How Much Does It Cost to Run a Fan? Ceiling, Box and Tower Fans, by State and Country
Pennies an hour almost everywhere. Here are the exact numbers for where you live.
By Mark Curant·Updated
Quick answer
At the U.S. average residential rate of 18.31¢/kWh, a standard ceiling fan on high costs about 1.28¢ an hour and $3.08 a month running 8 hours a day. A DC-motor ceiling fan costs about $1.32 a month, and a box fan about $4.39. For comparison, one hour of a 3-ton central air conditioner costs about $0.47. Prices for every state, the Caribbean, Canada and Europe are below.
Fans and airflow: the series
- Ceiling fan vs. AC: how much a fan saves
- How much it costs to run a fan (this page)
- Ceiling fan buying guide
- Ceiling fan direction and settings
- Fans and airflow in your home
The formula
A 70 W ceiling fan for 8 hours uses 0.56 kWh. At 18.31¢/kWh that's $0.10. Your fan's watts are on its yellow EnergyGuide label or nameplate.
How much power fans use
| Fan | Typical power, high speed | Watts used in our tables |
|---|---|---|
| Ceiling fan with a DC motor | about 15–35 W on high, under 10 W on low | 30 W |
| Ceiling fan with a standard (AC) motor | about 50–80 W on high | 70 W |
| Box fan (20") | about 75–150 W on high | 100 W |
| Pedestal (standing) fan | about 60–85 W | 70 W |
| Tower fan | about 50–110 W | 70 W |
Low speed uses far less: an ENERGY STAR-listed 44" ceiling fan draws 17.6 W on high and just 2.7 W on low. Lights built into a fan are extra.
Work out your own cost
Your fan
Per hour
$0.013
Per month
$3.08
Per year
$37.43
Watts are on your fan's EnergyGuide label or nameplate. "Per year" assumes the same hours every day; most fans run only in the warm months.
What these tables show
The cost of running one fan on high speed. "Per hour" is one hour of a standard (70 W) ceiling fan. "Per month" is 8 hours a day for 30 days (240 hours) of a standard ceiling fan (70 W), a DC-motor ceiling fan (30 W) and a 20" box fan (100 W). Prices are in each place's own currency.
Cost to run a fan in every U.S. state
Residential electricity in Hawaii (48.00¢/kWh) costs 3.8 times as much as in Louisiana (12.72¢), so the same fan costs $8.06 a month in one and $2.14 in the other. U.S. average: $3.08. Each state links to its AC running costs.
| Where | Electricity price (per kWh) | Standard ceiling fan, per hour | Standard ceiling fan, per month | DC ceiling fan, per month | Box fan, per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.40¢ | $0.011 | $2.76 | $1.18 | $3.94 |
| Alaska | 28.83¢ | $0.020 | $4.84 | $2.08 | $6.92 |
| Arizona | 15.38¢ | $0.011 | $2.58 | $1.11 | $3.69 |
| Arkansas | 14.33¢ | $0.010 | $2.41 | $1.03 | $3.44 |
| California | 33.61¢ | $0.024 | $5.65 | $2.42 | $8.07 |
| Colorado | 17.00¢ | $0.012 | $2.86 | $1.22 | $4.08 |
