❄️ Cooling & Air
How Much Does a Humidifier Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.4¢/kWh (May 2026), a humidifier costs about $2.24 per month at typical usage — 10 hours/day.
Per hour
0.7¢
at 20–300 W
Per day
7.4¢
10 hours/day
Per month
$2.24
12 kWh
Per year
$26.86
146 kWh
Cool-mist and ultrasonic humidifiers draw modest power — often 20–50 watts — but warm-mist models that boil water can reach 300 watts. Model choice, not runtime, is the main cost lever here.
Calculate it for your home
Per hour
0.7¢
Per day
7.4¢
Per month
$2.24
Per year
$26.86
Uses 12 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 | 0.5¢ | $1.51 | $18.10 |
| Utah | 13.0 | 0.5¢ | $1.58 | $18.98 |
| Oklahoma | 13.4 | 0.5¢ | $1.63 | $19.56 |
| Nebraska | 13.6 | 0.5¢ | $1.65 | $19.86 |
| Nevada | 13.6 | 0.5¢ | $1.65 | $19.86 |
| North Dakota | 13.6 | 0.5¢ | $1.65 | $19.86 |
| Missouri | 13.7 | 0.5¢ | $1.67 | $20.00 |
| Iowa | 14.1 | 0.6¢ | $1.71 | $20.59 |
| New Mexico | 14.1 | 0.6¢ | $1.71 | $20.59 |
| Louisiana | 14.2 | 0.6¢ | $1.73 | $20.73 |
| Arkansas | 14.4 | 0.6¢ | $1.75 | $21.02 |
| Tennessee | 14.5 | 0.6¢ | $1.76 | $21.17 |
| Montana | 14.7 | 0.6¢ | $1.79 | $21.46 |
| Wyoming | 14.8 | 0.6¢ | $1.80 | $21.61 |
| Kentucky | 15.0 | 0.6¢ | $1.82 | $21.90 |
| Washington | 15.0 | 0.6¢ | $1.82 | $21.90 |
| Kansas | 15.1 | 0.6¢ | $1.84 | $22.05 |
| North Carolina | 15.1 | 0.6¢ | $1.84 | $22.05 |
| Arizona | 15.2 | 0.6¢ | $1.85 | $22.19 |
| Florida | 15.2 | 0.6¢ | $1.85 | $22.19 |
| South Dakota | 15.7 | 0.6¢ | $1.91 | $22.92 |
| Georgia | 15.8 | 0.6¢ | $1.92 | $23.07 |
| Colorado | 16.2 | 0.6¢ | $1.97 | $23.65 |
| Mississippi | 16.2 | 0.6¢ | $1.97 | $23.65 |
| South Carolina | 16.2 | 0.6¢ | $1.97 | $23.65 |
| Oregon | 16.3 | 0.7¢ | $1.98 | $23.80 |
| Texas | 16.4 | 0.7¢ | $1.99 | $23.94 |
| Alabama | 16.8 | 0.7¢ | $2.04 | $24.53 |
| West Virginia | 16.8 | 0.7¢ | $2.04 | $24.53 |
| Minnesota | 17.0 | 0.7¢ | $2.07 | $24.82 |
| Virginia | 17.6 | 0.7¢ | $2.14 | $25.70 |
| Indiana | 18.2 | 0.7¢ | $2.21 | $26.57 |
| Delaware | 19.4 | 0.8¢ | $2.36 | $28.32 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | 0.8¢ | $2.37 | $28.47 |
| Wisconsin | 19.7 | 0.8¢ | $2.40 | $28.76 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.6 | 0.9¢ | $2.63 | $31.54 |
| Maryland | 21.8 | 0.9¢ | $2.65 | $31.83 |
| Michigan | 22.0 | 0.9¢ | $2.68 | $32.12 |
| New Jersey | 23.3 | 0.9¢ | $2.83 | $34.02 |
| Illinois | 23.9 | 1.0¢ | $2.91 | $34.89 |
| Vermont | 24.9 | 1.0¢ | $3.03 | $36.35 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.4 | 1.0¢ | $3.09 | $37.08 |
| New Hampshire | 27.3 | 1.1¢ | $3.32 | $39.86 |
| Connecticut | 27.4 | 1.1¢ | $3.33 | $40.00 |
| Alaska | 28.2 | 1.1¢ | $3.43 | $41.17 |
| Maine | 28.6 | 1.1¢ | $3.48 | $41.76 |
| Massachusetts | 28.8 | 1.2¢ | $3.50 | $42.05 |
| Rhode Island | 29.5 | 1.2¢ | $3.59 | $43.07 |
| New York | 29.9 | 1.2¢ | $3.64 | $43.65 |
| California | 33.3 | 1.3¢ | $4.05 | $48.62 |
| Hawaii | 52.0 | 2.1¢ | $6.32 | $75.92 |
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 humidifier use?
A typical humidifier draws about 40 watts in use. At 10 hours/day, that works out to roughly 0.4 kWh per day, or 12 kWh per month.
How much does it cost to run a humidifier for 1 hour?
At the current U.S. average residential rate of 18.4¢/kWh, one hour costs about 0.7¢. In Idaho (12.4¢/kWh) it's 0.5¢, while in Hawaii (52¢/kWh) it's 2.1¢.
How much does a humidifier cost to run per month?
With typical usage (10 hours/day), expect about $2.24 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $1.51 in Idaho up to $6.32 in Hawaii. Rates are as of May 2026.
Does a humidifier use a lot of electricity?
Not really — at typical usage it's under 1% of an average home's monthly consumption. Heating, cooling, hot water, and drying are the loads that move bills.