hvac · 60W typical
Running a ceiling fan costs about $1.78/month.
That's the typical ceiling fan at 60W, run 6 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 6 hours at 16.5¢/kWh.
How you use it
Cost shifts with how long it's on.
The same ceiling fan can cost very different amounts depending on usage patterns. Three common scenarios, at the US-average rate.
summer evening
$1.78
per month
running during TV time and while sleeping
home office all day
$2.67
per month
daytime airflow during work hours
24/7 in hot climate
$5.35
per month
nearly constant use in Florida or Texas summers
Where you live
$3.23 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¢ | $4.45 | $54.14 |
| California | 31.4¢ | $3.39 | $41.26 |
| Massachusetts | 30.8¢ | $3.33 | $40.47 |
| Connecticut | 28.7¢ | $3.10 | $37.71 |
| Rhode Island | 27.9¢ | $3.01 | $36.66 |
| New Hampshire | 24.6¢ | $2.66 | $32.32 |
| Alaska | 24.3¢ | $2.62 | $31.93 |
| New York | 22.3¢ | $2.41 | $29.30 |
| Maine | 22.1¢ | $2.39 | $29.04 |
| Vermont | 21.5¢ | $2.32 | $28.25 |
| Michigan | 19.3¢ | $2.08 | $25.36 |
| New Jersey | 19.1¢ | $2.06 | $25.10 |
| Maryland | 18.4¢ | $1.99 | $24.18 |
| Pennsylvania | 18.1¢ | $1.95 | $23.78 |
| District of Columbia | 17.8¢ | $1.92 | $23.39 |
| Wisconsin | 17.4¢ | $1.88 | $22.86 |
| Delaware | 17.2¢ | $1.86 | $22.60 |
| Illinois | 16.9¢ | $1.83 | $22.21 |
| Ohio | 16.6¢ | $1.79 | $21.81 |
| Nevada | 16.3¢ | $1.76 | $21.42 |
| Indiana | 15.8¢ | $1.71 | $20.76 |
| Virginia | 15.7¢ | $1.70 | $20.63 |
| Minnesota | 15.6¢ | $1.68 | $20.50 |
| Colorado | 15.4¢ | $1.66 | $20.24 |
| Alabama | 15.2¢ | $1.64 | $19.97 |
| West Virginia | 15.2¢ | $1.64 | $19.97 |
| Florida | 15.1¢ | $1.63 | $19.84 |
| New Mexico | 14.8¢ | $1.60 | $19.45 |
| Texas | 14.8¢ | $1.60 | $19.45 |
| Arizona | 14.7¢ | $1.59 | $19.32 |
| South Carolina | 14.7¢ | $1.59 | $19.32 |
| Kansas | 14.6¢ | $1.58 | $19.18 |
| Georgia | 14.2¢ | $1.53 | $18.66 |
| Iowa | 14.1¢ | $1.52 | $18.53 |
| North Carolina | 13.9¢ | $1.50 | $18.26 |
| Missouri | 13.6¢ | $1.47 | $17.87 |
| Oregon | 13.4¢ | $1.45 | $17.61 |
| Tennessee | 13.3¢ | $1.44 | $17.48 |
| Kentucky | 13.2¢ | $1.43 | $17.34 |
| Mississippi | 13.1¢ | $1.41 | $17.21 |
| Oklahoma | 13.1¢ | $1.41 | $17.21 |
| South Dakota | 12.7¢ | $1.37 | $16.69 |
| Montana | 12.4¢ | $1.34 | $16.29 |
| Nebraska | 12.2¢ | $1.32 | $16.03 |
| Arkansas | 12.1¢ | $1.31 | $15.90 |
| Washington | 12.1¢ | $1.31 | $15.90 |
| Louisiana | 11.9¢ | $1.29 | $15.64 |
| Wyoming | 11.6¢ | $1.25 | $15.24 |
| North Dakota | 11.5¢ | $1.24 | $15.11 |
| Utah | 11.4¢ | $1.23 | $14.98 |
| Idaho | 11.3¢ | $1.22 | $14.85 |
Efficient vs. inefficient
A $21.68/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
40W
$1.19 per month
$14.45 per year
Typical
60W
$1.78 per month
$21.68 per year
High draw
100W
$2.97 per month
$36.14 per year
When it hits hardest
summer peak
Heaviest use May-Sept; some use in winter to redistribute warm air.
Ways to cut the cost
- 1
Turn off when you leave the room — fans cool people, not rooms
Cuts runtime 30-50% in most homes
- 2
Reverse direction in winter (clockwise) to push warm air down
Can let you drop thermostat 2-4°F, saving 4-8% on heat
- 3
Use ENERGY STAR DC-motor fan at replacement time
Uses 60-70% less than older AC-motor fans
Real-world wattages
Pulled from actual spec sheets.
| Brand | Model | Watts |
|---|---|---|
| Hunter | Dempsey 44 in | 60W |
| Harbor Breeze | Mazon 44 in | 55W |
| Big Ass Fans | Haiku 52 in | 30W |
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