❄️ Cooling & Air
How Much Does a Attic Fan Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.4¢/kWh (May 2026), a attic fan costs about $10.07 per month at typical usage — 6 hours/day.
Per hour
5.5¢
at 200–500 W
Per day
$0.33
6 hours/day
Per month
$10.07
55 kWh
Per year
$121
657 kWh
Powered attic ventilators draw 200–500 watts to lower attic temperatures. Their net savings are debated — in leaky homes they can pull conditioned air upward — so seal the attic floor before counting on them to cut cooling bills.
Calculate it for your home
Per hour
5.5¢
Per day
$0.33
Per month
$10.07
Per year
$121
Uses 55 kWh/month at 18.4¢ per kWh.
Cheapest and most expensive states
Monthly cost at typical usage, using each state's current average residential rate.
Cost in every state
| State | Rate (¢/kWh) | Per hour | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho | 12.4 | 3.7¢ | $6.79 | $81.47 |
| Utah | 13.0 | 3.9¢ | $7.11 | $85.41 |
| Oklahoma | 13.4 | 4.0¢ | $7.33 | $88.04 |
| Nebraska | 13.6 | 4.1¢ | $7.44 | $89.35 |
| Nevada | 13.6 | 4.1¢ | $7.44 | $89.35 |
| North Dakota | 13.6 | 4.1¢ | $7.44 | $89.35 |
| Missouri | 13.7 | 4.1¢ | $7.50 | $90.01 |
| Iowa | 14.1 | 4.2¢ | $7.72 | $92.64 |
| New Mexico | 14.1 | 4.2¢ | $7.72 | $92.64 |
| Louisiana | 14.2 | 4.3¢ | $7.77 | $93.29 |
| Arkansas | 14.4 | 4.3¢ | $7.88 | $94.61 |
| Tennessee | 14.5 | 4.3¢ | $7.93 | $95.26 |
| Montana | 14.7 | 4.4¢ | $8.04 | $96.58 |
| Wyoming | 14.8 | 4.4¢ | $8.10 | $97.24 |
| Kentucky | 15.0 | 4.5¢ | $8.21 | $98.55 |
| Washington | 15.0 | 4.5¢ | $8.21 | $98.55 |
| Kansas | 15.1 | 4.5¢ | $8.26 | $99.21 |
| North Carolina | 15.1 | 4.5¢ | $8.26 | $99.21 |
| Arizona | 15.2 | 4.6¢ | $8.32 | $99.86 |
| Florida | 15.2 | 4.6¢ | $8.32 | $99.86 |
| South Dakota | 15.7 | 4.7¢ | $8.59 | $103 |
| Georgia | 15.8 | 4.7¢ | $8.65 | $104 |
| Colorado | 16.2 | 4.9¢ | $8.86 | $106 |
| Mississippi | 16.2 | 4.9¢ | $8.86 | $106 |
| South Carolina | 16.2 | 4.9¢ | $8.86 | $106 |
| Oregon | 16.3 | 4.9¢ | $8.92 | $107 |
| Texas | 16.4 | 4.9¢ | $8.97 | $108 |
| Alabama | 16.8 | 5.0¢ | $9.19 | $110 |
| West Virginia | 16.8 | 5.0¢ | $9.19 | $110 |
| Minnesota | 17.0 | 5.1¢ | $9.30 | $112 |
| Virginia | 17.6 | 5.3¢ | $9.63 | $116 |
| Indiana | 18.2 | 5.5¢ | $9.96 | $120 |
| Delaware | 19.4 | 5.8¢ | $10.62 | $127 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | 5.8¢ | $10.67 | $128 |
| Wisconsin | 19.7 | 5.9¢ | $10.78 | $129 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.6 | 6.5¢ | $11.82 | $142 |
| Maryland | 21.8 | 6.5¢ | $11.93 | $143 |
| Michigan | 22.0 | 6.6¢ | $12.04 | $145 |
| New Jersey | 23.3 | 7.0¢ | $12.75 | $153 |
| Illinois | 23.9 | 7.2¢ | $13.08 | $157 |
| Vermont | 24.9 | 7.5¢ | $13.63 | $164 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.4 | 7.6¢ | $13.90 | $167 |
| New Hampshire | 27.3 | 8.2¢ | $14.94 | $179 |
| Connecticut | 27.4 | 8.2¢ | $14.99 | $180 |
| Alaska | 28.2 | 8.5¢ | $15.43 | $185 |
| Maine | 28.6 | 8.6¢ | $15.65 | $188 |
| Massachusetts | 28.8 | 8.6¢ | $15.76 | $189 |
| Rhode Island | 29.5 | 8.8¢ | $16.14 | $194 |
| New York | 29.9 | 9.0¢ | $16.36 | $196 |
| California | 33.3 | $0.10 | $18.22 | $219 |
| Hawaii | 52.0 | $0.16 | $28.45 | $342 |
How to lower the cost
- Raise the setpoint and add air movement — a fan makes a room feel several degrees cooler for pennies.
- Clean filters and outdoor coils each season; restricted airflow raises wattage for the same cooling.
- Close blinds on sun-facing windows during the day — blocked solar gain is cooling you don’t pay for.
Frequently asked questions
How much electricity does a attic fan use?
A typical attic fan draws about 300 watts in use. At 6 hours/day, that works out to roughly 1.8 kWh per day, or 55 kWh per month.
How much does it cost to run a attic fan for 1 hour?
At the current U.S. average residential rate of 18.4¢/kWh, one hour costs about 5.5¢. In Idaho (12.4¢/kWh) it's 3.7¢, while in Hawaii (52¢/kWh) it's $0.16.
How much does a attic fan cost to run per month?
With typical usage (6 hours/day), expect about $10.07 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $6.79 in Idaho up to $28.45 in Hawaii. Rates are as of May 2026.
Does a attic fan use a lot of electricity?
It's a moderate load: roughly 6% of an average U.S. home's monthly consumption at typical usage. Noticeable, but not a bill-driver on its own.