How Much Does It Cost to Run a Curling Iron?
A typical Curling Iron uses 80W and runs about 0.25 hours/day. At the national average rate of 16.72¢/kWh, that costs approximately $0.1/month.
Calculate Your Cost
What Affects the Cost of Running a Curling Iron
Curling Irons and Flat Irons Cost Pennies Per Use
A curling iron or flat iron draws 25-150W and heats up in 30-60 seconds. A typical styling session lasts 10-20 minutes. At 80W for 15 minutes, that is 0.02 kWh (less than half a penny). Monthly cost for daily use is about $0.15-$0.30. The electricity to style your hair for an entire year costs less than one cup of coffee.
Curling Iron vs. Alternatives
How the monthly cost of a Curling Iron compares to other options:
| Alternative | Est. Monthly Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Curling Iron (this page) | $0.1 | At national average rate, 0.25hrs/day |
| Hair dryer | ~$1-2 | Much higher wattage (1,800W) but also short use time. Still cheap per session. |
| Hot rollers | ~$0.10-0.25 | Similar wattage range. Slightly longer heating time but hands-free. |
| No-heat styling methods | $0 | Free. Includes braiding, twisting, and foam rollers. |
Curling Iron Cost by State
What a Curling Iron costs to run at 80W for 0.25 hours/day in every state:
| State | Rate | Monthly Cost | Yearly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 14.82¢ | $0.09 | $1.07 |
| Alaska | 25.34¢ | $0.15 | $1.82 |
| Arizona | 13.81¢ | $0.08 | $0.99 |
| Arkansas | 12.63¢ | $0.08 | $0.91 |
| California | 31.41¢ | $0.19 | $2.26 |
| Colorado | 15.24¢ | $0.09 | $1.1 |
| Connecticut | 29.35¢ | $0.18 | $2.11 |
| Delaware | 15.24¢ | $0.09 | $1.1 |
| District of Columbia | 15.87¢ | $0.1 | $1.14 |
| Florida | 15.63¢ | $0.09 | $1.13 |
| Georgia | 14.12¢ | $0.08 | $1.02 |
| Hawaii | 43.21¢ | $0.26 | $3.11 |
| Idaho | 10.87¢ | $0.07 | $0.78 |
| Illinois | 16.37¢ | $0.1 | $1.18 |
| Indiana | 15.12¢ | $0.09 | $1.09 |
| Iowa | 14.23¢ | $0.09 | $1.02 |
| Kansas | 14.98¢ | $0.09 | $1.08 |
| Kentucky | 12.87¢ | $0.08 | $0.93 |
| Louisiana | 11.98¢ | $0.07 | $0.86 |
| Maine | 22.87¢ | $0.14 | $1.65 |
| Maryland | 16.12¢ | $0.1 | $1.16 |
| Massachusetts | 28.76¢ | $0.17 | $2.07 |
| Michigan | 18.76¢ | $0.11 | $1.35 |
| Minnesota | 15.34¢ | $0.09 | $1.1 |
| Mississippi | 13.76¢ | $0.08 | $0.99 |
| Missouri | 13.12¢ | $0.08 | $0.94 |
| Montana | 12.45¢ | $0.07 | $0.9 |
| Nebraska | 11.98¢ | $0.07 | $0.86 |
| Nevada | 15.03¢ | $0.09 | $1.08 |
| New Hampshire | 25.34¢ | $0.15 | $1.82 |
| New Jersey | 18.76¢ | $0.11 | $1.35 |
| New Mexico | 14.87¢ | $0.09 | $1.07 |
| New York | 22.87¢ | $0.14 | $1.65 |
| North Carolina | 13.98¢ | $0.08 | $1.01 |
| North Dakota | 11.87¢ | $0.07 | $0.85 |
| Ohio | 15.34¢ | $0.09 | $1.1 |
| Oklahoma | 11.98¢ | $0.07 | $0.86 |
| Oregon | 13.12¢ | $0.08 | $0.94 |
| Pennsylvania | 16.87¢ | $0.1 | $1.21 |
| Rhode Island | 27.12¢ | $0.16 | $1.95 |
| South Carolina | 14.98¢ | $0.09 | $1.08 |
| South Dakota | 13.76¢ | $0.08 | $0.99 |
| Tennessee | 12.87¢ | $0.08 | $0.93 |
| Texas | 14.98¢ | $0.09 | $1.08 |
| Utah | 10.87¢ | $0.07 | $0.78 |
| Vermont | 21.34¢ | $0.13 | $1.54 |
| Virginia | 15.34¢ | $0.09 | $1.1 |
| Washington | 10.76¢ | $0.06 | $0.77 |
| West Virginia | 13.12¢ | $0.08 | $0.94 |
| Wisconsin | 16.98¢ | $0.1 | $1.22 |
| Wyoming | 11.23¢ | $0.07 | $0.81 |
Energy-Saving Tips for Your Curling Iron
- Unplug after use; some models draw standby power and pose a fire risk
- An auto-shutoff feature saves energy if you forget to turn it off
- Use the lowest temperature that works for your hair type
- Electricity cost per use is just a few cents
Frequently Asked Questions
Virtually nothing. A curling iron at 80W used for 15 minutes consumes 0.02 kWh, costing less than half a penny. Daily use costs about $0.10-$0.15/month. The auto-shutoff feature on most modern irons is a safety feature, not an energy-saving one, though it does prevent the iron from running for hours if forgotten.
Unplugging saves almost no electricity (modern irons draw <1W when off but plugged in). However, unplugging is a good safety habit. A curling iron left on accidentally can be a fire hazard and consume 80W continuously for hours. Auto-shutoff features (typically 30-60 minutes) mitigate this, but unplugging when done is the safest practice.
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Electricity cost estimates are based on typical wattage and average residential rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Your actual costs may vary based on your appliance's specific wattage, usage patterns, and your utility's rate structure. See our full disclaimer.