Show the formula and working
This iron running cost calculator shows what your iron or steam generator costs per ironing session and per year. Enter the power in watts, how long you iron for, the share of that time the iron is actually heating and how many sessions you do a week. It starts with the UK price cap unit rate, has EU presets, and you can type your own tariff.
Quick answer: An iron costs its power in kW times the hours it is heating times your unit rate. A 2,400 W iron used for 30 minutes and heating 60% of that time uses 0.72 kWh, which costs about 19p at 26.32p. Two sessions a week cost about £19.71 a year.
How Is Iron Running Cost Calculated?
Divide the wattage by 1,000 to get kilowatts, multiply by your ironing time in hours, by the share of time the iron is heating and by your unit rate.
An iron has a thermostat that switches the soleplate heater on until it reaches the set temperature, then off, then on again as it cools. So it does not draw full power for the whole time it is switched on. The calculator uses 60% as an example heating share. Steam use, the temperature setting and the fabric all change this. The cost per session times your sessions a week, times 52, gives the yearly cost.
Steam generator irons have a separate boiler that heats water for steam. They often have a higher power rating, and the boiler may run a lot at the start of a session, so a higher heating share may suit them.
How Do You Use the Iron Calculator?
- Enter the iron power from the iron or box.
- Enter how many minutes an ironing session lasts.
- Set the share of time the iron is heating.
- Enter how many sessions you do a week.
- Choose a price preset or enter your unit rate.
How Much Does an Iron Cost to Run?
At 26.32p per kWh and heating 60% of the time, an iron costs about 16p an hour of ironing for every 1,000 W of power.
| Iron power | Cost per hour of ironing | Cost per 30 minute session | Cost per year (2 a week) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,800 W | 28.43p | £0.14 | £14.78 |
| 2,400 W | 37.9p | £0.19 | £19.71 |
| 2,800 W | 44.22p | £0.22 | £22.99 |
The wattage is printed on the iron, the base of a steam generator or the box. The 26.32p rate is the Ofgem price cap average for October to December 2026. You can check the latest figure on the Ofgem energy price cap page.
Does a Higher Wattage Iron Cost More?
Not always by as much as the rating suggests. A more powerful iron heats up faster and recovers temperature more quickly between strokes.
That means the thermostat may switch it off sooner, so its heating share can be lower. Over a session, a 2,800 W iron and a 2,400 W iron can end up closer in cost than their ratings suggest. The time you spend ironing and how often you iron matter more than the wattage.
Is Ironing Expensive?
For most homes, ironing is one of the smaller uses of electricity: often a few pence to a few tens of pence a session.
It costs far less than tumble drying the same clothes, for example. If you want to cut ironing time, hanging or folding clothes straight from the line or washing machine helps reduce creases. The tumble dryer running cost calculator and washing machine running cost calculator show the rest of your laundry costs.
Worked Example: A Weekly Hour With a Steam Generator
Example: a household irons once a week for an hour with a 2,800 W steam generator iron, which heats about half the time. The unit rate is 26.32p.
- Power: 2.8 kW
- Heating time: 60 minutes x 50% = 30 minutes
- Per session: 2.8 kW x 0.5 hours = 1.4 kWh, about 37p
- Per year: 52 sessions x 36.85p = £19.16
One long weekly session costs about the same as two short sessions a week on the standard iron in the table above. Doing the ironing in one go also means the iron heats up only once.
Tips to Cut Ironing Costs
Saving on ironing is mostly about less time with the iron hot.
- Iron in one session rather than several short ones.
- Start with fabrics that need a low temperature, then turn it up.
- Switch off a few minutes before the end and use the remaining heat for delicate items.
- Descale the iron or steam generator as the maker advises.
- Hang clothes straight after washing to reduce creases.
Iron Running Cost FAQs
How much does it cost to run an iron for an hour?
A 2,400 W iron heating 60% of the time costs about 37.9p an hour at 26.32p. Your own heating share and rate change this.
How much electricity does an iron use?
A 2,400 W iron uses 2.4 kWh for each hour it heats at full power. Because the thermostat cycles, real use is usually lower.
Do steam generator irons use more electricity?
They often have higher power ratings and a boiler to heat. A session can cost a little more, but they may also finish the ironing faster.
Does ironing use more electricity than a tumble dryer?
Usually less. A tumble dryer load often uses several kWh, while a typical ironing session uses under 1 kWh.
Is it cheaper to iron at a low temperature?
Yes. A lower setting means the thermostat switches the heater off sooner, so the iron uses less energy.
Should I leave the iron on between items?
Most irons have auto off for safety. Ironing everything in one go is cheaper than reheating the iron several times.
Checked October 2026. Sources: Ofgem energy price cap. Heating share is an example; use your iron’s figures.