How many watts does a garage door opener use?
Most garage door openers use 300–725 watts while running (typically about 500 W) and 600–1,400 W for a few seconds when the motor or compressor starts. At the U.S. average rate of 18.16¢/kWh, a typical one costs about $0.14 a month ($1.66 a year).
Cost to run a garage door opener: calculator
Running vs starting watts
Running watts are what it draws while operating; they drive your electricity bill. Starting watts are a short surge when a motor or compressor kicks on; they matter for sizing a generator or power station.
| Source | Running | Starting |
|---|---|---|
| Honda generator wattage chart (PDF) | 550–725 W | 1,100–1,400 W |
| EcoFlow appliance wattage chart | 100–500 W | 300–1,500 W |
Will a power station run it?
A 1,000 Wh power station would run a typical garage door opener for about 1.7 hours (assuming 85% conversion efficiency). Look for at least 725 W continuous output and 2,125 W surge (peak). Check your power station or generator →
Cost by state
Based on 500 W for 3 minutes a day, 365 days a year (9 kWh/yr).
Cost to run a garage door opener in every state
| State | Rate | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.33¢ | $0.12 | $1.49 |
| Alaska | 29.41¢ | $0.22 | $2.68 |
| Arizona | 15.05¢ | $0.11 | $1.37 |
| Arkansas | 14.37¢ | $0.11 | $1.31 |
| California | 29.75¢ | $0.23 | $2.71 |
| Colorado | 17.17¢ | $0.13 | $1.57 |
| Connecticut | 24.51¢ | $0.19 | $2.24 |
| Delaware | 18.70¢ | $0.14 | $1.71 |
| District of Columbia | 25.98¢ | $0.20 | $2.37 |
| Florida | 14.99¢ | $0.11 | $1.37 |
| Georgia | 15.90¢ | $0.12 | $1.45 |
| Hawaii | 47.18¢ | $0.36 | $4.31 |
| Idaho | 13.37¢ | $0.10 | $1.22 |
| Illinois | 19.32¢ | $0.15 | $1.76 |
| Indiana | 17.02¢ | $0.13 | $1.55 |
| Iowa | 17.06¢ | $0.13 | $1.56 |
| Kansas | 15.47¢ | $0.12 | $1.41 |
| Kentucky | 13.80¢ | $0.10 | $1.26 |
| Louisiana | 12.87¢ | $0.10 | $1.17 |
| Maine | 32.11¢ | $0.24 | $2.93 |
| Maryland | 21.40¢ | $0.16 | $1.95 |
| Massachusetts | 30.48¢ | $0.23 | $2.78 |
| Michigan | 22.99¢ | $0.17 | $2.10 |
| Minnesota | 17.20¢ | $0.13 | $1.57 |
| Mississippi | 14.43¢ | $0.11 | $1.32 |
| Missouri | 16.02¢ | $0.12 | $1.46 |
| Montana | 15.57¢ | $0.12 | $1.42 |
| Nebraska | 13.54¢ | $0.10 | $1.24 |
| Nevada | 12.72¢ | $0.10 | $1.16 |
| New Hampshire | 27.64¢ | $0.21 | $2.52 |
| New Jersey | 24.61¢ | $0.19 | $2.25 |
| New Mexico | 16.51¢ | $0.13 | $1.51 |
| New York | 28.65¢ | $0.22 | $2.61 |
| North Carolina | 14.95¢ | $0.11 | $1.36 |
| North Dakota | 13.31¢ | $0.10 | $1.21 |
| Ohio | 19.38¢ | $0.15 | $1.77 |
| Oklahoma | 14.82¢ | $0.11 | $1.35 |
| Oregon | 15.92¢ | $0.12 | $1.45 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.77¢ | $0.17 | $1.99 |
| Rhode Island | 28.18¢ | $0.21 | $2.57 |
| South Carolina | 15.76¢ | $0.12 | $1.44 |
| South Dakota | 15.15¢ | $0.12 | $1.38 |
| Tennessee | 13.42¢ | $0.10 | $1.22 |
| Texas | 15.91¢ | $0.12 | $1.45 |
| Utah | 13.31¢ | $0.10 | $1.21 |
| Vermont | 23.84¢ | $0.18 | $2.18 |
| Virginia | 17.64¢ | $0.13 | $1.61 |
| Washington | 14.63¢ | $0.11 | $1.33 |
| West Virginia | 16.31¢ | $0.12 | $1.49 |
| Wisconsin | 19.41¢ | $0.15 | $1.77 |
| Wyoming | 14.43¢ | $0.11 | $1.32 |
FAQ
How many watts does a garage door opener use?
Most garage door openers use 300–725 watts while running (typically about 500 W) and 600–1,400 W for a few seconds when the motor or compressor starts. At the U.S. average rate of 18.16¢/kWh, a typical one costs about $0.14 a month ($1.66 a year).
What are the starting watts of a garage door opener?
About 600–1,400 W for a second or two at start-up. This matters when sizing a generator or power station, not for your electricity bill.
How much does it cost to run a garage door opener?
About $0.14 a month at the U.S. average rate (18.16¢/kWh, August 2026), based on 500 W for 3 minutes a day, 365 days a year (9 kWh/yr). In the cheapest state it's about $0.10 a month; in the most expensive, $0.36.
How many kWh does a garage door opener use?
About 9 kWh a year (1 kWh a month), based on 500 W for 3 minutes a day, 365 days a year (9 kWh/yr).
Can a power station or generator run a garage door opener?
A 1,000 Wh power station would run a typical garage door opener for about 1.7 hours. Look for at least 725 W continuous output and 2,125 W surge (peak).