How Much Does It Cost to Run a Phone Charger?
A typical Phone Charger uses 5W and runs about 3 hours/day. At the national average rate of 16.72¢/kWh, that costs approximately $0.08/month.
Calculate Your Cost
What Affects the Cost of Running a Phone Charger
The Cheapest Thing You Charge
Charging a smartphone from 0-100% uses about 0.01-0.03 kWh depending on battery size. At the national average rate, that is 0.2-0.5 cents per charge. Even charging two phones daily, every day, the annual electricity cost is about $1.50-$3.50. An empty charger plugged into the wall draws less than 0.5W ($0.40/year). The energy cost of smartphone charging is genuinely immeasurable on your bill.
Phone Charger vs. Alternatives
How the monthly cost of a Phone Charger compares to other options:
| Alternative | Est. Monthly Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Phone Charger (this page) | $0.08 | At national average rate, 3hrs/day |
| Standard charger (5W) | ~$0.10-0.15 | Slow but cheapest. Charges in 3-4 hours. |
| Fast charger (18-25W) | ~$0.10-0.15 | Same total energy, just delivered faster. Charges in 1-2 hours. |
| Wireless charger (15W) | ~$0.15-0.25 | 10-20% less efficient than wired. Small difference in absolute terms. |
| Laptop (as phone charger via USB) | Included in laptop cost | No additional electricity when laptop is already running. |
Phone Charger Cost by State
What a Phone Charger costs to run at 5W for 3 hours/day in every state:
| State | Rate | Monthly Cost | Yearly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 14.82¢ | $0.07 | $0.8 |
| Alaska | 25.34¢ | $0.11 | $1.37 |
| Arizona | 13.81¢ | $0.06 | $0.75 |
| Arkansas | 12.63¢ | $0.06 | $0.68 |
| California | 31.41¢ | $0.14 | $1.7 |
| Colorado | 15.24¢ | $0.07 | $0.82 |
| Connecticut | 29.35¢ | $0.13 | $1.58 |
| Delaware | 15.24¢ | $0.07 | $0.82 |
| District of Columbia | 15.87¢ | $0.07 | $0.86 |
| Florida | 15.63¢ | $0.07 | $0.84 |
| Georgia | 14.12¢ | $0.06 | $0.76 |
| Hawaii | 43.21¢ | $0.19 | $2.33 |
| Idaho | 10.87¢ | $0.05 | $0.59 |
| Illinois | 16.37¢ | $0.07 | $0.88 |
| Indiana | 15.12¢ | $0.07 | $0.82 |
| Iowa | 14.23¢ | $0.06 | $0.77 |
| Kansas | 14.98¢ | $0.07 | $0.81 |
| Kentucky | 12.87¢ | $0.06 | $0.69 |
| Louisiana | 11.98¢ | $0.05 | $0.65 |
| Maine | 22.87¢ | $0.1 | $1.23 |
| Maryland | 16.12¢ | $0.07 | $0.87 |
| Massachusetts | 28.76¢ | $0.13 | $1.55 |
| Michigan | 18.76¢ | $0.08 | $1.01 |
| Minnesota | 15.34¢ | $0.07 | $0.83 |
| Mississippi | 13.76¢ | $0.06 | $0.74 |
| Missouri | 13.12¢ | $0.06 | $0.71 |
| Montana | 12.45¢ | $0.06 | $0.67 |
| Nebraska | 11.98¢ | $0.05 | $0.65 |
| Nevada | 15.03¢ | $0.07 | $0.81 |
| New Hampshire | 25.34¢ | $0.11 | $1.37 |
| New Jersey | 18.76¢ | $0.08 | $1.01 |
| New Mexico | 14.87¢ | $0.07 | $0.8 |
| New York | 22.87¢ | $0.1 | $1.23 |
| North Carolina | 13.98¢ | $0.06 | $0.75 |
| North Dakota | 11.87¢ | $0.05 | $0.64 |
| Ohio | 15.34¢ | $0.07 | $0.83 |
| Oklahoma | 11.98¢ | $0.05 | $0.65 |
| Oregon | 13.12¢ | $0.06 | $0.71 |
| Pennsylvania | 16.87¢ | $0.08 | $0.91 |
| Rhode Island | 27.12¢ | $0.12 | $1.46 |
| South Carolina | 14.98¢ | $0.07 | $0.81 |
| South Dakota | 13.76¢ | $0.06 | $0.74 |
| Tennessee | 12.87¢ | $0.06 | $0.69 |
| Texas | 14.98¢ | $0.07 | $0.81 |
| Utah | 10.87¢ | $0.05 | $0.59 |
| Vermont | 21.34¢ | $0.1 | $1.15 |
| Virginia | 15.34¢ | $0.07 | $0.83 |
| Washington | 10.76¢ | $0.05 | $0.58 |
| West Virginia | 13.12¢ | $0.06 | $0.71 |
| Wisconsin | 16.98¢ | $0.08 | $0.92 |
| Wyoming | 11.23¢ | $0.05 | $0.61 |
Energy-Saving Tips for Your Phone Charger
- Phone chargers use very little electricity, even fast chargers
- An empty charger plugged into the wall draws nearly zero watts
- The annual cost of charging your phone is typically under $2
- Fast chargers draw more power but charge in less time, roughly the same total energy
Frequently Asked Questions
Charging a phone from 0-100% costs about 0.2-0.5 cents (not dollars, cents). Annual charging cost for daily use is about $1.50-$3.50. This is less than the cost of a single candy bar. It is impossible to save meaningful money by changing your phone charging habits.
A modern charger draws less than 0.5W when plugged in with no phone attached, costing about $0.30-$0.40/year. Older or cheap chargers may draw slightly more. The total annual waste from an empty charger is roughly the cost of one sheet of paper. Unplugging saves so little that it is effectively a symbolic gesture rather than a meaningful energy-saving action.
A fast charger delivers the same total energy as a slow charger, just faster. Charging a 4,000mAh phone battery requires about 0.015-0.02 kWh regardless of charging speed. Fast chargers are slightly less efficient (losing 5-10% more energy as heat), so the total electricity cost per charge is about 0.1 cents higher. This difference is truly negligible.
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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.