| Connecticut | 24.16¢ | $0.017 | $4.06 | $1.74 | $5.80 |
| Delaware | 18.48¢ | $0.013 | $3.10 | $1.33 | $4.44 |
| District of Columbia | 25.21¢ | $0.018 | $4.24 | $1.82 | $6.05 |
| Florida | 15.03¢ | $0.011 | $2.53 | $1.08 | $3.61 |
| Georgia | 16.27¢ | $0.011 | $2.73 | $1.17 | $3.90 |
| Hawaii | 48.00¢ | $0.034 | $8.06 | $3.46 | $11.52 |
| Idaho | 13.73¢ | $0.010 | $2.31 | $0.99 | $3.30 |
| Illinois | 19.22¢ | $0.013 | $3.23 | $1.38 | $4.61 |
| Indiana | 16.73¢ | $0.012 | $2.81 | $1.20 | $4.02 |
| Iowa | 15.99¢ | $0.011 | $2.69 | $1.15 | $3.84 |
| Kansas | 15.27¢ | $0.011 | $2.57 | $1.10 | $3.66 |
| Kentucky | 13.81¢ | $0.010 | $2.32 | $0.99 | $3.31 |
| Louisiana | 12.72¢ | $0.009 | $2.14 | $0.92 | $3.05 |
| Maine | 32.41¢ | $0.023 | $5.44 | $2.33 | $7.78 |
| Maryland | 21.41¢ | $0.015 | $3.60 | $1.54 | $5.14 |
| Massachusetts | 30.49¢ | $0.021 | $5.12 | $2.20 | $7.32 |
| Michigan | 23.05¢ | $0.016 | $3.87 | $1.66 | $5.53 |
| Minnesota | 17.45¢ | $0.012 | $2.93 | $1.26 | $4.19 |
| Mississippi | 14.54¢ | $0.010 | $2.44 | $1.05 | $3.49 |
| Missouri | 16.09¢ | $0.011 | $2.70 | $1.16 | $3.86 |
| Montana | 14.99¢ | $0.010 | $2.52 | $1.08 | $3.60 |
| Nebraska | 13.78¢ | $0.010 | $2.32 | $0.99 | $3.31 |
| Nevada | 12.77¢ | $0.009 | $2.15 | $0.92 | $3.06 |
| New Hampshire | 26.60¢ | $0.019 | $4.47 | $1.92 | $6.38 |
| New Jersey | 25.19¢ | $0.018 | $4.23 | $1.81 | $6.05 |
| New Mexico | 16.09¢ | $0.011 | $2.70 | $1.16 | $3.86 |
| New York | 29.90¢ | $0.021 | $5.02 | $2.15 | $7.18 |
| North Carolina | 15.16¢ | $0.011 | $2.55 | $1.09 | $3.64 |
| North Dakota | 13.41¢ | $0.009 | $2.25 | $0.97 | $3.22 |
| Ohio | 19.45¢ | $0.014 | $3.27 | $1.40 | $4.67 |
| Oklahoma | 14.35¢ | $0.010 | $2.41 | $1.03 | $3.44 |
| Oregon | 15.97¢ | $0.011 | $2.68 | $1.15 | $3.83 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.72¢ | $0.015 | $3.65 | $1.56 | $5.21 |
| Rhode Island | 28.29¢ | $0.020 | $4.75 | $2.04 | $6.79 |
| South Carolina | 15.47¢ | $0.011 | $2.60 | $1.11 | $3.71 |
| South Dakota | 15.37¢ | $0.011 | $2.58 | $1.11 | $3.69 |
| Tennessee | 13.71¢ | $0.010 | $2.30 | $0.99 | $3.29 |
| Texas | 15.88¢ | $0.011 | $2.67 | $1.14 | $3.81 |
| Utah | 13.12¢ | $0.009 | $2.20 | $0.94 | $3.15 |
| Vermont | 23.75¢ | $0.017 | $3.99 | $1.71 | $5.70 |
| Virginia | 17.55¢ | $0.012 | $2.95 | $1.26 | $4.21 |
| Washington | 14.71¢ | $0.010 | $2.47 | $1.06 | $3.53 |
| West Virginia | 15.78¢ | $0.011 | $2.65 | $1.14 | $3.79 |
| Wisconsin | 19.06¢ | $0.013 | $3.20 | $1.37 | $4.57 |
| Wyoming | 14.36¢ | $0.010 | $2.41 | $1.03 | $3.45 |
The Caribbean
In U.S. dollars, at each country's newest available residential rate (dates under each name). Fans matter more here: cooling is needed most of the year and power often costs two or three times the U.S. average.
