Cooling · US average
How Much Does It Cost to Run a Ceiling Fan?
The short answer
A typical 50W ceiling fan costs about $0.01 per hour to run at the US average electricity rate, or $2.23 a month at 8 hours a day.
Based on the US average residential rate of 18.3¢/kWh (EIA, July 2026). Costs range from $1.55/month in Louisiana to $5.84/month in Hawaii — pick your state below for an exact figure.
Source: U.S. EIA, July 2026 data · Updated
Ceiling Fan running cost at the US average rate
| Daily use | kWh/month | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour/day | 1.5 | $0.01 | $0.28 | $3.34 |
| 2 hours/day | 3.0 | $0.02 | $0.56 | $6.68 |
| 4 hours/day | 6.1 | $0.04 | $1.11 | $13.37 |
| 8 hours/day | 12.2 | $0.07 | $2.23 | $26.73 |
| 12 hours/day | 18.3 | $0.11 | $3.34 | $40.10 |
| 24 hours/day | 36.5 | $0.22 | $6.68 | $80.20 |
Cost to run a ceiling fan in every state
At 8 hours a day and each state’s average residential rate. Select a state for its full breakdown.
| Alabama | 16.4¢ | $0.01 | $2.00 | $23.94 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 28.8¢ | $0.01 | $3.51 | $42.09 |
| Arizona | 15.4¢ | $0.01 | $1.87 | $22.45 |
| Arkansas | 14.3¢ | $0.01 | $1.74 | $20.92 |
| California | 33.6¢ | $0.02 | $4.09 | $49.07 |
| Colorado | 17.0¢ | $0.01 | $2.07 | $24.82 |
| Connecticut | 24.2¢ | $0.01 | $2.94 | $35.27 |
| Delaware | 18.5¢ | $0.01 | $2.25 | $26.98 |
| District of Columbia | 25.2¢ | $0.01 | $3.07 | $36.81 |
| Florida | 15.0¢ | $0.01 | $1.83 | $21.94 |
| Georgia | 16.3¢ | $0.01 | $1.98 | $23.75 |
| Hawaii | 48.0¢ | $0.02 | $5.84 | $70.08 |
| Idaho | 13.7¢ | $0.01 | $1.67 | $20.05 |
| Illinois | 19.2¢ | $0.01 | $2.34 | $28.06 |
| Indiana | 16.7¢ | $0.01 | $2.04 | $24.43 |
| Iowa | 16.0¢ | $0.01 | $1.95 | $23.35 |
| Kansas | 15.3¢ | $0.01 | $1.86 | $22.29 |
| Kentucky | 13.8¢ | $0.01 | $1.68 | $20.16 |
| Louisiana | 12.7¢ | $0.01 | $1.55 | $18.57 |
| Maine | 32.4¢ | $0.02 | $3.94 | $47.32 |
| Maryland | 21.4¢ | $0.01 | $2.61 | $31.26 |
| Massachusetts | 30.5¢ | $0.02 | $3.71 | $44.52 |
| Michigan | 23.1¢ | $0.01 | $2.80 | $33.65 |
| Minnesota | 17.5¢ | $0.01 | $2.12 | $25.48 |
| Mississippi | 14.5¢ | $0.01 | $1.77 | $21.23 |
| Missouri | 16.1¢ | $0.01 | $1.96 | $23.49 |
| Montana | 15.0¢ | $0.01 | $1.82 | $21.89 |
| Nebraska | 13.8¢ | $0.01 | $1.68 | $20.12 |
| Nevada | 12.8¢ | $0.01 | $1.55 | $18.64 |
| New Hampshire | 26.6¢ | $0.01 | $3.24 | $38.84 |
| New Jersey | 25.2¢ | $0.01 | $3.07 | $36.78 |
| New Mexico | 16.1¢ | $0.01 | $1.96 | $23.49 |
| New York | 29.9¢ | $0.01 | $3.64 | $43.65 |
| North Carolina | 15.2¢ | $0.01 | $1.84 | $22.13 |
| North Dakota | 13.4¢ | $0.01 | $1.63 | $19.58 |
| Ohio | 19.5¢ | $0.01 | $2.37 | $28.40 |
| Oklahoma | 14.4¢ | $0.01 | $1.75 | $20.95 |
| Oregon | 16.0¢ | $0.01 | $1.94 | $23.32 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.7¢ | $0.01 | $2.64 | $31.71 |
| Rhode Island | 28.3¢ | $0.01 | $3.44 | $41.30 |
| South Carolina | 15.5¢ | $0.01 | $1.88 | $22.59 |
| South Dakota | 15.4¢ | $0.01 | $1.87 | $22.44 |
| Tennessee | 13.7¢ | $0.01 | $1.67 | $20.02 |
| Texas | 15.9¢ | $0.01 | $1.93 | $23.18 |
| Utah | 13.1¢ | $0.01 | $1.60 | $19.16 |
| Vermont | 23.8¢ | $0.01 | $2.89 | $34.68 |
| Virginia | 17.6¢ | $0.01 | $2.14 | $25.62 |
| Washington | 14.7¢ | $0.01 | $1.79 | $21.48 |
| West Virginia | 15.8¢ | $0.01 | $1.92 | $23.04 |
| Wisconsin | 19.1¢ | $0.01 | $2.32 | $27.83 |
| Wyoming | 14.4¢ | $0.01 | $1.75 | $20.97 |
How much electricity does a ceiling fan use?
A ceiling fan uses about 50W on high — modern DC-motor fans use as little as 15–30W.
Ceiling fans don't lower the room temperature; they make you feel 3–4°F cooler through wind-chill on your skin. That is why they save money only when you also raise the thermostat. A standard AC-motor fan uses 50–90W on high, while efficient DC-motor fans use 15–35W. Running a fan in an empty room just wastes electricity.
Ways to cut the cost
- Turn fans off when you leave the room — they cool people, not spaces.
- Raise the AC thermostat by 3–4°F when the fan is running.
- In winter, reverse the direction (clockwise) on low to push warm air down from the ceiling.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a ceiling fan per month?
At 8 hours a day, a typical ceiling fan costs about $2.23 a month at the US average rate of 18.3¢/kWh. Depending on your state, the same usage costs between $1.55 and $5.84.
How many watts does a ceiling fan use?
Ceiling fans typically draw 15W–90W, with 50W a common figure. A ceiling fan uses about 50W on high — modern DC-motor fans use as little as 15–30W.
Which state is cheapest to run a ceiling fan in?
Louisiana is currently the cheapest at about $18.57 a year for typical use, and Hawaii the most expensive at about $70.08 a year.
Is it cheaper to run a ceiling fan or AC?
A ceiling fan uses roughly 1–3% of the power of central AC. Using fans to raise your thermostat a few degrees is one of the easiest ways to cut summer bills.
Related appliances
Comparisons
Sources & method
- Electricity rates: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly — average residential retail price, July 2026 (latest available). Retrieved .
- CO₂: EIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024 emissions rate of in-state power generation.
- Formulas, duty cycles and limitations: methodology. Data download: open data (CC BY 4.0).