hvac · 25W typical

Running a desk fan costs about $0.99/month.

That's the typical desk fan at 25W, run 8 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

$0.99/month

$0.03 per day$12.05 per year6.00 kWh monthly

Wattage

Hours / day

Your rate

Full-power draw for 8 hours at 16.5¢/kWh.

How you use it

Cost shifts with how long it's on.

The same desk fan can cost very different amounts depending on usage patterns. Three common scenarios, at the US-average rate.

office hours

$0.99

per month

runs while you're working at your desk

8 hrs/day·$12.05/yr

bedside cooling

$0.99

per month

overnight airflow at low speed

8 hrs/day·$12.05/yr

kitchen counter

$0.25

per month

spot airflow while cooking

2 hrs/day·$3.01/yr

Where you live

$1.79 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¢	$2.47	$30.08
California	31.4¢	$1.88	$22.92
Massachusetts	30.8¢	$1.85	$22.48
Connecticut	28.7¢	$1.72	$20.95
Rhode Island	27.9¢	$1.67	$20.37
New Hampshire	24.6¢	$1.48	$17.96
Alaska	24.3¢	$1.46	$17.74
New York	22.3¢	$1.34	$16.28
Maine	22.1¢	$1.33	$16.13
Vermont	21.5¢	$1.29	$15.70
Michigan	19.3¢	$1.16	$14.09
New Jersey	19.1¢	$1.15	$13.94
Maryland	18.4¢	$1.10	$13.43
Pennsylvania	18.1¢	$1.09	$13.21
District of Columbia	17.8¢	$1.07	$12.99
Wisconsin	17.4¢	$1.04	$12.70
Delaware	17.2¢	$1.03	$12.56
Illinois	16.9¢	$1.01	$12.34
Ohio	16.6¢	$1.00	$12.12
Nevada	16.3¢	$0.98	$11.90
Indiana	15.8¢	$0.95	$11.53
Virginia	15.7¢	$0.94	$11.46
Minnesota	15.6¢	$0.94	$11.39
Colorado	15.4¢	$0.92	$11.24
Alabama	15.2¢	$0.91	$11.10
West Virginia	15.2¢	$0.91	$11.10
Florida	15.1¢	$0.91	$11.02
New Mexico	14.8¢	$0.89	$10.80
Texas	14.8¢	$0.89	$10.80
Arizona	14.7¢	$0.88	$10.73
South Carolina	14.7¢	$0.88	$10.73
Kansas	14.6¢	$0.88	$10.66
Georgia	14.2¢	$0.85	$10.37
Iowa	14.1¢	$0.85	$10.29
North Carolina	13.9¢	$0.83	$10.15
Missouri	13.6¢	$0.82	$9.93
Oregon	13.4¢	$0.80	$9.78
Tennessee	13.3¢	$0.80	$9.71
Kentucky	13.2¢	$0.79	$9.64
Mississippi	13.1¢	$0.79	$9.56
Oklahoma	13.1¢	$0.79	$9.56
South Dakota	12.7¢	$0.76	$9.27
Montana	12.4¢	$0.74	$9.05
Nebraska	12.2¢	$0.73	$8.91
Arkansas	12.1¢	$0.73	$8.83
Washington	12.1¢	$0.73	$8.83
Louisiana	11.9¢	$0.71	$8.69
Wyoming	11.6¢	$0.70	$8.47
North Dakota	11.5¢	$0.69	$8.40
Utah	11.4¢	$0.68	$8.32
Idaho	11.3¢	$0.68	$8.25

Efficient vs. inefficient

A $19.27/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

10W

$0.40 per month

$4.82 per year

Typical

25W

$0.99 per month

$12.05 per year

High draw

50W

$1.98 per month

$24.09 per year

When it hits hardest

summer peak

Heaviest use in warm months; steady year-round at office desks.

Ways to cut the cost

1
Run at low speed — most desk fans are 2-3x watts on high vs. low
Drops 25W fan to ~10W
2
Use USB-powered fans at your desk instead of AC models
USB fans draw 1/3 the wattage
3
Turn off when leaving the desk — timer plugs help
Eliminates 2-4 hours/day of wasted runtime

Real-world wattages

Pulled from actual spec sheets.

Brand	Model	Watts
Vornado	630 Mid-Size	40W
Honeywell	HT-900	25W
OPOLAR	F801 USB Clip Fan	12W

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.

Vornado 630 Mid-Size Whole Room Air Circulator

40W for room-wide circulation — replaces a box fan

$55-75

Honeywell HT-900 Turbo Force

Compact 25W fan with strong output for its size

$18-25

OPOLAR USB-Powered Clip Fan

USB-powered at 10-12W — cheaper to run than any AC fan

$20-28