❄️ Cooling & Air
How Much Does a Dehumidifier Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.4¢/kWh (May 2026), a dehumidifier costs about $27.97 per month at typical usage — 10 hours/day.
Per hour
9.2¢
at 300–700 W
Per day
$0.92
10 hours/day
Per month
$27.97
152 kWh
Per year
$336
1,825 kWh
A dehumidifier is a small heat pump that often runs 10+ hours a day in damp basements, quietly becoming one of the house's bigger consumers. Newer Energy Star units with humidistats cost roughly 30% less to run than older always-on models.
Calculate it for your home
Per hour
9.2¢
Per day
$0.92
Per month
$27.97
Per year
$336
Uses 152 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 | 6.2¢ | $18.85 | $226 |
| Utah | 13.0 | 6.5¢ | $19.76 | $237 |
| Oklahoma | 13.4 | 6.7¢ | $20.37 | $245 |
| Nebraska | 13.6 | 6.8¢ | $20.67 | $248 |
| Nevada | 13.6 | 6.8¢ | $20.67 | $248 |
| North Dakota | 13.6 | 6.8¢ | $20.67 | $248 |
| Missouri | 13.7 | 6.8¢ | $20.82 | $250 |
| Iowa | 14.1 | 7.0¢ | $21.43 | $257 |
| New Mexico | 14.1 | 7.0¢ | $21.43 | $257 |
| Louisiana | 14.2 | 7.1¢ | $21.58 | $259 |
| Arkansas | 14.4 | 7.2¢ | $21.89 | $263 |
| Tennessee | 14.5 | 7.2¢ | $22.04 | $265 |
| Montana | 14.7 | 7.3¢ | $22.34 | $268 |
| Wyoming | 14.8 | 7.4¢ | $22.50 | $270 |
| Kentucky | 15.0 | 7.5¢ | $22.80 | $274 |
| Washington | 15.0 | 7.5¢ | $22.80 | $274 |
| Kansas | 15.1 | 7.5¢ | $22.95 | $276 |
| North Carolina | 15.1 | 7.5¢ | $22.95 | $276 |
| Arizona | 15.2 | 7.6¢ | $23.10 | $277 |
| Florida | 15.2 | 7.6¢ | $23.10 | $277 |
| South Dakota | 15.7 | 7.8¢ | $23.86 | $287 |
| Georgia | 15.8 | 7.9¢ | $24.02 | $288 |
| Colorado | 16.2 | 8.1¢ | $24.62 | $296 |
| Mississippi | 16.2 | 8.1¢ | $24.62 | $296 |
| South Carolina | 16.2 | 8.1¢ | $24.62 | $296 |
| Oregon | 16.3 | 8.2¢ | $24.78 | $297 |
| Texas | 16.4 | 8.2¢ | $24.93 | $299 |
| Alabama | 16.8 | 8.4¢ | $25.54 | $307 |
| West Virginia | 16.8 | 8.4¢ | $25.54 | $307 |
| Minnesota | 17.0 | 8.5¢ | $25.84 | $310 |
| Virginia | 17.6 | 8.8¢ | $26.75 | $321 |
| Indiana | 18.2 | 9.1¢ | $27.66 | $332 |
| Delaware | 19.4 | $0.10 | $29.49 | $354 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | $0.10 | $29.64 | $356 |
| Wisconsin | 19.7 | $0.10 | $29.94 | $360 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.6 | $0.11 | $32.83 | $394 |
| Maryland | 21.8 | $0.11 | $33.14 | $398 |
| Michigan | 22.0 | $0.11 | $33.44 | $402 |
| New Jersey | 23.3 | $0.12 | $35.42 | $425 |
| Illinois | 23.9 | $0.12 | $36.33 | $436 |
| Vermont | 24.9 | $0.12 | $37.85 | $454 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.4 | $0.13 | $38.61 | $464 |
| New Hampshire | 27.3 | $0.14 | $41.50 | $498 |
| Connecticut | 27.4 | $0.14 | $41.65 | $500 |
| Alaska | 28.2 | $0.14 | $42.86 | $515 |
| Maine | 28.6 | $0.14 | $43.47 | $522 |
| Massachusetts | 28.8 | $0.14 | $43.78 | $526 |
| Rhode Island | 29.5 | $0.15 | $44.84 | $538 |
| New York | 29.9 | $0.15 | $45.45 | $546 |
| California | 33.3 | $0.17 | $50.62 | $608 |
| Hawaii | 52.0 | $0.26 | $79.04 | $949 |
How to lower the cost
- Set the humidistat to 50% rather than 'continuous' — every extra point of dryness costs real kWh.
- Empty or gravity-drain the tank so the unit never idles full while the compressor cycles.
- Seal basement leaks and downspouts first; drier inflow means fewer runtime hours.
Frequently asked questions
How much electricity does a dehumidifier use?
A typical dehumidifier draws about 500 watts in use. At 10 hours/day, that works out to roughly 5.0 kWh per day, or 152 kWh per month.
How much does it cost to run a dehumidifier for 1 hour?
At the current U.S. average residential rate of 18.4¢/kWh, one hour costs about 9.2¢. In Idaho (12.4¢/kWh) it's 6.2¢, while in Hawaii (52¢/kWh) it's $0.26.
How much does a dehumidifier cost to run per month?
With typical usage (10 hours/day), expect about $27.97 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $18.85 in Idaho up to $79.04 in Hawaii. Rates are as of May 2026.
Does a dehumidifier use a lot of electricity?
Yes — at typical usage it accounts for roughly 17% of an average U.S. home's monthly consumption (885 kWh), which makes it one of the larger loads in the house.