❄️ Cooling & Air
How Much Does a Dehumidifier Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.8¢/kWh (April 2026), a dehumidifier costs about $28.58 per month at typical usage — 10 hours/day.
Per hour
9.4¢
at 300–700 W
Per day
$0.94
10 hours/day
Per month
$28.58
152 kWh
Per year
$343
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
9.4¢
Per day
$0.94
Per month
$28.58
Per year
$343
Uses 152 kWh/month at 18.8¢ 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | 12.4 | 6.2¢ | $18.85 | $226 |
| Idaho | 12.7 | 6.3¢ | $19.30 | $232 |
| Nebraska | 13.3 | 6.7¢ | $20.22 | $243 |
| Oklahoma | 13.3 | 6.7¢ | $20.22 | $243 |
| Utah | 13.3 | 6.7¢ | $20.22 | $243 |
| Iowa | 13.9 | 7.0¢ | $21.13 | $254 |
| Montana | 13.9 | 7.0¢ | $21.13 | $254 |
| Missouri | 14.0 | 7.0¢ | $21.28 | $256 |
| Arkansas | 14.2 | 7.1¢ | $21.58 | $259 |
| Nevada | 14.3 | 7.2¢ | $21.74 | $261 |
| Louisiana | 14.4 | 7.2¢ | $21.89 | $263 |
| Washington | 14.4 | 7.2¢ | $21.89 | $263 |
| South Dakota | 14.5 | 7.2¢ | $22.04 | $265 |
| Wyoming | 14.7 | 7.3¢ | $22.34 | $268 |
| Tennessee | 14.9 | 7.4¢ | $22.65 | $272 |
| Kentucky | 15.0 | 7.5¢ | $22.80 | $274 |
| New Mexico | 15.2 | 7.6¢ | $23.10 | $277 |
| Florida | 15.4 | 7.7¢ | $23.41 | $281 |
| Georgia | 15.4 | 7.7¢ | $23.41 | $281 |
| Arizona | 15.5 | 7.8¢ | $23.56 | $283 |
| Kansas | 15.8 | 7.9¢ | $24.02 | $288 |
| Oregon | 15.8 | 7.9¢ | $24.02 | $288 |
| West Virginia | 16.1 | 8.1¢ | $24.47 | $294 |
| North Carolina | 16.3 | 8.2¢ | $24.78 | $297 |
| Minnesota | 16.4 | 8.2¢ | $24.93 | $299 |
| Colorado | 16.5 | 8.3¢ | $25.08 | $301 |
| Mississippi | 16.8 | 8.4¢ | $25.54 | $307 |
| Texas | 17.0 | 8.5¢ | $25.84 | $310 |
| South Carolina | 17.1 | 8.6¢ | $25.99 | $312 |
| Alabama | 17.4 | 8.7¢ | $26.45 | $318 |
| Virginia | 17.4 | 8.7¢ | $26.45 | $318 |
| Indiana | 17.9 | 8.9¢ | $27.21 | $327 |
| Delaware | 18.8 | 9.4¢ | $28.58 | $343 |
| Wisconsin | 19.2 | $0.10 | $29.18 | $350 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | $0.10 | $29.64 | $356 |
| Illinois | 20.5 | $0.10 | $31.16 | $374 |
| Michigan | 21.4 | $0.11 | $32.53 | $391 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.5 | $0.11 | $32.68 | $392 |
| Maryland | 22.1 | $0.11 | $33.59 | $403 |
| New Jersey | 23.5 | $0.12 | $35.72 | $429 |
| Vermont | 24.6 | $0.12 | $37.39 | $449 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.4 | $0.13 | $38.61 | $464 |
| New Hampshire | 27.2 | $0.14 | $41.34 | $496 |
| Alaska | 27.4 | $0.14 | $41.65 | $500 |
| Rhode Island | 28.3 | $0.14 | $43.02 | $516 |
| Maine | 28.4 | $0.14 | $43.17 | $518 |
| Massachusetts | 29.5 | $0.15 | $44.84 | $538 |
| New York | 29.5 | $0.15 | $44.84 | $538 |
| Connecticut | 32.2 | $0.16 | $48.94 | $588 |
| California | 35.3 | $0.18 | $53.66 | $644 |
| Hawaii | 46.6 | $0.23 | $70.83 | $850 |
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 18.8¢/kWh, one hour costs about 9.4¢. In North Dakota (12.4¢/kWh) it's 6.2¢, while in Hawaii (46.6¢/kWh) it's $0.23.
How much does a dehumidifier cost to run per month?
With typical usage (10 hours/day), expect about $28.58 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $18.85 in North Dakota up to $70.83 in Hawaii. Rates are as of April 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.