How much does it cost to run a portable air conditioner?
Short answer: A portable air conditioner drawing 1,200 watts costs about $0.22 per hour at the U.S. average residential price of 18.31¢ per kWh. Used 8 hours a day, 30 days a month, that is about $52.73 per month and $632.79 per year. In Louisiana, the cheapest state, the same use costs $36.63 a month; in Hawaii, the most expensive, $138.24.
Portable air conditioner cost calculator
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Hours per day the compressor is running. On a hot day a portable unit may run almost continuously.
Uses 288.0 kWh per month. The starting price is the U.S. residential average; choose your state or type the price from your own bill.
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| Appliance | Usage | Per month | Remove |
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| Per year |
A portable air conditioner draws around 1,200 watts and usually costs more to run than a window unit that cools the same room, because part of its cooling is lost through the exhaust hose.
Cost by size and setting
Costs below use the U.S. average price and 8 hours a day, 30 days a month.
| Type | Power | Per hour | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8,000 BTU | 900 W | $0.16 | $39.55 |
| 10,000 BTU | 1,200 W | $0.22 | $52.73 |
| 14,000 BTU | 1,500 W | $0.27 | $65.92 |
Why it uses more than a window unit
A window air conditioner keeps its hot side outdoors. A portable unit sits entirely inside the room and pushes hot air out through a hose. That hose radiates heat back into the room, and a single-hose design also draws warm air in from the rest of the house to replace what it blows out. The result is that a portable unit has to run longer to deliver the same cooling.
Single hose or dual hose
A dual-hose model takes its cooling air from outdoors rather than from the room, which avoids pulling warm air in through gaps under doors. It is noticeably more effective for the same wattage. If a window unit is not possible, a dual-hose portable is the next best choice.
How to lower the cost
- Keep the exhaust hose as short and straight as possible, and insulate it if you can.
- Seal the window kit so hot air does not leak back in.
- Close the door to the room being cooled.
- Use a fan alongside it and set the thermostat a couple of degrees higher.
How a portable air conditioner compares with other appliances
Typical power and use for each appliance, at the U.S. average price of 18.31¢ per kWh. Follow a link for that appliance's own calculator, or compare two side by side.
| Appliance | Power | Typical use | Energy per month | Cost per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portable air conditioner | 1,200 W | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | 288.0 kWh | $52.73 |
| Window air conditioner | 900 W | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | 216.0 kWh | $39.55 |
| Central air conditioner | 3,500 W | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | 840.0 kWh | $153.80 |
| Box fan | 75 W | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | 18.0 kWh | $3.30 |
| Dehumidifier | 500 W | 12 hours a day, 30 days a month | 180.0 kWh | $32.96 |
The math behind the numbers
1,200 watts ÷ 1,000 = 1.2 kW. 1.2 kW × 8 hours = 9.6 kWh per day. 9.6 kWh × $0.1831 = $1.76 per day. Over 30 days that is 288.0 kWh and $52.73 a month.
Your own figure will differ if your appliance has a different wattage, if you use it more or less, or if your price per kWh is not the national average. Change any of those in the calculator at the top of this page. Our step-by-step guide explains where to find each number.
