❄️ Cooling & Air
How Much Does a Ductless Mini-Split Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.4¢/kWh (May 2026), a ductless mini-split costs about $35.80 per month at typical usage — 8 hours/day.
Per hour
$0.15
at 400–2,000 W
Per day
$1.18
8 hours/day
Per month
$35.80
195 kWh
Per year
$430
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
$1.18
Per month
$35.80
Per year
$430
Uses 195 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 | $0.10 | $24.13 | $290 |
| Utah | 13.0 | $0.10 | $25.29 | $304 |
| Oklahoma | 13.4 | $0.11 | $26.07 | $313 |
| Nebraska | 13.6 | $0.11 | $26.46 | $318 |
| Nevada | 13.6 | $0.11 | $26.46 | $318 |
| North Dakota | 13.6 | $0.11 | $26.46 | $318 |
| Missouri | 13.7 | $0.11 | $26.65 | $320 |
| Iowa | 14.1 | $0.11 | $27.43 | $329 |
| New Mexico | 14.1 | $0.11 | $27.43 | $329 |
| Louisiana | 14.2 | $0.11 | $27.63 | $332 |
| Arkansas | 14.4 | $0.12 | $28.02 | $336 |
| Tennessee | 14.5 | $0.12 | $28.21 | $339 |
| Montana | 14.7 | $0.12 | $28.60 | $343 |
| Wyoming | 14.8 | $0.12 | $28.79 | $346 |
| Kentucky | 15.0 | $0.12 | $29.18 | $350 |
| Washington | 15.0 | $0.12 | $29.18 | $350 |
| Kansas | 15.1 | $0.12 | $29.38 | $353 |
| North Carolina | 15.1 | $0.12 | $29.38 | $353 |
| Arizona | 15.2 | $0.12 | $29.57 | $355 |
| Florida | 15.2 | $0.12 | $29.57 | $355 |
| South Dakota | 15.7 | $0.13 | $30.55 | $367 |
| Georgia | 15.8 | $0.13 | $30.74 | $369 |
| Colorado | 16.2 | $0.13 | $31.52 | $378 |
| Mississippi | 16.2 | $0.13 | $31.52 | $378 |
| South Carolina | 16.2 | $0.13 | $31.52 | $378 |
| Oregon | 16.3 | $0.13 | $31.71 | $381 |
| Texas | 16.4 | $0.13 | $31.91 | $383 |
| Alabama | 16.8 | $0.13 | $32.69 | $392 |
| West Virginia | 16.8 | $0.13 | $32.69 | $392 |
| Minnesota | 17.0 | $0.14 | $33.08 | $397 |
| Virginia | 17.6 | $0.14 | $34.24 | $411 |
| Indiana | 18.2 | $0.15 | $35.41 | $425 |
| Delaware | 19.4 | $0.16 | $37.74 | $453 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | $0.16 | $37.94 | $456 |
| Wisconsin | 19.7 | $0.16 | $38.33 | $460 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.6 | $0.17 | $42.02 | $505 |
| Maryland | 21.8 | $0.17 | $42.41 | $509 |
| Michigan | 22.0 | $0.18 | $42.80 | $514 |
| New Jersey | 23.3 | $0.19 | $45.33 | $544 |
| Illinois | 23.9 | $0.19 | $46.50 | $558 |
| Vermont | 24.9 | $0.20 | $48.45 | $582 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.4 | $0.20 | $49.42 | $593 |
| New Hampshire | 27.3 | $0.22 | $53.11 | $638 |
| Connecticut | 27.4 | $0.22 | $53.31 | $640 |
| Alaska | 28.2 | $0.23 | $54.87 | $659 |
| Maine | 28.6 | $0.23 | $55.64 | $668 |
| Massachusetts | 28.8 | $0.23 | $56.03 | $673 |
| Rhode Island | 29.5 | $0.24 | $57.40 | $689 |
| New York | 29.9 | $0.24 | $58.17 | $698 |
| California | 33.3 | $0.27 | $64.79 | $778 |
| Hawaii | 52.0 | $0.42 | $101 | $1,215 |
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 18.4¢/kWh, one hour costs about $0.15. In Idaho (12.4¢/kWh) it's $0.10, while in Hawaii (52¢/kWh) it's $0.42.
How much does a ductless mini-split cost to run per month?
With typical usage (8 hours/day), expect about $35.80 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $24.13 in Idaho up to $101 in Hawaii. Rates are as of May 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.