Energy costs · October 2026 prices
How much does it cost to run a dehumidifier?
A typical dehumidifier uses about 785 watts, so it costs about 15¢ an hour to run at the U.S. average electricity price of 19.0¢ per kWh (October 2026). Used 8 hours a day, that is about $35.80 a month, or $429.55 a year.
Key figures
- 785 Wtypical wattage (U.S. Department of Energy)
- 15¢per hour at 19.0¢/kWh
- $35.80per month, used 8 hours a day
- 188.4 kWhper month at that use
Dehumidifiers often run for many hours a day in damp seasons, so even a moderate wattage adds up. Models with a humidistat switch the compressor off once the room is dry enough, so real use is often below the hours the unit is switched on.
Cost by region
| Region | Price per kWh | Per hour | Per month (8 hours a day) | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. average | 19.0¢ | 15¢ | $35.80 | $429.55 |
| Northeast | 26.6¢ | 21¢ | $50.11 | $601.37 |
| Midwest | 19.3¢ | 15¢ | $36.36 | $436.33 |
| South | 16.2¢ | 13¢ | $30.52 | $366.25 |
| West | 20.1¢ | 16¢ | $37.87 | $454.42 |
Cost per hour in every state (August 2026)
| State | ¢ per kWh | Per hour | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.3¢ | 13¢ | $30.77 |
| Alaska | 29.4¢ | 23¢ | $55.41 |
| Arizona | 15.1¢ | 12¢ | $28.35 |
| Arkansas | 14.4¢ | 11¢ | $27.07 |
| California | 29.8¢ | 23¢ | $56.05 |
| Colorado | 17.2¢ | 13¢ | $32.35 |
| Connecticut | 24.5¢ | 19¢ | $46.18 |
| Delaware | 18.7¢ | 15¢ | $35.23 |
| District of Columbia | 26.0¢ | 20¢ | $48.95 |
| Florida | 15.0¢ | 12¢ | $28.24 |
| Georgia | 15.9¢ | 12¢ | $29.96 |
| Hawaii | 47.2¢ | 37¢ | $88.89 |
| Idaho | 13.4¢ | 10¢ | $25.19 |
| Illinois | 19.3¢ | 15¢ | $36.40 |
| Indiana | 17.0¢ | 13¢ | $32.07 |
| Iowa | 17.1¢ | 13¢ | $32.14 |
| Kansas | 15.5¢ | 12¢ | $29.15 |
| Kentucky | 13.8¢ | 11¢ | $26.00 |
| Louisiana | 12.9¢ | 10¢ | $24.25 |
| Maine | 32.1¢ | 25¢ | $60.50 |
| Maryland | 21.4¢ | 17¢ | $40.32 |
| Massachusetts | 30.5¢ | 24¢ | $57.42 |
| Michigan | 23.0¢ | 18¢ | $43.31 |
| Minnesota | 17.2¢ | 14¢ | $32.40 |
| Mississippi | 14.4¢ | 11¢ | $27.19 |
| Missouri | 16.0¢ | 13¢ | $30.18 |
| Montana | 15.6¢ | 12¢ | $29.33 |
| Nebraska | 13.5¢ | 11¢ | $25.51 |
| Nevada | 12.7¢ | 10.0¢ | $23.96 |
| New Hampshire | 27.6¢ | 22¢ | $52.07 |
| New Jersey | 24.6¢ | 19¢ | $46.37 |
| New Mexico | 16.5¢ | 13¢ | $31.10 |
| New York | 28.7¢ | 22¢ | $53.98 |
| North Carolina | 15.0¢ | 12¢ | $28.17 |
| North Dakota | 13.3¢ | 10¢ | $25.08 |
| Ohio | 19.4¢ | 15¢ | $36.51 |
| Oklahoma | 14.8¢ | 12¢ | $27.92 |
| Oregon | 15.9¢ | 12¢ | $29.99 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.8¢ | 17¢ | $41.01 |
| Rhode Island | 28.2¢ | 22¢ | $53.09 |
| South Carolina | 15.8¢ | 12¢ | $29.69 |
| South Dakota | 15.2¢ | 12¢ | $28.54 |
| Tennessee | 13.4¢ | 11¢ | $25.28 |
| Texas | 15.9¢ | 12¢ | $29.97 |
| Utah | 13.3¢ | 10¢ | $25.08 |
| Vermont | 23.8¢ | 19¢ | $44.91 |
| Virginia | 17.6¢ | 14¢ | $33.23 |
| Washington | 14.6¢ | 11¢ | $27.56 |
| West Virginia | 16.3¢ | 13¢ | $30.73 |
| Wisconsin | 19.4¢ | 15¢ | $36.57 |
| Wyoming | 14.4¢ | 11¢ | $27.19 |
State prices: U.S. Energy Information Administration, residential customers.
Running cost calculator
Cost = watts × hours ÷ 1,000 × price per kWh (the DOE formula). The wattage on your appliance’s label or in its manual gives the most accurate result; appliances that cycle on and off (heaters with a thermostat, dehumidifiers) use less than their rated wattage.
Compared with other appliances
| Appliance | Cost per hour of use |
|---|---|
| Dehumidifiers | 15¢ |
| Clothes dryers | 65¢ |
| Dishwashers | 34¢ |
| Hair dryers | 29¢ |
| Space heaters | 29¢ |
| Electric kettles | 29¢ |
| Clothes irons | 27¢ |
| Toaster ovens | 23¢ |
| Vacuum cleaners | 23¢ |
More about dehumidifiers
- Dehumidifiers & Air Conditioners: models and list prices
- Safety: 27 CPSC recalls since 2010 mention dehumidifiers or similar products. Search recalls
- Running costs of other appliances
Sources: electricity prices from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Average Price Data, “Electricity per kWh” (about the data); U.S. Department of Energy typical wattages (Estimating Appliance and Home Electronic Energy Use, Virginia Cooperative Extension BSE-301NP, developed with DOE, 2020). Cost = watts × hours ÷ 1,000 × price per kWh. Your own price per kWh, including delivery charges and taxes, is on your electricity bill.