How Much Electricity (Power) Does An Electric Iron Use?
Today, almost every modern home has an electric iron. This is a household appliance that is used to remove wrinkles and creases from our clothes. Newer models also have a water reservoir that uses steam during ironing. However, what we are interested in is how much electricity electric iron consumes? Some studies show that electric iron uses around 5% of our electricity bill, but is that true? In this article, we’ll discuss the power consumption of these appliances and how much they affect the home electricity bill. So, let’s start!
So How Much Power (Watts) Does An Electric Iron Use? On average, an electric iron has a rated power of between 1000 watts to 2000 watts. Iron is used for 15 minutes/day which is around 275 watts/day or 8.2 kWh per month, equal to about $1.06 per month. Most irons have a label where you can read the exact power wattage of your appliance.
Usually, most electric irons consume around 5% of home electricity, and for that reason, it is important to choose the energy-efficient model. As we have already mentioned, most electric irons consume around 1200 watts, and they are used 15 min per day. If we take this into account, we will get that using an electric iron costs us an average of $1.06 per month.
> Precisely Measure Power Consumption By Using Watt Meter <
One of the ways how you can reduce energy consumption by using electric iron is by hanging or folding your clothes after they are washed and dried in a drying machine. Also, you can hang your clothes in the bathroom during a hot shower. That way, the steam will produce heat and remove wrinkles, and you will not need to iron your clothes.
The most used electric irons and their power consumption:
| Model: | Power (Watts) | Cost Per Hour |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Maytag M400 | 1,500 Watts (1.5 kW) | $0.19 |
| 2. Rowenta SteamFore DW9280 | 1,800 Watts (1.8 kW) | $0.23 |
| 3. Steammaster Steam Iron | 1,400 Watts (1.4 kW) | $0.18 |
| 4. Bajaj MX35N Iron | 2,000 Watts (2.0 kW) | $0.26 |
| 5. Sunbeam Hot-2-Trot | 800 Watts (0.8 kW) | $0.10 |
Always make sure that after each use of the electric iron, you unplug it from the outlet. Never leave the electric iron unattended after you have finished. Keep in mind that the electric iron must be placed in a standing position (not facing down) when it is heated, and only after it has cooled can you put it back in its place.
If you want to know How Much Power (Watts) Does a Mixer Grinder Use, read this article.
How Do You Calculate Electric Iron Power Consumption?
Electric Iron is a home appliance that uses electricity and heats the metal plate that is then used to remove the folds from our cloth. This is possible due to ohm’s law. Each electric iron has a resistance circuit that emits heat when electricity flows through it. Now that we are familiar with this, we will explain two ways how to calculate the real power consumption of any electric iron. The first one is by using the appliance’s data and formulas, and the second is by measuring it using a device called Kill A Watt Meter.
1. Calculating the Power Consumption
By using the basic parameters, we can calculate how much electricity is needed for an electric iron to work. That way we can get how much electric iron will consume per day, per month, and per year. Power consumption E (kWh) of an electric iron is expressed in kilowatt-hours, which is equal to the watts (W) and operating hours (H), which is then divided by 1000.
E = Px H / 1000 [kWh]
Example:
Let’s use some basic examples to calculate how much power our electric iron will consume per hour, per day, and per year. For this, we’ll use the Rowenta DA1560 Travel-Ready model. The power consumption of this model is 1 kWh, and it will work for 2 hours/day. This data shows that the consumption will be 2kWh per day, 60 kWh per month, and 720 kWh per year.
If you want to get precise data, you can use this Electric Iron Calculator.
Electric Iron Electricity Consumption For 2 Hour Period:
| Electric Iron Usage | Total Power (W) | Power Consumption (kWh) | Electricity Bill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hour | 1,000 Watts | 1 kWh | $0.13 |
| Day | 2,000 Watts | 2 kWh | $0.26 |
| Month | 60,000 Watts | 60 kWh | $7.80 |
| Year | 720,000 Watts | 720 kWh | $93.6 |
Here is a YouTube video that shows how much electricity (power) an electric iron consumes.
2. Measure the Power Consumption
Another way you can find out the power consumption of your electric iron is by using a special measuring device Kill A Watt Meter. This device is designed to accurately measure the consumption of any home appliance, including electric iron. Simply plug this device into an outlet and attach your electric iron. All electricity that was consumed will be measured and shown on the display. You can find this product at an electric shop or online via Amazon if you don’t have it.
You can get Kill A Watt Meter HERE.
The Cost To Run An Electric Iron? Example
The first step to saving money is knowing how much electricity each appliance consumes. In this section, we’ll explain how to calculate the power consumption of electric iron in some basic way. Here are the data that you need to know:
- Parameters that affect the power consumption of an electric iron.
- How often do we use it.
The main indicator that is used to indicate how much energy a device has consumed is rated power.
For example:
- We have electric iron with a power of 2,200 W. During one hour, it will consume 2.2 kW.
The first step to determining how much electricity we’ve spent is estimating how often we’ll use the electric iron and for how long. If we use our washing machine 3 times a week, we’ll need to use electric iron 3 times a week. The average time is approximately 20 minutes. In total, that’s around 1 hour/week.
Power Calculation:
If we use electric iron for 1 hour per week we’ll get the following:
- Weekly: 2,200 W = 2.2 kW
If we use electric iron for 1.5 hour per week:
- Weekly: 2,200 W x 1.5 = 3.3 kW
If we use electric iron for 1 month:
- Monthly: 2,200 W x 4 = 8.8 kW
The next thing we’ll need is to use the average electricity price, which is around $0.13 per 1 kWh. We’ll know exactly how much power we will spend monthly by using this data.
