U.S. residential electricity EIA data: July 2026 US average 18.3¢/kWh Updated
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Cooling · Virginia

How Much Does It Cost to Run a Dehumidifier in Virginia?

The short answer

A typical 500W dehumidifier costs about $0.09 per hour to run in Virginia, or $21.35 a month at 8 hours a day.

That’s based on Virginia’s average residential rate of 17.6¢/kWh (EIA, July 2026), 4% below the US average.

Source: U.S. EIA, July 2026 data · Updated

Dehumidifier cost by daily use in Virginia

Cost at 17.6¢/kWh, the Virginia average (EIA, Jul 2026)
Daily usekWh/monthPer dayPer monthPer year
1 hour/day 15.2 $0.09 $2.67 $32.03
2 hours/day 30.4 $0.18 $5.34 $64.06
4 hours/day 60.8 $0.35 $10.68 $128
8 hours/day 121.7 $0.70 $21.35 $256
12 hours/day 182.5 $1.05 $32.03 $384
24 hours/day 365.0 $2.11 $64.06 $769

Virginia vs other states

At typical use, a dehumidifier costs $256 a year in Virginia — $445 less than in Hawaii and $70.52 more than in Louisiana.

Virginia has the 20th-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC. Virginia electricity rates · all states ranked

Electricity price trend in Virginia

17.6¢/kWh in July 2026 — ▲ +11.2% from a year earlier.

How to lower the cost of running a dehumidifier

Dehumidifiers work like small air conditioners, using a compressor to condense moisture out of the air. Most home units draw 300–700W depending on capacity, and the humidistat switches the compressor off once the room reaches the target humidity. Basements in humid climates may need several hours a day in summer. ENERGY STAR models remove noticeably more water per kWh.

  • Set the humidistat to 45–50% — lower settings make it run much longer for little benefit.
  • Keep doors and windows closed in the room being dehumidified.
  • Clean the filter and coils regularly so the compressor works efficiently.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to run a dehumidifier for 24 hours in Virginia?

Running a 500W dehumidifier for 24 hours uses about 12.0 kWh, which costs about $2.11 at Virginia’s average rate of 17.6¢/kWh.

How many kWh does a dehumidifier use per month?

At 8 hours a day, a typical dehumidifier uses about 122 kWh a month. In Virginia that costs $21.35.

Is it expensive to run a dehumidifier in Virginia?

Virginia has the 20th-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC at 17.6¢/kWh — pricier than most. Running a dehumidifier here costs about $256 a year at typical use, compared with $267 at the national average rate.

What is the electricity rate in Virginia right now?

The average residential electricity rate in Virginia was 17.6¢ per kWh in July 2026, according to the latest EIA data — up 11.2% from a year earlier.

Should I run my dehumidifier 24 hours a day?

Usually not. Set the humidistat to 45–50% and let it cycle on its own; it will only run as long as needed to hold that level.

Dehumidifier costs in nearby states

Cheapest and priciest states

Sources & method