Cooling · California
How Much Does It Cost to Run a Ceiling Fan in California?
The short answer
In California, a ceiling fan drawing 50W costs about $0.02 per hour — roughly $4.09 a month if it runs 8 hours a day.
California’s average residential rate was 33.6¢ per kWh in July 2026 (EIA), 84% above the US average.
Source: U.S. EIA, July 2026 data · Updated
Ceiling Fan cost by daily use in California
| Daily use | kWh/month | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour/day | 1.5 | $0.02 | $0.51 | $6.13 |
| 2 hours/day | 3.0 | $0.03 | $1.02 | $12.27 |
| 4 hours/day | 6.1 | $0.07 | $2.04 | $24.54 |
| 8 hours/day | 12.2 | $0.13 | $4.09 | $49.07 |
| 12 hours/day | 18.3 | $0.20 | $6.13 | $73.61 |
| 24 hours/day | 36.5 | $0.40 | $12.27 | $147 |
California vs other states
At typical use, a ceiling fan costs $49.07 a year in California — $21.01 less than in Hawaii and $30.50 more than in Louisiana.
California has the 2nd-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC. electricity prices in California · all states ranked
Electricity price trend in California
33.6¢/kWh in July 2026 — ▲ +2.9% from a year earlier.
How to lower the cost of running a ceiling fan
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.
- 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 for 24 hours in California?
Running a 50W ceiling fan for 24 hours uses about 1.20 kWh, which costs about $0.40 at California’s average rate of 33.6¢/kWh.
How many kWh does a ceiling fan use per month?
At 8 hours a day, a typical ceiling fan uses about 12.2 kWh a month. In California that costs $4.09.
Is it expensive to run a ceiling fan in California?
California has the 2nd-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC at 33.6¢/kWh — one of the most expensive. Running a ceiling fan here costs about $49.07 a year at typical use, compared with $26.73 at the national average rate.
What is the electricity rate in California right now?
The average residential electricity rate in California was 33.6¢ per kWh in July 2026, according to the latest EIA data — up 2.9% from a year earlier.
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.
Ceiling Fan costs in nearby states
Other appliances in California
Cheapest and priciest states
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.
- Default usage for ceiling fan: 8 hours a day. Typical power 50W.
- Formulas, duty cycles and limitations: methodology. Data download: open data (CC BY 4.0).