utility · 40W typical
Running a air purifier costs about $4.75/month.
That's the typical air purifier at 40W, run 24 hours a day at the US-average rate of 16.5¢/kWh. Change any of those and the number moves — use the calculator below to see yours.
Estimated cost
Full-power draw for 24 hours at 16.5¢/kWh.
How you use it
Cost shifts with how long it's on.
The same air purifier can cost very different amounts depending on usage patterns. Three common scenarios, at the US-average rate.
always-on bedroom
$4.75
per month
continuous operation
evening use only
$1.58
per month
running when home
Where you live
$8.61 spread between the cheapest and priciest states.
Same appliance, same hours of use, different zip code — the monthly cost varies this much.
| State | Rate | Monthly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 41.2¢ | $11.87 | $144.36 |
| California | 31.4¢ | $9.04 | $110.03 |
| Massachusetts | 30.8¢ | $8.87 | $107.92 |
| Connecticut | 28.7¢ | $8.27 | $100.56 |
| Rhode Island | 27.9¢ | $8.04 | $97.76 |
| New Hampshire | 24.6¢ | $7.08 | $86.20 |
| Alaska | 24.3¢ | $7.00 | $85.15 |
| New York | 22.3¢ | $6.42 | $78.14 |
| Maine | 22.1¢ | $6.36 | $77.44 |
| Vermont | 21.5¢ | $6.19 | $75.34 |
| Michigan | 19.3¢ | $5.56 | $67.63 |
| New Jersey | 19.1¢ | $5.50 | $66.93 |
| Maryland | 18.4¢ | $5.30 | $64.47 |
| Pennsylvania | 18.1¢ | $5.21 | $63.42 |
| District of Columbia | 17.8¢ | $5.13 | $62.37 |
| Wisconsin | 17.4¢ | $5.01 | $60.97 |
| Delaware | 17.2¢ | $4.95 | $60.27 |
| Illinois | 16.9¢ | $4.87 | $59.22 |
| Ohio | 16.6¢ | $4.78 | $58.17 |
| Nevada | 16.3¢ | $4.69 | $57.12 |
| Indiana | 15.8¢ | $4.55 | $55.36 |
| Virginia | 15.7¢ | $4.52 | $55.01 |
| Minnesota | 15.6¢ | $4.49 | $54.66 |
| Colorado | 15.4¢ | $4.44 | $53.96 |
| Alabama | 15.2¢ | $4.38 | $53.26 |
| West Virginia | 15.2¢ | $4.38 | $53.26 |
| Florida | 15.1¢ | $4.35 | $52.91 |
| New Mexico | 14.8¢ | $4.26 | $51.86 |
| Texas | 14.8¢ | $4.26 | $51.86 |
| Arizona | 14.7¢ | $4.23 | $51.51 |
| South Carolina | 14.7¢ | $4.23 | $51.51 |
| Kansas | 14.6¢ | $4.20 | $51.16 |
| Georgia | 14.2¢ | $4.09 | $49.76 |
| Iowa | 14.1¢ | $4.06 | $49.41 |
| North Carolina | 13.9¢ | $4.00 | $48.71 |
| Missouri | 13.6¢ | $3.92 | $47.65 |
| Oregon | 13.4¢ | $3.86 | $46.95 |
| Tennessee | 13.3¢ | $3.83 | $46.60 |
| Kentucky | 13.2¢ | $3.80 | $46.25 |
| Mississippi | 13.1¢ | $3.77 | $45.90 |
| Oklahoma | 13.1¢ | $3.77 | $45.90 |
| South Dakota | 12.7¢ | $3.66 | $44.50 |
| Montana | 12.4¢ | $3.57 | $43.45 |
| Nebraska | 12.2¢ | $3.51 | $42.75 |
| Arkansas | 12.1¢ | $3.48 | $42.40 |
| Washington | 12.1¢ | $3.48 | $42.40 |
| Louisiana | 11.9¢ | $3.43 | $41.70 |
| Wyoming | 11.6¢ | $3.34 | $40.65 |
| North Dakota | 11.5¢ | $3.31 | $40.30 |
| Utah | 11.4¢ | $3.28 | $39.95 |
| Idaho | 11.3¢ | $3.25 | $39.60 |
Efficient vs. inefficient
A $202.36/year difference across the wattage range.
Swapping a high-draw model for an efficient one pays for itself. Here's what that looks like annually at typical usage.
Most efficient
60W
$7.13 per month
$86.72 per year
Typical
40W
$4.75 per month
$57.82 per year
High draw
200W
$23.76 per month
$289.08 per year
When it hits hardest
year-round peak
Heavier summer use during wildfire season.
Ways to cut the cost
- 1
Use auto mode with built-in air quality sensor
Cuts runtime 40-60% vs always-high
- 2
Run at sleep/low speed overnight
Saves 60-80% of nightly watts
- 3
Replace filter on schedule — clogged HEPA doubles motor load
Cuts watts 25-40%
Real-world wattages
Pulled from actual spec sheets.
| Brand | Model | Watts |
|---|---|---|
| Coway | Airmega AP-1512HH | 78W |
| Levoit | Core 300 | 45W |
| Blueair | Blue Pure 211+ | 62W |
Picks that actually move the needle
Three products worth comparing if you're thinking about upgrading or supplementing what you have.
Some links below are affiliate links. If you buy, we may earn a small commission — it never changes the price you pay, and we only recommend picks we would stand behind.
See also
Related appliances
Sources: www.energystar.gov · www.energy.gov
Last updated: 2026-04-13