❄️ Cooling & Air
How Much Does a Box Fan Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.4¢/kWh (May 2026), a box fan costs about $3.36 per month at typical usage — 8 hours/day.
Per hour
1.4¢
at 50–100 W
Per day
$0.11
8 hours/day
Per month
$3.36
18 kWh
Per year
$40.30
219 kWh
A 20-inch box fan on high draws well under 100 watts, making it one of the cheapest cooling tools available. Running one all night long costs a few cents in most states — a rounding error next to any air conditioner.
Calculate it for your home
Per hour
1.4¢
Per day
$0.11
Per month
$3.36
Per year
$40.30
Uses 18 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 | 0.9¢ | $2.26 | $27.16 |
| Utah | 13.0 | 1.0¢ | $2.37 | $28.47 |
| Oklahoma | 13.4 | 1.0¢ | $2.44 | $29.35 |
| Nebraska | 13.6 | 1.0¢ | $2.48 | $29.78 |
| Nevada | 13.6 | 1.0¢ | $2.48 | $29.78 |
| North Dakota | 13.6 | 1.0¢ | $2.48 | $29.78 |
| Missouri | 13.7 | 1.0¢ | $2.50 | $30.00 |
| Iowa | 14.1 | 1.1¢ | $2.57 | $30.88 |
| New Mexico | 14.1 | 1.1¢ | $2.57 | $30.88 |
| Louisiana | 14.2 | 1.1¢ | $2.59 | $31.10 |
| Arkansas | 14.4 | 1.1¢ | $2.63 | $31.54 |
| Tennessee | 14.5 | 1.1¢ | $2.64 | $31.75 |
| Montana | 14.7 | 1.1¢ | $2.68 | $32.19 |
| Wyoming | 14.8 | 1.1¢ | $2.70 | $32.41 |
| Kentucky | 15.0 | 1.1¢ | $2.74 | $32.85 |
| Washington | 15.0 | 1.1¢ | $2.74 | $32.85 |
| Kansas | 15.1 | 1.1¢ | $2.75 | $33.07 |
| North Carolina | 15.1 | 1.1¢ | $2.75 | $33.07 |
| Arizona | 15.2 | 1.1¢ | $2.77 | $33.29 |
| Florida | 15.2 | 1.1¢ | $2.77 | $33.29 |
| South Dakota | 15.7 | 1.2¢ | $2.86 | $34.38 |
| Georgia | 15.8 | 1.2¢ | $2.88 | $34.60 |
| Colorado | 16.2 | 1.2¢ | $2.95 | $35.48 |
| Mississippi | 16.2 | 1.2¢ | $2.95 | $35.48 |
| South Carolina | 16.2 | 1.2¢ | $2.95 | $35.48 |
| Oregon | 16.3 | 1.2¢ | $2.97 | $35.70 |
| Texas | 16.4 | 1.2¢ | $2.99 | $35.92 |
| Alabama | 16.8 | 1.3¢ | $3.06 | $36.79 |
| West Virginia | 16.8 | 1.3¢ | $3.06 | $36.79 |
| Minnesota | 17.0 | 1.3¢ | $3.10 | $37.23 |
| Virginia | 17.6 | 1.3¢ | $3.21 | $38.54 |
| Indiana | 18.2 | 1.4¢ | $3.32 | $39.86 |
| Delaware | 19.4 | 1.5¢ | $3.54 | $42.49 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | 1.5¢ | $3.56 | $42.70 |
| Wisconsin | 19.7 | 1.5¢ | $3.59 | $43.14 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.6 | 1.6¢ | $3.94 | $47.30 |
| Maryland | 21.8 | 1.6¢ | $3.98 | $47.74 |
| Michigan | 22.0 | 1.7¢ | $4.01 | $48.18 |
| New Jersey | 23.3 | 1.7¢ | $4.25 | $51.03 |
| Illinois | 23.9 | 1.8¢ | $4.36 | $52.34 |
| Vermont | 24.9 | 1.9¢ | $4.54 | $54.53 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.4 | 1.9¢ | $4.63 | $55.63 |
| New Hampshire | 27.3 | 2.0¢ | $4.98 | $59.79 |
| Connecticut | 27.4 | 2.1¢ | $5.00 | $60.01 |
| Alaska | 28.2 | 2.1¢ | $5.14 | $61.76 |
| Maine | 28.6 | 2.1¢ | $5.22 | $62.63 |
| Massachusetts | 28.8 | 2.2¢ | $5.25 | $63.07 |
| Rhode Island | 29.5 | 2.2¢ | $5.38 | $64.60 |
| New York | 29.9 | 2.2¢ | $5.45 | $65.48 |
| California | 33.3 | 2.5¢ | $6.07 | $72.93 |
| Hawaii | 52.0 | 3.9¢ | $9.48 | $114 |
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 box fan use?
A typical box fan draws about 75 watts in use. At 8 hours/day, that works out to roughly 0.6 kWh per day, or 18 kWh per month.
How much does it cost to run a box fan for 1 hour?
At the current U.S. average residential rate of 18.4¢/kWh, one hour costs about 1.4¢. In Idaho (12.4¢/kWh) it's 0.9¢, while in Hawaii (52¢/kWh) it's 3.9¢.
How much does a box fan cost to run per month?
With typical usage (8 hours/day), expect about $3.36 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $2.26 in Idaho up to $9.48 in Hawaii. Rates are as of May 2026.
Does a box fan use a lot of electricity?
It's a moderate load: roughly 2% of an average U.S. home's monthly consumption at typical usage. Noticeable, but not a bill-driver on its own.