kitchen · 1200W typical
Running a popcorn maker costs about $0.30/month.
That's the typical popcorn maker at 1200W, run 0.05 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 0.05 hours at 16.5¢/kWh.
How you use it
Cost shifts with how long it's on.
The same popcorn maker can cost very different amounts depending on usage patterns. Three common scenarios, at the US-average rate.
movie night
$0.30
per month
3-4 min per week average
Where you live
$0.54 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¢ | $0.74 | $9.02 |
| California | 31.4¢ | $0.57 | $6.88 |
| Massachusetts | 30.8¢ | $0.55 | $6.75 |
| Connecticut | 28.7¢ | $0.52 | $6.29 |
| Rhode Island | 27.9¢ | $0.50 | $6.11 |
| New Hampshire | 24.6¢ | $0.44 | $5.39 |
| Alaska | 24.3¢ | $0.44 | $5.32 |
| New York | 22.3¢ | $0.40 | $4.88 |
| Maine | 22.1¢ | $0.40 | $4.84 |
| Vermont | 21.5¢ | $0.39 | $4.71 |
| Michigan | 19.3¢ | $0.35 | $4.23 |
| New Jersey | 19.1¢ | $0.34 | $4.18 |
| Maryland | 18.4¢ | $0.33 | $4.03 |
| Pennsylvania | 18.1¢ | $0.33 | $3.96 |
| District of Columbia | 17.8¢ | $0.32 | $3.90 |
| Wisconsin | 17.4¢ | $0.31 | $3.81 |
| Delaware | 17.2¢ | $0.31 | $3.77 |
| Illinois | 16.9¢ | $0.30 | $3.70 |
| Ohio | 16.6¢ | $0.30 | $3.64 |
| Nevada | 16.3¢ | $0.29 | $3.57 |
| Indiana | 15.8¢ | $0.28 | $3.46 |
| Virginia | 15.7¢ | $0.28 | $3.44 |
| Minnesota | 15.6¢ | $0.28 | $3.42 |
| Colorado | 15.4¢ | $0.28 | $3.37 |
| Alabama | 15.2¢ | $0.27 | $3.33 |
| West Virginia | 15.2¢ | $0.27 | $3.33 |
| Florida | 15.1¢ | $0.27 | $3.31 |
| New Mexico | 14.8¢ | $0.27 | $3.24 |
| Texas | 14.8¢ | $0.27 | $3.24 |
| Arizona | 14.7¢ | $0.26 | $3.22 |
| South Carolina | 14.7¢ | $0.26 | $3.22 |
| Kansas | 14.6¢ | $0.26 | $3.20 |
| Georgia | 14.2¢ | $0.26 | $3.11 |
| Iowa | 14.1¢ | $0.25 | $3.09 |
| North Carolina | 13.9¢ | $0.25 | $3.04 |
| Missouri | 13.6¢ | $0.24 | $2.98 |
| Oregon | 13.4¢ | $0.24 | $2.93 |
| Tennessee | 13.3¢ | $0.24 | $2.91 |
| Kentucky | 13.2¢ | $0.24 | $2.89 |
| Mississippi | 13.1¢ | $0.24 | $2.87 |
| Oklahoma | 13.1¢ | $0.24 | $2.87 |
| South Dakota | 12.7¢ | $0.23 | $2.78 |
| Montana | 12.4¢ | $0.22 | $2.72 |
| Nebraska | 12.2¢ | $0.22 | $2.67 |
| Arkansas | 12.1¢ | $0.22 | $2.65 |
| Washington | 12.1¢ | $0.22 | $2.65 |
| Louisiana | 11.9¢ | $0.21 | $2.61 |
| Wyoming | 11.6¢ | $0.21 | $2.54 |
| North Dakota | 11.5¢ | $0.21 | $2.52 |
| Utah | 11.4¢ | $0.21 | $2.50 |
| Idaho | 11.3¢ | $0.20 | $2.47 |
Efficient vs. inefficient
A $1.81/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
900W
$0.22 per month
$2.71 per year
Typical
1200W
$0.30 per month
$3.61 per year
High draw
1500W
$0.37 per month
$4.52 per year
When it hits hardest
year-round peak
Steady use year-round.
Ways to cut the cost
- 1
Use microwave popcorn instead — uses 1/3 the energy per batch
Saves 50-100 Wh per batch
- 2
Unplug when not in use
Saves small but real standby load
- 3
Don't pre-heat — popcorn makers are ready instantly
Avoids 30-60 sec of wasted runtime
Real-world wattages
Pulled from actual spec sheets.
| Brand | Model | Watts |
|---|---|---|
| Presto | 04820 PopLite | 1400W |
| West Bend | 82505 Stir Crazy | 900W |
| Cuisinart | CPM-700 EasyPop | 1100W |
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