| Where | Electricity price (US$ per kWh) | Standard ceiling fan, per hour | Standard ceiling fan, per month | DC ceiling fan, per month | Box fan, per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BahamasSeptember 2026 | 31.04¢ | $0.022 | $5.21 | $2.23 | $7.45 |
| BarbadosSeptember 2026 | 34.10¢ | $0.024 | $5.73 | $2.46 | $8.18 |
| BermudaOctober 2026 | 41.80¢ | $0.029 | $7.02 | $3.01 | $10.03 |
| Cayman IslandsOctober 2026 | 41.30¢ | $0.029 | $6.94 | $2.97 | $9.91 |
| Dominican RepublicSeptember 2025 | 11.40¢ | $0.008 | $1.92 | $0.82 | $2.74 |
| JamaicaJune 2025 | 29.10¢ | $0.020 | $4.89 | $2.10 | $6.98 |
| Puerto RicoOctober–December 2026 | 33.86¢ | $0.024 | $5.69 | $2.44 | $8.13 |
| Trinidad and TobagoJune 2025 | 6.20¢ | $0.004 | $1.04 | $0.45 | $1.49 |
Canada
In Canadian dollars before tax, at the price of each extra kWh between 1,000 and 2,000 a month in the province's largest listed city (named under each province), which is what running a fan adds to the bill.
| Where | Electricity price (C$ per kWh) | Standard ceiling fan, per hour | Standard ceiling fan, per month | DC ceiling fan, per month | Box fan, per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AlbertaCalgary | C$0.193 | C$0.014 | C$3.25 | C$1.39 | C$4.64 |
| British ColumbiaVancouver | C$0.134 | C$0.009 | C$2.26 | C$0.97 | C$3.23 |
| ManitobaWinnipeg | C$0.096 | C$0.007 | C$1.61 | C$0.69 | C$2.30 |
| New BrunswickMoncton | C$0.137 | C$0.010 | C$2.29 | C$0.98 | C$3.28 |
| Newfoundland and LabradorSt. John's | C$0.140 | C$0.010 | C$2.36 | C$1.01 | C$3.37 |
| Nova ScotiaHalifax | C$0.186 | C$0.013 | C$3.12 | C$1.34 | C$4.45 |
| OntarioToronto | C$0.116 | C$0.008 | C$1.94 | C$0.83 | C$2.77 |
| Prince Edward IslandCharlottetown | C$0.172 | C$0.012 | C$2.89 | C$1.24 | C$4.14 |
| QuebecMontréal | C$0.099 | C$0.007 | C$1.66 | C$0.71 | C$2.38 |
| SaskatchewanRegina | C$0.149 | C$0.010 | C$2.50 | C$1.07 | C$3.57 |
Europe
In euros: Eurostat's household price for 2,500–4,999 kWh a year, all taxes included (January to June 2026, or the newest period noted under a country's name). The United Kingdom, which Eurostat no longer covers, is below in pounds at the Ofgem price-cap unit rate.
