.86 |
| Kansas | 14.6¢ | $0.07 | $0.85 |
| Georgia | 14.2¢ | $0.07 | $0.83 |
| Iowa | 14.1¢ | $0.07 | $0.82 |
| North Carolina | 13.9¢ | $0.07 | $0.81 |
| Missouri | 13.6¢ | $0.07 | $0.79 |
| Oregon | 13.4¢ | $0.06 | $0.78 |
| Tennessee | 13.3¢ | $0.06 | $0.78 |
| Kentucky | 13.2¢ | $0.06 | $0.77 |
| Mississippi | 13.1¢ | $0.06 | $0.77 |
| Oklahoma | 13.1¢ | $0.06 | $0.77 |
| South Dakota | 12.7¢ | $0.06 | $0.74 |
| Montana | 12.4¢ | $0.06 | $0.72 |
| Nebraska | 12.2¢ | $0.06 | $0.71 |
| Arkansas | 12.1¢ | $0.06 | $0.71 |
| Washington | 12.1¢ | $0.06 | $0.71 |
| Louisiana | 11.9¢ | $0.06 | $0.69 |
| Wyoming | 11.6¢ | $0.06 | $0.68 |
| North Dakota | 11.5¢ | $0.06 | $0.67 |
| Utah | 11.4¢ | $0.05 | $0.67 |
| Idaho | 11.3¢ | $0.05 | $0.66 |
Efficient vs. inefficient
A $5.59/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
1W
$0.02 per month
$0.19 per year
Typical
5W
$0.08 per month
$0.96 per year
High draw
30W
$0.48 per month
$5.78 per year
When it hits hardest
year-round peak
Daily constant use.
Ways to cut the cost
- 1
Unplug charger when phone is done — old chargers draw 1-3W empty
Saves 10-25 kWh/year per charger
- 2
Use GaN chargers — near-zero idle consumption
Much better than old block chargers
- 3
Charge during daytime if on variable-rate utility
Shifts load to cheaper hours
Real-world wattages
Pulled from actual spec sheets.
| Brand | Model | Watts |
|---|---|---|
| Apple | 20W USB-C Power Adapter | 20W |
| Anker | PowerPort III Nano 20W | 20W |
| Samsung | 25W USB-C Super Fast Charger | 25W |
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