electronics · 15W typical
Running a inkjet printer costs about $0.01/month.
That's the typical inkjet printer at 15W, run 0.1 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 0.1 hours at 16.5¢/kWh.
How you use it
Cost shifts with how long it's on.
The same inkjet printer can cost very different amounts depending on usage patterns. Three common scenarios, at the US-average rate.
printing
$0.01
per month
active print job time
standby
$1.78
per month
networked standby draws 3-8W
Where you live
$0.01 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¢ | $0.02 | $0.23 |
| California | 31.4¢ | $0.01 | $0.17 |
| Massachusetts | 30.8¢ | $0.01 | $0.17 |
| Connecticut | 28.7¢ | $0.01 | $0.16 |
| Rhode Island | 27.9¢ | $0.01 | $0.15 |
| New Hampshire | 24.6¢ | $0.01 | $0.13 |
| Alaska | 24.3¢ | $0.01 | $0.13 |
| New York | 22.3¢ | $0.01 | $0.12 |
| Maine | 22.1¢ | $0.01 | $0.12 |
| Vermont | 21.5¢ | $0.01 | $0.12 |
| Michigan | 19.3¢ | $0.01 | $0.11 |
| New Jersey | 19.1¢ | $0.01 | $0.10 |
| Maryland | 18.4¢ | $0.01 | $0.10 |
| Pennsylvania | 18.1¢ | $0.01 | $0.10 |
| District of Columbia | 17.8¢ | $0.01 | $0.10 |
| Wisconsin | 17.4¢ | $0.01 | $0.10 |
| Delaware | 17.2¢ | $0.01 | $0.09 |
| Illinois | 16.9¢ | $0.01 | $0.09 |
| Ohio | 16.6¢ | $0.01 | $0.09 |
| Nevada | 16.3¢ | $0.01 | $0.09 |
| Indiana | 15.8¢ | $0.01 | $0.09 |
| Virginia | 15.7¢ | $0.01 | $0.09 |
| Minnesota | 15.6¢ | $0.01 | $0.09 |
| Colorado | 15.4¢ | $0.01 | $0.08 |
| Alabama | 15.2¢ | $0.01 | $0.08 |
| West Virginia | 15.2¢ | $0.01 | $0.08 |
| Florida | 15.1¢ | $0.01 | $0.08 |
| New Mexico | 14.8¢ | $0.01 | $0.08 |
| Texas | 14.8¢ | $0.01 | $0.08 |
| Arizona | 14.7¢ | $0.01 | $0.08 |
| South Carolina | 14.7¢ | $0.01 | $0.08 |
| Kansas | 14.6¢ | $0.01 | $0.08 |
| Georgia | 14.2¢ | $0.01 | $0.08 |
| Iowa | 14.1¢ | $0.01 | $0.08 |
| North Carolina | 13.9¢ | $0.01 | $0.08 |
| Missouri | 13.6¢ | $0.01 | $0.07 |
| Oregon | 13.4¢ | $0.01 | $0.07 |
| Tennessee | 13.3¢ | $0.01 | $0.07 |
| Kentucky | 13.2¢ | $0.01 | $0.07 |
| Mississippi | 13.1¢ | $0.01 | $0.07 |
| Oklahoma | 13.1¢ | $0.01 | $0.07 |
| South Dakota | 12.7¢ | $0.01 | $0.07 |
| Montana | 12.4¢ | $0.01 | $0.07 |
| Nebraska | 12.2¢ | $0.01 | $0.07 |
| Arkansas | 12.1¢ | $0.01 | $0.07 |
| Washington | 12.1¢ | $0.01 | $0.07 |
| Louisiana | 11.9¢ | $0.01 | $0.07 |
| Wyoming | 11.6¢ | $0.01 | $0.06 |
| North Dakota | 11.5¢ | $0.01 | $0.06 |
| Utah | 11.4¢ | $0.01 | $0.06 |
| Idaho | 11.3¢ | $0.01 | $0.06 |
Efficient vs. inefficient
A $0.12/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
10W
$0.00 per month
$0.06 per year
Typical
15W
$0.01 per month
$0.09 per year
High draw
30W
$0.01 per month
$0.18 per year
When it hits hardest
year-round peak
Light constant use.
Ways to cut the cost
- 1
Schedule smart plug to cut printer overnight
Saves 20-40 kWh/year
- 2
Disable 'quick start' that keeps head warm
Cuts standby 30-50%
- 3
Print in grayscale / draft mode when possible
Shorter motor runtime per page
Real-world wattages
Pulled from actual spec sheets.
| Brand | Model | Watts |
|---|---|---|
| HP | OfficeJet Pro 9015e | 15W |
| Epson | EcoTank ET-2800 | 12W |
| Canon | PIXMA TS6420 | 13W |
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.energystar.gov · www.energy.gov
Last updated: 2026-04-13