hvac · 500W typical
Running a dehumidifier costs about $20.79/month.
That's the typical dehumidifier at 500W, run 14 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
A dehumidifier draws full power only while the thermostat/compressor is running — about 8.4 effective hours at 500W across your 14-hour window.
How you use it
Cost shifts with how long it's on.
The same dehumidifier can cost very different amounts depending on usage patterns. Three common scenarios, at the US-average rate.
humid basement
$20.79
per month
summer basement dehumidification
bedroom comfort
$11.88
per month
lowering humidity during sleep
post-flood recovery
$35.64
per month
continuous operation for a week after water damage
Where you live
$37.67 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¢ | $51.91 | $631.60 |
| California | 31.4¢ | $39.56 | $481.36 |
| Massachusetts | 30.8¢ | $38.81 | $472.16 |
| Connecticut | 28.7¢ | $36.16 | $439.97 |
| Rhode Island | 27.9¢ | $35.15 | $427.71 |
| New Hampshire | 24.6¢ | $31.00 | $377.12 |
| Alaska | 24.3¢ | $30.62 | $372.52 |
| New York | 22.3¢ | $28.10 | $341.86 |
| Maine | 22.1¢ | $27.85 | $338.79 |
| Vermont | 21.5¢ | $27.09 | $329.60 |
| Michigan | 19.3¢ | $24.32 | $295.87 |
| New Jersey | 19.1¢ | $24.07 | $292.80 |
| Maryland | 18.4¢ | $23.18 | $282.07 |
| Pennsylvania | 18.1¢ | $22.81 | $277.47 |
| District of Columbia | 17.8¢ | $22.43 | $272.87 |
| Wisconsin | 17.4¢ | $21.92 | $266.74 |
| Delaware | 17.2¢ | $21.67 | $263.68 |
| Illinois | 16.9¢ | $21.29 | $259.08 |
| Ohio | 16.6¢ | $20.92 | $254.48 |
| Nevada | 16.3¢ | $20.54 | $249.88 |
| Indiana | 15.8¢ | $19.91 | $242.21 |
| Virginia | 15.7¢ | $19.78 | $240.68 |
| Minnesota | 15.6¢ | $19.66 | $239.15 |
| Colorado | 15.4¢ | $19.40 | $236.08 |
| Alabama | 15.2¢ | $19.15 | $233.02 |
| West Virginia | 15.2¢ | $19.15 | $233.02 |
| Florida | 15.1¢ | $19.03 | $231.48 |
| New Mexico | 14.8¢ | $18.65 | $226.88 |
| Texas | 14.8¢ | $18.65 | $226.88 |
| Arizona | 14.7¢ | $18.52 | $225.35 |
| South Carolina | 14.7¢ | $18.52 | $225.35 |
| Kansas | 14.6¢ | $18.40 | $223.82 |
| Georgia | 14.2¢ | $17.89 | $217.69 |
| Iowa | 14.1¢ | $17.77 | $216.15 |
| North Carolina | 13.9¢ | $17.51 | $213.09 |
| Missouri | 13.6¢ | $17.14 | $208.49 |
| Oregon | 13.4¢ | $16.88 | $205.42 |
| Tennessee | 13.3¢ | $16.76 | $203.89 |
| Kentucky | 13.2¢ | $16.63 | $202.36 |
| Mississippi | 13.1¢ | $16.51 | $200.82 |
| Oklahoma | 13.1¢ | $16.51 | $200.82 |
| South Dakota | 12.7¢ | $16.00 | $194.69 |
| Montana | 12.4¢ | $15.62 | $190.09 |
| Nebraska | 12.2¢ | $15.37 | $187.03 |
| Arkansas | 12.1¢ | $15.25 | $185.49 |
| Washington | 12.1¢ | $15.25 | $185.49 |
| Louisiana | 11.9¢ | $14.99 | $182.43 |
| Wyoming | 11.6¢ | $14.62 | $177.83 |
| North Dakota | 11.5¢ | $14.49 | $176.30 |
| Utah | 11.4¢ | $14.36 | $174.76 |
| Idaho | 11.3¢ | $14.24 | $173.23 |
Efficient vs. inefficient
A $303.53/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
400W
$16.63 per month
$202.36 per year
Typical
500W
$20.79 per month
$252.95 per year
High draw
1000W
$41.58 per month
$505.89 per year
When it hits hardest
summer peak
May-September in humid climates; used year-round in wet basements.
Ways to cut the cost
- 1
Set humidistat to 50% — lower than that wastes energy with no comfort gain
Cuts runtime 30-40%
- 2
Seal basement/crawlspace air leaks first
Leaky envelopes force the unit to pull moisture from outside air endlessly
- 3
Empty bucket or use continuous drain — full bucket shutoff forces restart cycles
Stable cycling saves 15-25%
Real-world wattages
Pulled from actual spec sheets.
| Brand | Model | Watts |
|---|---|---|
| Frigidaire | FFAD5033W1 (50 pint) | 590W |
| hOmeLabs | HME020031N (50 pint) | 580W |
| Midea | Cube 35 pint | 470W |
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