❄️ Cooling & Air
How Much Does a Window Air Conditioner Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.4¢/kWh (May 2026), a window air conditioner costs about $40.27 per month at typical usage — 8 hours/day.
Per hour
$0.17
at 500–1,500 W
Per day
$1.32
8 hours/day
Per month
$40.27
219 kWh
Per year
$484
2,628 kWh
Window units draw 500–1,500 watts depending on size, and cooling a single occupied room this way is far cheaper than running central air for the whole house. Efficiency varies widely — a modern inverter unit can halve the cost of a decade-old one.
Calculate it for your home
Per hour
$0.17
Per day
$1.32
Per month
$40.27
Per year
$484
Uses 219 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 | $0.11 | $27.14 | $326 |
| Utah | 13.0 | $0.12 | $28.45 | $342 |
| Oklahoma | 13.4 | $0.12 | $29.33 | $352 |
| Nebraska | 13.6 | $0.12 | $29.77 | $357 |
| Nevada | 13.6 | $0.12 | $29.77 | $357 |
| North Dakota | 13.6 | $0.12 | $29.77 | $357 |
| Missouri | 13.7 | $0.12 | $29.99 | $360 |
| Iowa | 14.1 | $0.13 | $30.86 | $371 |
| New Mexico | 14.1 | $0.13 | $30.86 | $371 |
| Louisiana | 14.2 | $0.13 | $31.08 | $373 |
| Arkansas | 14.4 | $0.13 | $31.52 | $378 |
| Tennessee | 14.5 | $0.13 | $31.74 | $381 |
| Montana | 14.7 | $0.13 | $32.18 | $386 |
| Wyoming | 14.8 | $0.13 | $32.39 | $389 |
| Kentucky | 15.0 | $0.14 | $32.83 | $394 |
| Washington | 15.0 | $0.14 | $32.83 | $394 |
| Kansas | 15.1 | $0.14 | $33.05 | $397 |
| North Carolina | 15.1 | $0.14 | $33.05 | $397 |
| Arizona | 15.2 | $0.14 | $33.27 | $399 |
| Florida | 15.2 | $0.14 | $33.27 | $399 |
| South Dakota | 15.7 | $0.14 | $34.36 | $413 |
| Georgia | 15.8 | $0.14 | $34.58 | $415 |
| Colorado | 16.2 | $0.15 | $35.46 | $426 |
| Mississippi | 16.2 | $0.15 | $35.46 | $426 |
| South Carolina | 16.2 | $0.15 | $35.46 | $426 |
| Oregon | 16.3 | $0.15 | $35.68 | $428 |
| Texas | 16.4 | $0.15 | $35.90 | $431 |
| Alabama | 16.8 | $0.15 | $36.77 | $442 |
| West Virginia | 16.8 | $0.15 | $36.77 | $442 |
| Minnesota | 17.0 | $0.15 | $37.21 | $447 |
| Virginia | 17.6 | $0.16 | $38.52 | $463 |
| Indiana | 18.2 | $0.16 | $39.84 | $478 |
| Delaware | 19.4 | $0.17 | $42.46 | $510 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | $0.18 | $42.68 | $512 |
| Wisconsin | 19.7 | $0.18 | $43.12 | $518 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.6 | $0.19 | $47.28 | $568 |
| Maryland | 21.8 | $0.20 | $47.72 | $573 |
| Michigan | 22.0 | $0.20 | $48.15 | $578 |
| New Jersey | 23.3 | $0.21 | $51.00 | $612 |
| Illinois | 23.9 | $0.22 | $52.31 | $628 |
| Vermont | 24.9 | $0.22 | $54.50 | $654 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.4 | $0.23 | $55.60 | $668 |
| New Hampshire | 27.3 | $0.25 | $59.75 | $717 |
| Connecticut | 27.4 | $0.25 | $59.97 | $720 |
| Alaska | 28.2 | $0.25 | $61.72 | $741 |
| Maine | 28.6 | $0.26 | $62.60 | $752 |
| Massachusetts | 28.8 | $0.26 | $63.04 | $757 |
| Rhode Island | 29.5 | $0.27 | $64.57 | $775 |
| New York | 29.9 | $0.27 | $65.45 | $786 |
| California | 33.3 | $0.30 | $72.89 | $875 |
| Hawaii | 52.0 | $0.47 | $114 | $1,367 |
How to lower the cost
- Buy the right size: an oversized unit short-cycles, dehumidifies poorly, and wastes energy.
- Seal the gaps around the mounting panels — leaks pull in hot outdoor air continuously.
- Use 'eco' or 'auto' mode so the compressor cycles off at temperature instead of running flat out.
Frequently asked questions
How much electricity does a window air conditioner use?
A typical window air conditioner draws about 900 watts in use. At 8 hours/day, that works out to roughly 7.2 kWh per day, or 219 kWh per month.
How much does it cost to run a window air conditioner for 1 hour?
At the current U.S. average residential rate of 18.4¢/kWh, one hour costs about $0.17. In Idaho (12.4¢/kWh) it's $0.11, while in Hawaii (52¢/kWh) it's $0.47.
How much does a window air conditioner cost to run per month?
With typical usage (8 hours/day), expect about $40.27 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $27.14 in Idaho up to $114 in Hawaii. Rates are as of May 2026.
Does a window air conditioner use a lot of electricity?
Yes — at typical usage it accounts for roughly 25% of an average U.S. home's monthly consumption (885 kWh), which makes it one of the larger loads in the house.