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How Much Does It Cost to Run a Paper Shredder?

Calculate the electricity cost of running your paper shredder based on local utility rates.

3 min readUpdated July 28, 2026WattPocket
A realistic photo of a paper shredder in a domestic environment

Related wattage and runtime estimate

This supporting tool converts watts and equivalent full-power hours per day into daily, 30-day, and yearly energy costs. It does not replace the guide-specific formula below.

This calculation assumes standard daily use. Your actual consumption may vary depending on the specific model and your personal usage habits, but this provides a baseline.

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W
hr
¢/kWh

Find your state average

$0.85/ month
$0.03/ day
$10.31/ year

This setup uses about 5 kWh in a 30-day month.

01

Average Running Costs

The average electricity cost depends heavily on the wattage and the number of hours it operates daily.

02

How We Calculate Cost

We use the standard formula: (Wattage ÷ 1000) × Hours Used × Local Rate per kWh.

03

Ways to Save Energy

To lower your electric bill, try reducing usage during peak hours or upgrading to a more energy-efficient model.

Rate source and limits

The default rate is the EIA U.S. residential average for April 2026, retrieved July 16, 2026. It is an average revenue per kilowatt-hour, not a quote for your utility plan. Fixed fees, taxes, tiers, and time-of-use prices can change the bill.

Open the EIA source

Related electricity-cost guides

  1. How Much Electricity Does a Refrigerator Use Per Month?
  2. How Much Electricity Does a Dehumidifier Use?
  3. How Much Electricity Does an Air Fryer Use?