❄️ Cooling & Air
How Much Does a Ductless Mini-Split Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.3¢/kWh (July 2026), a ductless mini-split costs about $35.60 per month at typical usage — 8 hours/day.
Per hour
$0.15
at 400–2,000 W
Per day
$1.17
8 hours/day
Per month
$35.60
195 kWh
Per year
$427
2,336 kWh
Inverter-driven mini-splits are the efficiency benchmark for room cooling, sipping a few hundred watts once a room reaches temperature instead of cycling a big compressor. They typically cool the same space for one-third to one-half the cost of window or portable units.
Calculate it for your home
Per hour
$0.15
Per day
$1.17
Per month
$35.60
Per year
$427
Uses 195 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 | $0.10 | $24.71 | $297 |
| Nevada | 12.8 | $0.10 | $24.90 | $299 |
| Utah | 13.1 | $0.10 | $25.49 | $306 |
| North Dakota | 13.4 | $0.11 | $26.07 | $313 |
| Idaho | 13.7 | $0.11 | $26.65 | $320 |
| Tennessee | 13.7 | $0.11 | $26.65 | $320 |
| Kentucky | 13.8 | $0.11 | $26.85 | $322 |
| Nebraska | 13.8 | $0.11 | $26.85 | $322 |
| Arkansas | 14.3 | $0.11 | $27.82 | $334 |
| Oklahoma | 14.4 | $0.12 | $28.02 | $336 |
| Wyoming | 14.4 | $0.12 | $28.02 | $336 |
| Mississippi | 14.5 | $0.12 | $28.21 | $339 |
| Washington | 14.7 | $0.12 | $28.60 | $343 |
| Florida | 15.0 | $0.12 | $29.18 | $350 |
| Montana | 15.0 | $0.12 | $29.18 | $350 |
| North Carolina | 15.2 | $0.12 | $29.57 | $355 |
| Kansas | 15.3 | $0.12 | $29.77 | $357 |
| Arizona | 15.4 | $0.12 | $29.96 | $360 |
| South Dakota | 15.4 | $0.12 | $29.96 | $360 |
| South Carolina | 15.5 | $0.12 | $30.16 | $362 |
| West Virginia | 15.8 | $0.13 | $30.74 | $369 |
| Texas | 15.9 | $0.13 | $30.94 | $371 |
| Iowa | 16.0 | $0.13 | $31.13 | $374 |
| Oregon | 16.0 | $0.13 | $31.13 | $374 |
| Missouri | 16.1 | $0.13 | $31.32 | $376 |
| New Mexico | 16.1 | $0.13 | $31.32 | $376 |
| Georgia | 16.3 | $0.13 | $31.71 | $381 |
| Alabama | 16.4 | $0.13 | $31.91 | $383 |
| Indiana | 16.7 | $0.13 | $32.49 | $390 |
| Colorado | 17.0 | $0.14 | $33.08 | $397 |
| Minnesota | 17.5 | $0.14 | $34.05 | $409 |
| Virginia | 17.6 | $0.14 | $34.24 | $411 |
| Delaware | 18.5 | $0.15 | $35.99 | $432 |
| Wisconsin | 19.1 | $0.15 | $37.16 | $446 |
| Illinois | 19.2 | $0.15 | $37.36 | $449 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | $0.16 | $37.94 | $456 |
| Maryland | 21.4 | $0.17 | $41.64 | $500 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.7 | $0.17 | $42.22 | $507 |
| Michigan | 23.1 | $0.18 | $44.94 | $540 |
| Vermont | 23.8 | $0.19 | $46.31 | $556 |
| Connecticut | 24.2 | $0.19 | $47.08 | $565 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.2 | $0.20 | $49.03 | $589 |
| New Jersey | 25.2 | $0.20 | $49.03 | $589 |
| New Hampshire | 26.6 | $0.21 | $51.75 | $621 |
| Rhode Island | 28.3 | $0.23 | $55.06 | $661 |
| Alaska | 28.8 | $0.23 | $56.03 | $673 |
| New York | 29.9 | $0.24 | $58.17 | $698 |
| Massachusetts | 30.5 | $0.24 | $59.34 | $712 |
| Maine | 32.4 | $0.26 | $63.04 | $757 |
| California | 33.6 | $0.27 | $65.37 | $785 |
| Hawaii | 48.0 | $0.38 | $93.39 | $1,121 |
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 ductless mini-split use?
A typical ductless mini-split draws about 800 watts in use. At 8 hours/day, that works out to roughly 6.4 kWh per day, or 195 kWh per month.
How much does it cost to run a ductless mini-split for 1 hour?
At the current U.S. average residential rate of 18.3¢/kWh, one hour costs about $0.15. In Louisiana (12.7¢/kWh) it's $0.10, while in Hawaii (48¢/kWh) it's $0.38.
How much does a ductless mini-split cost to run per month?
With typical usage (8 hours/day), expect about $35.60 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $24.71 in Louisiana up to $93.39 in Hawaii. Rates are as of July 2026.
Does a ductless mini-split use a lot of electricity?
Yes — at typical usage it accounts for roughly 22% of an average U.S. home's monthly consumption (885 kWh), which makes it one of the larger loads in the house.