❄️ Cooling & Air
How Much Does a Dehumidifier Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.3¢/kWh (July 2026), a dehumidifier costs about $27.82 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
$27.82
152 kWh
Per year
$334
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
$27.82
Per year
$334
Uses 152 kWh/month at 18.3¢ 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | 12.7 | 6.3¢ | $19.30 | $232 |
| Nevada | 12.8 | 6.4¢ | $19.46 | $234 |
| Utah | 13.1 | 6.6¢ | $19.91 | $239 |
| North Dakota | 13.4 | 6.7¢ | $20.37 | $245 |
| Idaho | 13.7 | 6.8¢ | $20.82 | $250 |
| Tennessee | 13.7 | 6.8¢ | $20.82 | $250 |
| Kentucky | 13.8 | 6.9¢ | $20.98 | $252 |
| Nebraska | 13.8 | 6.9¢ | $20.98 | $252 |
| Arkansas | 14.3 | 7.2¢ | $21.74 | $261 |
| Oklahoma | 14.4 | 7.2¢ | $21.89 | $263 |
| Wyoming | 14.4 | 7.2¢ | $21.89 | $263 |
| Mississippi | 14.5 | 7.2¢ | $22.04 | $265 |
| Washington | 14.7 | 7.3¢ | $22.34 | $268 |
| Florida | 15.0 | 7.5¢ | $22.80 | $274 |
| Montana | 15.0 | 7.5¢ | $22.80 | $274 |
| North Carolina | 15.2 | 7.6¢ | $23.10 | $277 |
| Kansas | 15.3 | 7.6¢ | $23.26 | $279 |
| Arizona | 15.4 | 7.7¢ | $23.41 | $281 |
| South Dakota | 15.4 | 7.7¢ | $23.41 | $281 |
| South Carolina | 15.5 | 7.8¢ | $23.56 | $283 |
| West Virginia | 15.8 | 7.9¢ | $24.02 | $288 |
| Texas | 15.9 | 8.0¢ | $24.17 | $290 |
| Iowa | 16.0 | 8.0¢ | $24.32 | $292 |
| Oregon | 16.0 | 8.0¢ | $24.32 | $292 |
| Missouri | 16.1 | 8.1¢ | $24.47 | $294 |
| New Mexico | 16.1 | 8.1¢ | $24.47 | $294 |
| Georgia | 16.3 | 8.2¢ | $24.78 | $297 |
| Alabama | 16.4 | 8.2¢ | $24.93 | $299 |
| Indiana | 16.7 | 8.3¢ | $25.38 | $305 |
| Colorado | 17.0 | 8.5¢ | $25.84 | $310 |
| Minnesota | 17.5 | 8.8¢ | $26.60 | $319 |
| Virginia | 17.6 | 8.8¢ | $26.75 | $321 |
| Delaware | 18.5 | 9.3¢ | $28.12 | $338 |
| Wisconsin | 19.1 | $0.10 | $29.03 | $349 |
| Illinois | 19.2 | $0.10 | $29.18 | $350 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | $0.10 | $29.64 | $356 |
| Maryland | 21.4 | $0.11 | $32.53 | $391 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.7 | $0.11 | $32.98 | $396 |
| Michigan | 23.1 | $0.12 | $35.11 | $422 |
| Vermont | 23.8 | $0.12 | $36.18 | $434 |
| Connecticut | 24.2 | $0.12 | $36.78 | $442 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.2 | $0.13 | $38.30 | $460 |
| New Jersey | 25.2 | $0.13 | $38.30 | $460 |
| New Hampshire | 26.6 | $0.13 | $40.43 | $485 |
| Rhode Island | 28.3 | $0.14 | $43.02 | $516 |
| Alaska | 28.8 | $0.14 | $43.78 | $526 |
| New York | 29.9 | $0.15 | $45.45 | $546 |
| Massachusetts | 30.5 | $0.15 | $46.36 | $557 |
| Maine | 32.4 | $0.16 | $49.25 | $591 |
| California | 33.6 | $0.17 | $51.07 | $613 |
| Hawaii | 48.0 | $0.24 | $72.96 | $876 |
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 18.3¢/kWh, one hour costs about 9.2¢. In Louisiana (12.7¢/kWh) it's 6.3¢, while in Hawaii (48¢/kWh) it's $0.24.
How much does a dehumidifier cost to run per month?
With typical usage (10 hours/day), expect about $27.82 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $19.30 in Louisiana up to $72.96 in Hawaii. Rates are as of July 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.