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How much does it cost to run a ceiling fan?
At the U.S. average residential price of 18.34¢ per kilowatt-hour (June 2026), running a ceiling fan costs about $15.85 a year. Your own bill depends on your state's rate, which ranges from 13.11¢ to 52.72¢ across the country.
- Per hour
- 1.1¢
- Per day of use
- 8.8¢
- Per month
- $1.32
- Per year
- $15.85
Assumption: 60 W, 8 hours a day, 180 days a year — 86 kWh a year. A typical 52-inch fan on medium. DC-motor fans draw about a third of this.
Cost by state
Same appliance, same usage, 51 different prices. Sorted cheapest first.
| State | Rate | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | 13.11¢ | 94.4¢ | $11.33 |
| Nebraska | 13.25¢ | 95.4¢ | $11.45 |
| Utah | 13.37¢ | 96.3¢ | $11.55 |
| Louisiana | 13.49¢ | 97.1¢ | $11.66 |
| Tennessee | 14.07¢ | $1.01 | $12.16 |
| North Dakota | 14.12¢ | $1.02 | $12.20 |
| Arkansas | 14.12¢ | $1.02 | $12.20 |
| Kentucky | 14.26¢ | $1.03 | $12.32 |
| Oklahoma | 14.33¢ | $1.03 | $12.38 |
| Idaho | 14.37¢ | $1.03 | $12.42 |
| North Carolina | 14.74¢ | $1.06 | $12.74 |
| Mississippi | 14.88¢ | $1.07 | $12.86 |
| Washington | 14.91¢ | $1.07 | $12.88 |
| New Mexico | 15.06¢ | $1.08 | $13.01 |
| Florida | 15.10¢ | $1.09 | $13.05 |
| Montana | 15.14¢ | $1.09 | $13.08 |
| Arizona | 15.18¢ | $1.09 | $13.12 |
| Wyoming | 15.24¢ | $1.10 | $13.17 |
| South Dakota | 15.36¢ | $1.11 | $13.27 |
| West Virginia | 15.45¢ | $1.11 | $13.35 |
| South Carolina | 15.55¢ | $1.12 | $13.44 |
| Kansas | 15.71¢ | $1.13 | $13.57 |
| Iowa | 15.93¢ | $1.15 | $13.76 |
| Texas | 15.94¢ | $1.15 | $13.77 |
| Missouri | 16.22¢ | $1.17 | $14.01 |
| Oregon | 16.32¢ | $1.18 | $14.10 |
| Georgia | 16.36¢ | $1.18 | $14.14 |
| Alabama | 16.40¢ | $1.18 | $14.17 |
| Colorado | 17.13¢ | $1.23 | $14.80 |
| Virginia | 17.22¢ | $1.24 | $14.88 |
| Indiana | 17.51¢ | $1.26 | $15.13 |
| Minnesota | 17.52¢ | $1.26 | $15.14 |
| Ohio | 19.19¢ | $1.38 | $16.58 |
| Delaware | 19.29¢ | $1.39 | $16.67 |
| Wisconsin | 19.56¢ | $1.41 | $16.90 |
| Illinois | 19.89¢ | $1.43 | $17.18 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.73¢ | $1.56 | $18.77 |
| Maryland | 21.84¢ | $1.57 | $18.87 |
| Michigan | 22.99¢ | $1.66 | $19.86 |
| Connecticut | 24.32¢ | $1.75 | $21.01 |
| District of Columbia | 24.39¢ | $1.76 | $21.07 |
| Vermont | 24.44¢ | $1.76 | $21.12 |
| New Jersey | 24.95¢ | $1.80 | $21.56 |
| New Hampshire | 27.01¢ | $1.94 | $23.34 |
| Alaska | 28.21¢ | $2.03 | $24.37 |
| Rhode Island | 29.23¢ | $2.10 | $25.25 |
| New York | 29.49¢ | $2.12 | $25.48 |
| Maine | 29.59¢ | $2.13 | $25.57 |
| Massachusetts | 29.61¢ | $2.13 | $25.58 |
| California | 34.74¢ | $2.50 | $30.02 |
| Hawaii | 52.72¢ | $3.80 | $45.55 |
Cutting the number down
- A fan cools people, not rooms. Running one in an empty room is pure cost with no benefit.
- Because moving air feels several degrees cooler, a fan lets you raise the thermostat, which is where the real money is saved.
- Reverse the direction in winter to push warm ceiling air back down without adding heat.
Questions
- How many watts does a ceiling fan use?
- About 60 W while running.
- How much does a ceiling fan cost per month?
- About $1.32 a month at the U.S. average rate, or $15.85 a year.
- Where is it cheapest to run?
- Nevada, at $11.33 a year, versus $45.55 in Hawaii — a spread of $34.22.