hvac · 450W typical
Running a whole-house fan costs about $5.35/month.
That's the typical whole-house fan at 450W, run 3 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 whole-house fan draws full power only while the thermostat/compressor is running — about 2.4 effective hours at 450W across your 3-hour window.
How you use it
Cost shifts with how long it's on.
The same whole-house fan can cost very different amounts depending on usage patterns. Three common scenarios, at the US-average rate.
evening pull-down
$5.35
per month
runs after sundown to pull in cool outside air
early morning flush
$1.78
per month
pre-dawn house flush before AC takes over
shoulder season cooling
$8.91
per month
spring/fall when outside temps are below inside
Where you live
$9.69 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¢ | $13.35 | $162.41 |
| California | 31.4¢ | $10.17 | $123.78 |
| Massachusetts | 30.8¢ | $9.98 | $121.41 |
| Connecticut | 28.7¢ | $9.30 | $113.14 |
| Rhode Island | 27.9¢ | $9.04 | $109.98 |
| New Hampshire | 24.6¢ | $7.97 | $96.97 |
| Alaska | 24.3¢ | $7.87 | $95.79 |
| New York | 22.3¢ | $7.23 | $87.91 |
| Maine | 22.1¢ | $7.16 | $87.12 |
| Vermont | 21.5¢ | $6.97 | $84.75 |
| Michigan | 19.3¢ | $6.25 | $76.08 |
| New Jersey | 19.1¢ | $6.19 | $75.29 |
| Maryland | 18.4¢ | $5.96 | $72.53 |
| Pennsylvania | 18.1¢ | $5.86 | $71.35 |
| District of Columbia | 17.8¢ | $5.77 | $70.17 |
| Wisconsin | 17.4¢ | $5.64 | $68.59 |
| Delaware | 17.2¢ | $5.57 | $67.80 |
| Illinois | 16.9¢ | $5.48 | $66.62 |
| Ohio | 16.6¢ | $5.38 | $65.44 |
| Nevada | 16.3¢ | $5.28 | $64.25 |
| Indiana | 15.8¢ | $5.12 | $62.28 |
| Virginia | 15.7¢ | $5.09 | $61.89 |
| Minnesota | 15.6¢ | $5.05 | $61.50 |
| Colorado | 15.4¢ | $4.99 | $60.71 |
| Alabama | 15.2¢ | $4.92 | $59.92 |
| West Virginia | 15.2¢ | $4.92 | $59.92 |
| Florida | 15.1¢ | $4.89 | $59.52 |
| New Mexico | 14.8¢ | $4.80 | $58.34 |
| Texas | 14.8¢ | $4.80 | $58.34 |
| Arizona | 14.7¢ | $4.76 | $57.95 |
| South Carolina | 14.7¢ | $4.76 | $57.95 |
| Kansas | 14.6¢ | $4.73 | $57.55 |
| Georgia | 14.2¢ | $4.60 | $55.98 |
| Iowa | 14.1¢ | $4.57 | $55.58 |
| North Carolina | 13.9¢ | $4.50 | $54.79 |
| Missouri | 13.6¢ | $4.41 | $53.61 |
| Oregon | 13.4¢ | $4.34 | $52.82 |
| Tennessee | 13.3¢ | $4.31 | $52.43 |
| Kentucky | 13.2¢ | $4.28 | $52.03 |
| Mississippi | 13.1¢ | $4.24 | $51.64 |
| Oklahoma | 13.1¢ | $4.24 | $51.64 |
| South Dakota | 12.7¢ | $4.11 | $50.06 |
| Montana | 12.4¢ | $4.02 | $48.88 |
| Nebraska | 12.2¢ | $3.95 | $48.09 |
| Arkansas | 12.1¢ | $3.92 | $47.70 |
| Washington | 12.1¢ | $3.92 | $47.70 |
| Louisiana | 11.9¢ | $3.86 | $46.91 |
| Wyoming | 11.6¢ | $3.76 | $45.73 |
| North Dakota | 11.5¢ | $3.73 | $45.33 |
| Utah | 11.4¢ | $3.69 | $44.94 |
| Idaho | 11.3¢ | $3.66 | $44.54 |
Efficient vs. inefficient
A $86.72/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
200W
$2.38 per month
$28.91 per year
Typical
450W
$5.35 per month
$65.04 per year
High draw
800W
$9.50 per month
$115.63 per year
When it hits hardest
summer peak
Effective only in climates with cool nights — Mountain West, Pacific Northwest, inland California.
Ways to cut the cost
- 1
Run only when outside is cooler than inside (usually sundown to 9am)
Cuts AC runtime by 30-60% in dry climates
- 2
Open 2-4 windows to balance airflow — no windows = no cooling
Required for function; most user errors trace here
- 3
Install an insulated damper to avoid winter heat loss
Prevents 5-8% winter heating loss
Real-world wattages
Pulled from actual spec sheets.
| Brand | Model | Watts |
|---|---|---|
| QuietCool | QC CL-4700 | 360W |
| Tamarack | HV1600 | 320W |
| Air Vent | 54301 | 500W |
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.energy.gov · www.energystar.gov
Last updated: 2026-04-13