Total: 8.8 kW x $0.13 = $1.14 (this is the total amount of money that we’ll spend in one month)
Note! Keep in mind that the electric iron only during the heating mode works at full power. Energy consumption is reduced during ironing (it is equal to 40 to 50% of the power).
Related Article: How Much Electricity (Power) Does A Fan Use?
Basic Data To Know How Much Electricity Your Iron Use
By using this data, you will know the power consumption of your electric iron. Let’s look at each of them:
- Watt [W] – Is the unit that is used to measure the power of some device. The most commonly used form is kilowatt-hours [kW], which is obtained by dividing the number of watts by 1000.
- Kilowatt Hour [kWh] – Is the unit that represents how much power some device consumes per hour. This unit is used for electricity bills. For example, if we run an electric iron that has 1,000 watts for 1 hour we’ll consume 1 kWh.
- Operating Time [hours] – This is an indication of how long a device has worked. For example, if you use electric iron for 40 minutes, then you can write this in the form of 0.4 hours.
- Electricity Price [$/kWh] – This is the unit that is used to get the price of the electricity you have consumed. Each state has its own electricity price that is measured per 1 kWh. In the United States, it is 13 cents per 1 kWh.
Types Of Electric Irons And Their Power Class
Small Electric Irons (800W – 1,200W)
The power consumption of small electric iron is between 800 and 1,200 watts. They fall into the category of low-power appliances. Their use is most common; on the road or during unplanned events when you are in a hurry. These types of electric iron are most in demand for people who like to travel.
Nominal Electric Irons (1,200W – 1,500W)
The power consumption of nominal electric iron is between 1,200 and 1,500 watts. This type of appliance belongs to the home category, and it is used for smaller families. With this type of electric iron, you can easily iron materials such as T-shirts, sheets, trousers, and shirts. They are in high demand.
Average Electric Irons (1,500W – 2000W)
The power consumption of the average electric iron is between 1,500 and 2,000 watts. This type of electric iron can easily iron thin fabrics and other materials such as denim and dense materials. As you can see, the energy consumption is much higher here than in other groups. Consumers love them.
High Electric Irons (2,000W – 2,400W)
The power consumption of the high electric iron is between 2,000 and 2,400 watts. This type of iron is used in laundries, small hotels, sewing workshops, etc. We must also not forget housewives who love to have well-ironed linen.
Electric Iron Use More Power The Higher The Temperature
As we’ve already explained, the higher the temperature, the more power electric iron uses. Therefore, when you set a higher temperature, the more power (watts) iron requires to heat it up. The average heating temperature of an electric iron is around 266 Fahrenheit (130 Celsius), and it goes all the way up to 518 Fahrenheit (270 Celsius) if you want to remove wrinkles from your clothes.
Each model of electric iron has a built-in heating element Nichrome (which consists of 20% chromium and 80% nickel). This element helps electric iron da attain the temperature. When you attach the iron to the outlet, the electricity goes through the heating element and converts electric power to heat. When the desired temperature is reached, the system inside the iron (bi-metallic strip) cuts the current flow and stops it from overheating.
> Here you can buy Quality Electric Iron <
Power consumption of an average electric iron:
| Basic Model | 350 – 1,200 Watts |
| Steam Iron | 1,400 – 3,000 Watts |
Electric Iron Consumption Per 1 Hour
Electric iron consumes the most power at the beginning when the iron is heating up. After the iron is heated, it maintains a certain temperature, and thus the consumption of electricity is much lower. Electricity consumption during this period is about 40 – 50% lower which you can also see on the label of the device itself.
For example, if we make an approximate calculation where we are using an electric iron that has 2,000 watts for 1 hour, we’ll get the following:
- Power it takes to heat the electric iron to maximum temperature (5 minutes, flow rate 100%) – 165 Watts
- Power it takes to maintain the electric iron temperature mode (55 minutes, flow rate 50%) – 915 watts
By that, we’ll get a total power consumption of 1085 W or 1,08 kW
For those who want to learn more be sure to read How Much Power (Electricity) Does a Toaster Use?
Electric Iron Power Saving Tips
At this time, when the price of electricity is going up, it is necessary to pay attention to power consumption. Also, the key factor is which electric iron model you buy because consumption depends on it the most. Therefore, if you have not already bought your electric iron, be sure to check the energy efficiency label on it.
If you follow these tips and tricks you can save electricity when using electric iron:
- After you’re done, turn off your electric iron.
- Try to iron a large amount of laundry at once.
- Turn off the iron 10 minutes before you’re finished (use residual heat).
- Use the hanger to reduce the need for an iron box.
- Use a lower temperature if possible when ironing.
- Change the iron modes when ironing different types of clothes.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, there are a lot of different models of electric irons on the market, and each of them varies in power consumption. About 5% of home electricity goes on electric iron, which is not negligible. Factors that affect this are the price, power, quality, and features it has. However, we can say that the average power consumption is somewhere between 1,000 W and 2,000 W. Also, in this article, we have mentioned the ways in which you can save electricity.
Keep in mind that electrical wiring should also be considered when choosing an electric iron. If you choose powerful electric iron, it can cause a short circuit in your home, leading to a fire. This is especially important for those who live in older homes because there are higher chances of this happening. I hope we have answered all your questions in this article.