| Where | Electricity price (€ per kWh) | Standard ceiling fan, per hour | Standard ceiling fan, per month | DC ceiling fan, per month | Box fan, per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | €0.326 | €0.023 | €5.48 | €2.35 | €7.82 |
| Belgium | €0.357 | €0.025 | €6.01 | €2.57 | €8.58 |
| Bulgaria | €0.134 | €0.009 | €2.25 | €0.97 | €3.22 |
| Croatia | €0.182 | €0.013 | €3.05 | €1.31 | €4.36 |
| Cyprus | €0.269 | €0.019 | €4.52 | €1.94 | €6.45 |
| Czechia | €0.288 | €0.020 | €4.85 | €2.08 | €6.92 |
| Denmark | €0.237 | €0.017 | €3.99 | €1.71 | €5.70 |
| Estonia | €0.212 | €0.015 | €3.56 | €1.52 | €5.08 |
| Finland | €0.269 | €0.019 | €4.53 | €1.94 | €6.47 |
| France | €0.248 | €0.017 | €4.17 | €1.79 | €5.96 |
| Germany | €0.362 | €0.025 | €6.08 | €2.60 | €8.68 |
| Greece | €0.240 | €0.017 | €4.03 | €1.73 | €5.76 |
| Hungary | €0.114 | €0.008 | €1.91 | €0.82 | €2.73 |
| Ireland | €0.387 | €0.027 | €6.50 | €2.79 | €9.29 |
| Italy | €0.314 | €0.022 | €5.28 | €2.26 | €7.54 |
| LatviaJuly to December 2025 | €0.245 | €0.017 | €4.12 | €1.77 | €5.88 |
| Lithuania | €0.216 | €0.015 | €3.63 | €1.56 | €5.19 |
| Luxembourg | €0.202 | €0.014 | €3.40 | €1.46 | €4.86 |
| Malta | €0.127 | €0.009 | €2.13 | €0.91 | €3.04 |
| Netherlands | €0.244 | €0.017 | €4.10 | €1.76 | €5.86 |
| Poland | €0.300 | €0.021 | €5.04 | €2.16 | €7.20 |
| Portugal | €0.237 | €0.017 | €3.98 | €1.70 | €5.68 |
| Romania | €0.284 | €0.020 | €4.76 | €2.04 | €6.81 |
| Slovakia | €0.199 | €0.014 | €3.33 | €1.43 | €4.76 |
| Slovenia | €0.212 | €0.015 | €3.56 | €1.52 | €5.08 |
| Spain | €0.251 | €0.018 | €4.22 | €1.81 | €6.02 |
| Sweden | €0.306 | €0.021 | €5.14 | €2.20 | €7.35 |
| Where | Electricity price (£ per kWh) | Standard ceiling fan, per hour | Standard ceiling fan, per month | DC ceiling fan, per month | Box fan, per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United KingdomOctober 1 to December 31, 2026 | £0.263 | £0.018 | £4.42 | £1.90 | £6.32 |
Cheaper ways to run a fan
- Turn it off when you leave the room. Fans cool people, not rooms.
- Use a lower speed when it's enough; power drops sharply at low speed.
- Choose a DC motor when you buy: about half the power of a standard ceiling fan. See the ceiling fan buying guide.
- Use the fan to run the AC less. That's where the real saving is. See ceiling fan vs. AC.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a ceiling fan per hour?
About 1.28¢ an hour for a standard ceiling fan on high (70 W) at the U.S. average residential rate of 18.31¢/kWh (July 2026), and about 0.55¢ for a DC-motor fan (30 W). On low speed it's a fraction of that.
How much does it cost to run a fan all night?
Eight hours of a standard ceiling fan on high costs about $0.10 at the U.S. average rate; a box fan about $0.15; a DC ceiling fan about $0.04.
Is it expensive to leave a fan on 24/7?
Not very, but it adds up and does nothing in an empty room. A standard ceiling fan running around the clock costs about $9.23 a month at U.S. average rates, and about $24.19 in Hawaii. Fans cool people, not rooms, so switch them off when you leave.
Is a fan cheaper to run than air conditioning?
By a wide margin. A 3-ton central air conditioner costs about $0.47 an hour at U.S. average rates, roughly 37 times a standard ceiling fan. But a fan doesn't cool the air, so it only saves money if you run the AC less.
Sources
- U.S. rates: EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A (July 2026).
- Caribbean: utility tariffs and published household prices, as listed on each country page (updated 2026-10-16).
- Canada: Hydro-Québec, Comparison of Electricity Prices in Major North American Cities (rates in effect April 1, 2025).
- Europe: Eurostat, Electricity prices for household consumers (nrg_pc_204); United Kingdom: Ofgem price cap, as on the UK page.
- Fan wattages: ENERGY STAR listing, a manufacturer EnergyGuide label and published watt-meter tests; typical figures, check your fan's label.
Free to reuse these figures with a link back to this page.