How much does it cost to run a ceiling fan?
Short answer: A ceiling fan drawing 50 watts costs about $0.01 per hour at the U.S. average residential price of 18.31¢ per kWh. Used 12 hours a day, 30 days a month, that is about $3.30 per month and $39.55 per year. In Louisiana, the cheapest state, the same use costs $2.29 a month; in Hawaii, the most expensive, $8.64.
Ceiling fan cost calculator
Hours per day the fan is spinning. Lights on the fan are extra; add their wattage if you want them included.
Energy used: 18.0 kWh per month. Default price is the U.S. residential average; pick your state or type the price from your own bill.
A ceiling fan is one of the least expensive ways to feel cooler. A standard 52-inch fan on medium draws around 50 watts, about one thirtieth of what a space heater uses and a small fraction of an air conditioner.
Cost by size and setting
Costs below use the U.S. average price and 12 hours a day, 30 days a month.
| Type | Power | Per hour | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| DC-motor fan on medium | 20 W | $0.00 | $1.32 |
| Standard fan on medium | 50 W | $0.01 | $3.30 |
| Standard fan on high | 75 W | $0.01 | $4.94 |
Fans cool people, not rooms
A fan does not lower the air temperature. It moves air across your skin, which makes you feel about four degrees cooler. That is useful only when someone is in the room. A fan spinning in an empty room is simply using electricity, so switch it off when you leave.
The saving comes from pairing the fan with the thermostat. If the breeze lets you set the air conditioner four degrees higher, the reduction in AC run time is worth many times what the fan costs.
AC motors and DC motors
Traditional fans use AC motors that draw 50 to 75 watts at higher speeds. Newer DC-motor fans move the same air on 15 to 35 watts and are quieter. The difference is only a few dollars a year per fan, so it is worth choosing a DC model when buying new but rarely worth replacing a working fan.
How to get the most from it
- In summer the blades should turn counter-clockwise, pushing air straight down.
- In winter, reverse the fan on low to gently push warm air down from the ceiling.
- Turn fans off in empty rooms.
- Use LED bulbs in the light kit; old incandescent bulbs can use more than the fan motor.
Cost to run a ceiling fan in every state
Based on 50 watts for 12 hours a day, 30 days a month, at each state's average residential electricity price for July 2026.
| State | Price per kWh | Per hour | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.40¢ | $0.01 | $2.95 | $35.42 |
| Alaska | 28.83¢ | $0.01 | $5.19 | $62.27 |
| Arizona | 15.38¢ | $0.01 | $2.77 | $33.22 |
| Arkansas | 14.33¢ | $0.01 | $2.58 | $30.95 |
| California | 33.61¢ | $0.02 | $6.05 | $72.60 |
| Colorado | 17.00¢ | $0.01 | $3.06 | $36.72 |
| Connecticut | 24.16¢ | $0.01 | $4.35 | $52.19 |
| Delaware | 18.48¢ | $0.01 | $3.33 | $39.92 |
| District of Columbia | 25.21¢ | $0.01 | $4.54 | $54.45 |
| Florida | 15.03¢ | $0.01 | $2.71 | $32.46 |
| Georgia | 16.27¢ | $0.01 | $2.93 | $35.14 |
| Hawaii | 48.00¢ | $0.02 | $8.64 | $103.68 |
| Idaho | 13.73¢ | $0.01 | $2.47 | $29.66 |
| Illinois | 19.22¢ | $0.01 | $3.46 | $41.52 |
| Indiana | 16.73¢ | $0.01 | $3.01 | $36.14 |
| Iowa | 15.99¢ | $0.01 | $2.88 | $34.54 |
| Kansas | 15.27¢ | $0.01 | $2.75 | $32.98 |
| Kentucky | 13.81¢ | $0.01 | $2.49 | $29.83 |
| Louisiana | 12.72¢ | $0.01 | $2.29 | $27.48 |
| Maine | 32.41¢ | $0.02 | $5.83 | $70.01 |
| Maryland | 21.41¢ | $0.01 | $3.85 | $46.25 |
| Massachusetts | 30.49¢ | $0.02 | $5.49 | $65.86 |
| Michigan | 23.05¢ | $0.01 | $4.15 | $49.79 |
| Minnesota | 17.45¢ | $0.01 | $3.14 | $37.69 |
| Mississippi | 14.54¢ | $0.01 | $2.62 | $31.41 |
| Missouri | 16.09¢ | $0.01 | $2.90 | $34.75 |
| Montana | 14.99¢ | $0.01 | $2.70 | $32.38 |
| Nebraska | 13.78¢ | $0.01 | $2.48 | $29.76 |
| Nevada | 12.77¢ | $0.01 | $2.30 | $27.58 |
| New Hampshire | 26.60¢ | $0.01 | $4.79 | $57.46 |
| New Jersey | 25.19¢ | $0.01 | $4.53 | $54.41 |
| New Mexico | 16.09¢ | $0.01 | $2.90 | $34.75 |
| New York | 29.90¢ | $0.01 | $5.38 | $64.58 |
| North Carolina | 15.16¢ | $0.01 | $2.73 | $32.75 |
| North Dakota | 13.41¢ | $0.01 | $2.41 | $28.97 |
| Ohio | 19.45¢ | $0.01 | $3.50 | $42.01 |
| Oklahoma | 14.35¢ | $0.01 | $2.58 | $31.00 |
| Oregon | 15.97¢ | $0.01 | $2.87 | $34.50 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.72¢ | $0.01 | $3.91 | $46.92 |
| Rhode Island | 28.29¢ | $0.01 | $5.09 | $61.11 |
| South Carolina | 15.47¢ | $0.01 | $2.78 | $33.42 |
| South Dakota | 15.37¢ | $0.01 | $2.77 | $33.20 |
| Tennessee | 13.71¢ | $0.01 | $2.47 | $29.61 |
| Texas | 15.88¢ | $0.01 | $2.86 | $34.30 |
| Utah | 13.12¢ | $0.01 | $2.36 | $28.34 |
| Vermont | 23.75¢ | $0.01 | $4.28 | $51.30 |
| Virginia | 17.55¢ | $0.01 | $3.16 | $37.91 |
| Washington | 14.71¢ | $0.01 | $2.65 | $31.77 |
| West Virginia | 15.78¢ | $0.01 | $2.84 | $34.08 |
| Wisconsin | 19.06¢ | $0.01 | $3.43 | $41.17 |
| Wyoming | 14.36¢ | $0.01 | $2.58 | $31.02 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a ceiling fan 24 hours a day?
A 50-watt fan uses 1.2 kWh in 24 hours, about $0.22 at the U.S. average price.
Is it cheaper to run a fan than air conditioning?
Much cheaper. A ceiling fan uses around 50 watts; a central air conditioner uses around 3,500.
Does a ceiling fan use more electricity on high?
Yes. A standard fan might draw 15 watts on low, 50 on medium and 75 on high.