electronics · 250W typical
Running a paper shredder costs about $0.06/month.
That's the typical paper shredder at 250W, 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 paper shredder can cost very different amounts depending on usage patterns. Three common scenarios, at the US-average rate.
weekly shredding
$0.06
per month
3 min per week averaged
standby
$29.70
per month
auto-standby 0.5-1W
Where you live
$0.11 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¢ | $0.15 | $1.88 |
| California | 31.4¢ | $0.12 | $1.43 |
| Massachusetts | 30.8¢ | $0.12 | $1.41 |
| Connecticut | 28.7¢ | $0.11 | $1.31 |
| Rhode Island | 27.9¢ | $0.10 | $1.27 |
| New Hampshire | 24.6¢ | $0.09 | $1.12 |
| Alaska | 24.3¢ | $0.09 | $1.11 |
| New York | 22.3¢ | $0.08 | $1.02 |
| Maine | 22.1¢ | $0.08 | $1.01 |
| Vermont | 21.5¢ | $0.08 | $0.98 |
| Michigan | 19.3¢ | $0.07 | $0.88 |
| New Jersey | 19.1¢ | $0.07 | $0.87 |
| Maryland | 18.4¢ | $0.07 | $0.84 |
| Pennsylvania | 18.1¢ | $0.07 | $0.83 |
| District of Columbia | 17.8¢ | $0.07 | $0.81 |
| Wisconsin | 17.4¢ | $0.07 | $0.79 |
| Delaware | 17.2¢ | $0.06 | $0.78 |
| Illinois | 16.9¢ | $0.06 | $0.77 |
| Ohio | 16.6¢ | $0.06 | $0.76 |
| Nevada | 16.3¢ | $0.06 | $0.74 |
| Indiana | 15.8¢ | $0.06 | $0.72 |
| Virginia | 15.7¢ | $0.06 | $0.72 |
| Minnesota | 15.6¢ | $0.06 | $0.71 |
| Colorado | 15.4¢ | $0.06 | $0.70 |
| Alabama | 15.2¢ | $0.06 | $0.69 |
| West Virginia | 15.2¢ | $0.06 | $0.69 |
| Florida | 15.1¢ | $0.06 | $0.69 |
| New Mexico | 14.8¢ | $0.06 | $0.68 |
| Texas | 14.8¢ | $0.06 | $0.68 |
| Arizona | 14.7¢ | $0.06 | $0.67 |
| South Carolina | 14.7¢ | $0.06 | $0.67 |
| Kansas | 14.6¢ | $0.05 | $0.67 |
| Georgia | 14.2¢ | $0.05 | $0.65 |
| Iowa | 14.1¢ | $0.05 | $0.64 |
| North Carolina | 13.9¢ | $0.05 | $0.63 |
| Missouri | 13.6¢ | $0.05 | $0.62 |
| Oregon | 13.4¢ | $0.05 | $0.61 |
| Tennessee | 13.3¢ | $0.05 | $0.61 |
| Kentucky | 13.2¢ | $0.05 | $0.60 |
| Mississippi | 13.1¢ | $0.05 | $0.60 |
| Oklahoma | 13.1¢ | $0.05 | $0.60 |
| South Dakota | 12.7¢ | $0.05 | $0.58 |
| Montana | 12.4¢ | $0.05 | $0.57 |
| Nebraska | 12.2¢ | $0.05 | $0.56 |
| Arkansas | 12.1¢ | $0.05 | $0.55 |
| Washington | 12.1¢ | $0.05 | $0.55 |
| Louisiana | 11.9¢ | $0.04 | $0.54 |
| Wyoming | 11.6¢ | $0.04 | $0.53 |
| North Dakota | 11.5¢ | $0.04 | $0.52 |
| Utah | 11.4¢ | $0.04 | $0.52 |
| Idaho | 11.3¢ | $0.04 | $0.52 |
Efficient vs. inefficient
A $1.20/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
100W
$0.02 per month
$0.30 per year
Typical
250W
$0.06 per month
$0.75 per year
High draw
500W
$0.12 per month
$1.51 per year
When it hits hardest
year-round peak
Light constant use.
Ways to cut the cost
- 1
Unplug or smart-plug — shredders draw 0.5-1W standby continuously
Saves 5-10 kWh/year
- 2
Batch shred once a week rather than daily
Avoids daily auto-reverse cycles
- 3
Lubricate per manual — unlubricated shredders draw 20-40% more watts
Restores spec efficiency
Real-world wattages
Pulled from actual spec sheets.
| Brand | Model | Watts |
|---|---|---|
| Fellowes | Powershred 79Ci | 400W |
| AmazonBasics | 8-Sheet Cross-Cut | 200W |
| Bonsaii | 4S30 12-Sheet | 320W |
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