Answer

A small indoor cannabis grow setup costs $380 to $950 in the US. That covers a tent, one LED light, an inline fan, a filter, pots, medium, nutrients, a timer, and a pH meter. A 2x2 ft build sits at the low end near $380. A 3x3 ft build with a 240 W light and a 6 in fan sits near $950. Electricity adds $9 to $20 per month. Seeds add $8 to $80 depending on pack size.

Starter equipment list

  • Grow tent, 2x2 ft or 2x4 ft: $80 to $200
  • LED light, 100 W to 240 W: $110 to $320
  • Inline fan and carbon filter, 4 in: $70 to $150
  • Clip fan, oscillating: $15 to $30
  • Fabric pots, 3 gal, 5 pack: $12 to $20
  • Medium, coco coir or potting soil, 2 cu ft: $20 to $45
  • Base nutrients, two or three part: $30 to $90
  • pH meter plus calibration solution: $20 to $60
  • Timer or smart plug: $10 to $25
  • Thermometer and hygrometer: $10 to $20

Those ten items sum to $377 at the low end and $960 at the high end. The light is the largest single line item. The tent is second.

Electricity cost

A 100 W LED run 18 hours per day uses 1.8 kWh per day. At the US average residential rate of 16 to 17 cents per kWh, that is $0.29 to $0.31 per day, or $8.70 to $9.30 per month. A 240 W light run 12 hours per day uses 2.88 kWh per day, or $14 to $15 per month. Fans and a filter add $2 to $5 per month. Rates vary by state. Hawaii and California run above the average. Louisiana and Idaho run below it.

Seeds and clones

Single feminized seeds sell for $8 to $15 from US seed banks. A five-pack runs $40 to $80. Autoflower seeds cost about the same. Clones from a nursery or dispensary cost $15 to $30 each. One trained plant fills a 2x2 ft tent. Two to four plants fit a 2x4 ft tent. Four to six fit a 3x3 ft tent.

Three budget levels

  1. Minimum, $380. 2x2 ft tent, 100 W LED, passive intake, one clip fan, hand watering, potting soil, one or two plants.
  2. Mid, $600. 2x4 ft tent, 200 W LED, 4 in inline fan and carbon filter, coco and nutrients, pH meter, three plants.
  3. Higher, $950. 3x3 ft tent, 240 W dimmable LED, 6 in fan and filter, pH and TDS meters, four plants.

Cost per gram

A 2x2 ft tent with a 100 W LED yields 100 g to 200 g per cycle under hobby conditions. Setup plus one cycle of power, nutrients, and a seed lands near $470. That is $2.35 to $4.70 per gram for the first harvest. The second cycle adds seed, nutrients, and power, about $50 to $80. That drops the cost to $0.25 to $0.80 per gram.

What moves the price

  • Light wattage. A 100 W board costs $110. A 240 W board costs $280 to $320.
  • Tent size. A 2x2 ft tent costs $80. A 4x4 ft tent costs $200 to $300.
  • Odor control. A carbon filter adds $40 to $90. A grow without a filter sends odor through the room.
  • Watering. Hand watering costs nothing. A drip system adds $60 to $150.
  • Automation. A controller for humidity and fan speed adds $80 to $200.

Kit versus separate parts

Complete kits sell for $500 to $900 and arrive in one order. Separate parts cost 10% to 20% less at the same wattage, but take more time to match. A kit buyer trades about $80 for one shipment and no compatibility checks.

Costs left out of most budgets

  • Shipping on a tent or light: $10 to $30
  • Sales tax: 5% to 10% in most states
  • Drainage trays and saucers: $15 to $40
  • Replacement filter, tape, and spare parts over a year: $50 to $100

Legal and space checks

Home grow is legal in about half of US states with cannabis programs. Plant counts, canopy size, and lock requirements differ by state. Renters need a lease check. Many leases ban grow equipment. A 100 W light and a 4 in fan draw under 2 amps at 120 V, which is below the 15 A limit of a standard household circuit.