Cost to run a portable air conditioner in every state
Based on 1,200 watts for 8 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¢ | $0.20 | $47.23 | $566.78 |
| Alaska | 28.83¢ | $0.35 | $83.03 | $996.36 |
| Arizona | 15.38¢ | $0.18 | $44.29 | $531.53 |
| Arkansas | 14.33¢ | $0.17 | $41.27 | $495.24 |
| California | 33.61¢ | $0.40 | $96.80 | $1,162 |
| Colorado | 17.00¢ | $0.20 | $48.96 | $587.52 |
| Connecticut | 24.16¢ | $0.29 | $69.58 | $834.97 |
| Delaware | 18.48¢ | $0.22 | $53.22 | $638.67 |
| District of Columbia | 25.21¢ | $0.30 | $72.60 | $871.26 |
| Florida | 15.03¢ | $0.18 | $43.29 | $519.44 |
| Georgia | 16.27¢ | $0.20 | $46.86 | $562.29 |
| Hawaii | 48.00¢ | $0.58 | $138.24 | $1,659 |
| Idaho | 13.73¢ | $0.16 | $39.54 | $474.51 |
| Illinois | 19.22¢ | $0.23 | $55.35 | $664.24 |
| Indiana | 16.73¢ | $0.20 | $48.18 | $578.19 |
| Iowa | 15.99¢ | $0.19 | $46.05 | $552.61 |
| Kansas | 15.27¢ | $0.18 | $43.98 | $527.73 |
| Kentucky | 13.81¢ | $0.17 | $39.77 | $477.27 |
| Louisiana | 12.72¢ | $0.15 | $36.63 | $439.60 |
| Maine | 32.41¢ | $0.39 | $93.34 | $1,120 |
| Maryland | 21.41¢ | $0.26 | $61.66 | $739.93 |
| Massachusetts | 30.49¢ | $0.37 | $87.81 | $1,054 |
| Michigan | 23.05¢ | $0.28 | $66.38 | $796.61 |
| Minnesota | 17.45¢ | $0.21 | $50.26 | $603.07 |
| Mississippi | 14.54¢ | $0.17 | $41.88 | $502.50 |
| Missouri | 16.09¢ | $0.19 | $46.34 | $556.07 |
| Montana | 14.99¢ | $0.18 | $43.17 | $518.05 |
| Nebraska | 13.78¢ | $0.17 | $39.69 | $476.24 |
| Nevada | 12.77¢ | $0.15 | $36.78 | $441.33 |
| New Hampshire | 26.60¢ | $0.32 | $76.61 | $919.30 |
| New Jersey | 25.19¢ | $0.30 | $72.55 | $870.57 |
| New Mexico | 16.09¢ | $0.19 | $46.34 | $556.07 |
| New York | 29.90¢ | $0.36 | $86.11 | $1,033 |
| North Carolina | 15.16¢ | $0.18 | $43.66 | $523.93 |
| North Dakota | 13.41¢ | $0.16 | $38.62 | $463.45 |
| Ohio | 19.45¢ | $0.23 | $56.02 | $672.19 |
| Oklahoma | 14.35¢ | $0.17 | $41.33 | $495.94 |
| Oregon | 15.97¢ | $0.19 | $45.99 | $551.92 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.72¢ | $0.26 | $62.55 | $750.64 |
| Rhode Island | 28.29¢ | $0.34 | $81.48 | $977.70 |
| South Carolina | 15.47¢ | $0.19 | $44.55 | $534.64 |
| South Dakota | 15.37¢ | $0.18 | $44.27 | $531.19 |
| Tennessee | 13.71¢ | $0.16 | $39.48 | $473.82 |
| Texas | 15.88¢ | $0.19 | $45.73 | $548.81 |
| Utah | 13.12¢ | $0.16 | $37.79 | $453.43 |
| Vermont | 23.75¢ | $0.29 | $68.40 | $820.80 |
| Virginia | 17.55¢ | $0.21 | $50.54 | $606.53 |
| Washington | 14.71¢ | $0.18 | $42.36 | $508.38 |
| West Virginia | 15.78¢ | $0.19 | $45.45 | $545.36 |
| Wisconsin | 19.06¢ | $0.23 | $54.89 | $658.71 |
| Wyoming | 14.36¢ | $0.17 | $41.36 | $496.28 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a portable air conditioner cost to run per hour?
About $0.22 an hour at the U.S. average electricity price for a 1,200-watt unit.
Is a portable air conditioner more expensive to run than a window unit?
Usually, yes. It loses some of its cooling through the exhaust hose, so it runs longer for the same result.
How much does it cost to run a portable AC all day?
Running 24 hours at full power would cost about $5.27. In practice the compressor cycles off once the room reaches the set temperature.
Sources
- ENERGY STAR: Room Air Conditioners
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly (state electricity prices)
- U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Saver: Appliances and Electronics
Electricity prices are the EIA figures for July 2026. Wattages are typical values; check the label on your own appliance.