How much does an ice machine cost to run? For a typical air-cooled cube machine making 300 pounds of ice a day, expect roughly 5,600 kWh and about $815 a year in electricity at the current US average commercial rate. Your ice machine energy cost depends on three numbers: how many kWh the machine uses per 100 pounds of ice, how many pounds you actually make each day, and what your utility charges per kWh. Below is the math, a cost table for real machines, and what water adds.
The ice machine energy cost formula
Commercial ice machines are rated in kilowatt hours per 100 pounds of ice (kWh/100 lb), tested at standard conditions of 90°F room air and 70°F incoming water. That rating makes the math simple:
Yearly kWh = (kWh per 100 lb) x (pounds of ice per day / 100) x 365
Yearly cost = yearly kWh x your electricity rate per kWh
For the electricity rate, we used the US Energy Information Administration’s Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A, which puts the average US commercial price at 14.53 cents per kWh for July 2026. Rates vary a lot by state. The same table lists 13.30 cents in Indiana, 24.18 cents in New York and 43.63 cents in Hawaii for July 2026, so check your own utility bill and plug in your number.
Worked example: cost to run an ice machine at a busy bar
Say a bar uses about 300 pounds of ice a day from a Manitowoc IYP0500A, which ENERGY STAR lists at 5.12 kWh per 100 lb.
- 5.12 kWh x 3 (that is 300 lb / 100) = 15.36 kWh per day
- 15.36 kWh x 365 days = about 5,606 kWh per year
- 5,606 kWh x $0.1453 = about $815 per year
At the New York commercial average of 24.18 cents, the same ice costs about $1,356 a year. The rate matters as much as the machine.
A machine stops making ice once the bin is full, so base your estimate on the ice you actually use, not maximum output. If you are still choosing a capacity, our guide on what size ice machine you need walks through daily ice estimates by business type.
Yearly running cost for real ice machines
The table below uses each model’s ENERGY STAR certified data (harvest rate, energy use and potable water use per 100 lb) from the ENERGY STAR certified commercial ice machine dataset, and our current listed price. The yearly figures assume the machine runs at its full 90°F/70°F rated output every day at 14.53 cents per kWh, so treat them as an upper bound. Most operations will land lower. This is a spec based comparison, not a test.
| Machine | Type | Output at 90/70 (lb/day) | kWh per 100 lb | Water (gal per 100 lb) | Yearly kWh at full output | Yearly electricity cost | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manitowoc UYP0140A NEO | Undercounter, 90 lb bin | 114 | 7.25 | 17.9 | 3,017 | $438 | $3,187 |
| Manitowoc UYP0190A NEO | Undercounter, 90 lb bin | 169 | 6.36 | 15.5 | 3,923 | $570 | $3,332 |
| Manitowoc IYP0300A | 30 inch head | 246 | 6.37 | 16.4 | 5,720 | $831 | $3,651 |
| Manitowoc IYP0500A | 30 inch head | 444 | 5.12 | 14.3 | 8,297 | $1,206 | $4,454 |
| Manitowoc IYP0600A | 30 inch head | 554 | 4.77 | 13.9 | 9,645 | $1,401 | $4,818 |
| Manitowoc IYP1000A | 30 inch head | 781 | 4.30 | 13.7 | 12,258 | $1,781 | $7,299 |
All six are air-cooled and ENERGY STAR certified. Ice machine heads are sold without a bin, so budget for one separately. Prices can change; call to confirm. Our listing for the IYP0300A states 248 lb at 90°F/70°F, slightly above the 246 lb in the ENERGY STAR data; the table uses the ENERGY STAR figure so every row comes from the same source.
What the table shows
- Bigger machines use less energy per pound. The IYP1000A uses 4.30 kWh per 100 lb, while the small UYP0140A uses 7.25. Per 100 lb of ice at 14.53 cents, that is about $0.62 versus $1.05.
- Undercounter units cost more per pound but less per year in total, which suits low volume bars and cafes. See modular vs undercounter ice machines for the trade-offs.
Ice machine water usage and what it adds
Water is the second running cost. The air-cooled machines above use 13.7 to 17.9 gallons of potable water per 100 lb of ice under ENERGY STAR test conditions.
Use the same formula: gallons per 100 lb x (pounds per day / 100) x 365. The bar example above, 300 lb a day on the IYP0500A, works out to about 15,659 gallons a year. Multiply by your water and sewer rate from your water bill.
Water-cooled machines also use water to cool the condenser, and that can far outweigh the water that becomes ice. We cover that comparison, and local rules on once-through cooling, in air vs water cooled ice machines, so we will not repeat it here.
Is an ENERGY STAR ice machine worth it?
ENERGY STAR says certified batch-type (cube) ice makers are about 10 percent more energy efficient and 20 percent more water efficient than standard models, and estimates savings of 700 kWh and $150 a year, or $1,200 over the product’s lifetime. For continuous-type machines (flake and nugget), it estimates about 16 percent better energy efficiency and savings of 1,350 kWh and $170 a year.
Only air-cooled machines are eligible; water-cooled ice makers and ice and water dispensers are not. ENERGY STAR also has a rebate finder by zip code.
To check a specific model, search the ENERGY STAR product finder for its model number. Its kWh per 100 lb figure goes straight into the formula.
Ways to lower the cost to run an ice machine
- Size to real demand. Pick a machine whose 90°F/70°F output covers your busiest day with some margin, and choose a bin that holds enough to ride through peaks. Our sizing guide has the numbers.
- Use the production schedule. Manitowoc’s Indigo NXT heads, including the IYP0500A, offer programmable production by time, weight and day or night schedules, according to our listings. Making ice overnight can help if your utility charges less off peak.
- Give it air. Air-cooled machines work harder in a hot, cramped room; follow the manual’s clearances.
- Keep it clean. Scale on the evaporator and dust on the condenser make any machine less efficient. Clean on the manufacturer’s schedule.
Electrical, plumbing and drain work should be done by a licensed professional, and local code has the final word. Browse more Manitowoc ice machines or see our commercial kitchen equipment guide for the rest of your setup.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run an ice machine per month?
Divide the yearly figure by 12. The IYP0500A making 300 lb a day costs about $815 a year at 14.53 cents per kWh, or about $68 a month in electricity, plus water and sewer charges.
How do I calculate ice machine energy cost with my own rate?
Multiply the kWh per 100 lb rating by your daily pounds divided by 100, then by 365, then by your rate per kWh from your utility bill.
How much water does an ice machine use?
The air-cooled ENERGY STAR models in our table use 13.7 to 17.9 gallons per 100 lb of ice. Water-cooled machines use much more because the condenser needs cooling water too.
Do ENERGY STAR ice machines really save money?
ENERGY STAR estimates certified cube machines save about 700 kWh and $150 a year versus standard models. Your savings depend on how much ice you make and your local rate.
Need help comparing running costs? Call The Everything Depot at 866-777-2590, Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM PST, with your daily ice use and electricity rate. Orders of $999 or more ship free by freight, and a $200 flat rate applies below that. See our return and refund policy for details before you buy.
