outdoor · 600W typical
Running a electric string trimmer costs about $0.30/month.
That's the typical electric string trimmer at 600W, 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 electric string trimmer can cost very different amounts depending on usage patterns. Three common scenarios, at the US-average rate.
weekly edging
$0.30
per month
30 min per week averaged
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 $4.82/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
400W
$0.20 per month
$2.41 per year
Typical
600W
$0.30 per month
$3.61 per year
High draw
1200W
$0.59 per month
$7.23 per year
When it hits hardest
summer peak
Growing-season dominant.
Ways to cut the cost
- 1
Switch from gas trimmer to electric/battery
Negligible operating cost vs gas
- 2
Use correct-gauge trimmer line — too-thick line draws more
Saves 10-20% per session
- 3
Edge less frequently — grass recovers in 1-2 weeks
Cuts annual use 30-40%
Real-world wattages
Pulled from actual spec sheets.
| Brand | Model | Watts |
|---|---|---|
| EGO | ST1502SA 56V 15-inch | 600W |
| Greenworks | 40V 13-inch | 500W |
| Black+Decker | LSTE525 20V MAX | 400W |
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