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

How Much Does It Cost to Run a Portable Air Conditioner in Delaware?

The short answer

In Delaware, a portable air conditioner drawing 1,200W costs about $0.22 per hour — roughly $53.97 a month if it runs 8 hours a day.

That’s based on Delaware’s average residential rate of 18.5¢/kWh (EIA, July 2026), about the same as the US average.

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

Portable Air Conditioner cost by daily use in Delaware

Cost at 18.5¢/kWh, the Delaware average (EIA, Jul 2026)
Daily usekWh/monthPer dayPer monthPer year
1 hour/day 36.5 $0.22 $6.75 $80.94
2 hours/day 73.0 $0.44 $13.49 $162
4 hours/day 146.0 $0.89 $26.98 $324
8 hours/day 292.0 $1.77 $53.97 $648
12 hours/day 438.0 $2.66 $80.95 $971
24 hours/day 876.1 $5.32 $162 $1,943

Delaware vs other states

At typical use, a portable air conditioner costs $648 a year in Delaware — $1,034 less than in Hawaii and $202 more than in Louisiana.

Delaware has the 19th-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC. Delaware price per kWh · all states ranked

Electricity price trend in Delaware

18.5¢/kWh in July 2026 — ▲ +11.5% from a year earlier.

How to lower the cost of running a portable air conditioner

A portable AC sits inside the room and vents hot air through a hose, which makes it convenient but less efficient than a window unit: some of the heat it removes leaks back in, and single-hose models pull warm outside air into the room. A common 10,000–12,000 BTU portable unit draws around 1,000–1,300W. Dual-hose models are more efficient in hot climates.

  • Keep the exhaust hose as short and straight as possible, and insulate it if it gets hot.
  • Choose a dual-hose model for rooms you cool every day.
  • Close blinds on sun-facing windows during the hottest hours.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to run a portable air conditioner for 24 hours in Delaware?

Running a 1,200W portable air conditioner for 24 hours uses about 28.8 kWh, which costs about $5.32 at Delaware’s average rate of 18.5¢/kWh.

How many kWh does a portable air conditioner use per month?

At 8 hours a day, a typical portable air conditioner uses about 292 kWh a month. In Delaware that costs $53.97.

Is it expensive to run a portable air conditioner in Delaware?

Delaware has the 19th-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC at 18.5¢/kWh — pricier than most. Running a portable air conditioner here costs about $648 a year at typical use, compared with $642 at the national average rate.

What is the electricity rate in Delaware right now?

The average residential electricity rate in Delaware was 18.5¢ per kWh in July 2026, according to the latest EIA data — up 11.5% from a year earlier.

Do portable air conditioners use a lot of electricity?

They use about as much as a space heater — typically 800–1,500W — and more than a window AC of the same capacity because they are less efficient.

Portable Air Conditioner costs in nearby states

Cheapest and priciest states

Comparisons

Sources & method