electronics · 60W typical
Running a soldering iron/station costs about $0.07/month.
That's the typical soldering iron/station at 60W, run 0.5 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 soldering iron/station draws full power only while the thermostat/compressor is running — about 0.3 effective hours at 60W across your 0.5-hour window.
How you use it
Cost shifts with how long it's on.
The same soldering iron/station can cost very different amounts depending on usage patterns. Three common scenarios, at the US-average rate.
hobby session
$0.07
per month
weekend project use
repair work
$0.15
per month
active repair work
Where you live
$0.13 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¢ | $0.19 | $2.26 |
| California | 31.4¢ | $0.14 | $1.72 |
| Massachusetts | 30.8¢ | $0.14 | $1.69 |
| Connecticut | 28.7¢ | $0.13 | $1.57 |
| Rhode Island | 27.9¢ | $0.13 | $1.53 |
| New Hampshire | 24.6¢ | $0.11 | $1.35 |
| Alaska | 24.3¢ | $0.11 | $1.33 |
| New York | 22.3¢ | $0.10 | $1.22 |
| Maine | 22.1¢ | $0.10 | $1.21 |
| Vermont | 21.5¢ | $0.10 | $1.18 |
| Michigan | 19.3¢ | $0.09 | $1.06 |
| New Jersey | 19.1¢ | $0.09 | $1.05 |
| Maryland | 18.4¢ | $0.08 | $1.01 |
| Pennsylvania | 18.1¢ | $0.08 | $0.99 |
| District of Columbia | 17.8¢ | $0.08 | $0.97 |
| Wisconsin | 17.4¢ | $0.08 | $0.95 |
| Delaware | 17.2¢ | $0.08 | $0.94 |
| Illinois | 16.9¢ | $0.08 | $0.93 |
| Ohio | 16.6¢ | $0.07 | $0.91 |
| Nevada | 16.3¢ | $0.07 | $0.89 |
| Indiana | 15.8¢ | $0.07 | $0.87 |
| Virginia | 15.7¢ | $0.07 | $0.86 |
| Minnesota | 15.6¢ | $0.07 | $0.85 |
| Colorado | 15.4¢ | $0.07 | $0.84 |
| Alabama | 15.2¢ | $0.07 | $0.83 |
| West Virginia | 15.2¢ | $0.07 | $0.83 |
| Florida | 15.1¢ | $0.07 | $0.83 |
| New Mexico | 14.8¢ | $0.07 | $0.81 |
| Texas | 14.8¢ | $0.07 | $0.81 |
| Arizona | 14.7¢ | $0.07 | $0.80 |
| South Carolina | 14.7¢ | $0.07 | $0.80 |
| Kansas | 14.6¢ | $0.07 | $0.80 |
| Georgia | 14.2¢ | $0.06 | $0.78 |
| Iowa | 14.1¢ | $0.06 | $0.77 |
| North Carolina | 13.9¢ | $0.06 | $0.76 |
| Missouri | 13.6¢ | $0.06 | $0.74 |
| Oregon | 13.4¢ | $0.06 | $0.73 |
| Tennessee | 13.3¢ | $0.06 | $0.73 |
| Kentucky | 13.2¢ | $0.06 | $0.72 |
| Mississippi | 13.1¢ | $0.06 | $0.72 |
| Oklahoma | 13.1¢ | $0.06 | $0.72 |
| South Dakota | 12.7¢ | $0.06 | $0.70 |
| Montana | 12.4¢ | $0.06 | $0.68 |
| Nebraska | 12.2¢ | $0.05 | $0.67 |
| Arkansas | 12.1¢ | $0.05 | $0.66 |
| Washington | 12.1¢ | $0.05 | $0.66 |
| Louisiana | 11.9¢ | $0.05 | $0.65 |
| Wyoming | 11.6¢ | $0.05 | $0.64 |
| North Dakota | 11.5¢ | $0.05 | $0.63 |
| Utah | 11.4¢ | $0.05 | $0.62 |
| Idaho | 11.3¢ | $0.05 | $0.62 |
Efficient vs. inefficient
A $1.58/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
15W
$0.02 per month
$0.23 per year
Typical
60W
$0.07 per month
$0.90 per year
High draw
120W
$0.15 per month
$1.81 per year
When it hits hardest
year-round peak
Project-driven use.
Ways to cut the cost
- 1
Use temperature-controlled stations with auto-standby
Cuts idle watts 30-50%
- 2
Turn off between sessions — solder irons hold 300-400°C for hours
Each hour idle wastes 30-60W
- 3
Lower idle temperature — most projects don't need full heat while setup
Saves 10-20% per session
Real-world wattages
Pulled from actual spec sheets.
| Brand | Model | Watts |
|---|---|---|
| Weller | WLC100 40W | 40W |
| Hakko | FX888D-23BY 70W | 70W |
| TS100 | Mini Iron | 65W |
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