How much does it cost to run a dehumidifier?
A dehumidifier drawing 300 watts, used 8 hours a day, uses about 2.40 kWh per day and costs about $0.47 per day, $14.18 per month, and $170.03 per year at the US average residential rate of 19.4¢/kWh. Enter your own wattage, hours, and state below for an exact figure.
Estimates only — based on typical wattages and average state rates, not your actual bill.
What drives the cost
A dehumidifier draws roughly 300 watts and runs whenever humidity exceeds its setpoint — which in a damp basement can mean most of the day in summer. Because it runs long hours during humid months, it often costs more over a season than its modest wattage suggests.
Cost at different daily usage
Same dehumidifier at 300 watts, run for different amounts of time, at 19.4¢/kWh.
| Usage | kWh/day | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 h/day | 1.20 kWh | $0.23 | $7.09 | $85.02 |
| 8 h/day | 2.40 kWh | $0.47 | $14.18 | $170.03 |
| 12 h/day | 3.60 kWh | $0.70 | $21.27 | $255.05 |
| 16 h/day | 4.80 kWh | $0.93 | $28.36 | $340.06 |
Cost by model power draw
Not all models are equal. At 8 h/day, here is what the range costs.
| Model | Power | kWh/day | Per day | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low-draw model | 200 W | 1.60 kWh | $0.31 | $9.45 |
| Typical | 300 W | 2.40 kWh | $0.47 | $14.18 |
| High-draw model | 700 W | 5.60 kWh | $1.09 | $33.09 |
Cost by state
A dehumidifier at 300 W for 8 h/day, priced at each state's average residential rate.
| State | Rate | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.8¢ | $0.40 | $12.25 | $146.91 |
| Alaska | 28.2¢ | $0.68 | $20.62 | $247.29 |
| Arizona | 15.2¢ | $0.37 | $11.13 | $133.41 |
| Arkansas | 14.4¢ | $0.34 | $10.49 | $125.79 |
| California | 33.2¢ | $0.80 | $24.29 | $291.27 |
| Colorado | 16.2¢ | $0.39 | $11.81 | $141.56 |
| Connecticut | 27.4¢ | $0.66 | $20.00 | $239.76 |
| Delaware | 19.4¢ | $0.47 | $14.16 | $169.77 |
| District of Columbia | 25.4¢ | $0.61 | $18.56 | $222.50 |
| Florida | 15.2¢ | $0.36 | $11.08 | $132.89 |
| Georgia | 15.8¢ | $0.38 | $11.57 | $138.76 |
| Hawaii | 52.0¢ | $1.25 | $37.99 | $455.52 |
| Idaho | 12.3¢ | $0.30 | $9.02 | $108.19 |
| Illinois | 23.9¢ | $0.57 | $17.42 | $208.93 |
| Indiana | 18.1¢ | $0.44 | $13.26 | $158.99 |
| Iowa | 14.1¢ | $0.34 | $10.33 | $123.87 |
| Kansas | 15.1¢ | $0.36 | $11.05 | $132.54 |
| Kentucky | 15.0¢ | $0.36 | $10.94 | $131.22 |
| Louisiana | 14.2¢ | $0.34 | $10.34 | $123.95 |
| Maine | 28.6¢ | $0.69 | $20.92 | $250.80 |
| Maryland | 21.8¢ | $0.52 | $15.90 | $190.71 |
| Massachusetts | 28.8¢ | $0.69 | $21.05 | $252.46 |
| Michigan | 22.0¢ | $0.53 | $16.08 | $192.81 |
| Minnesota | 16.9¢ | $0.41 | $12.38 | $148.48 |
| Mississippi | 16.2¢ | $0.39 | $11.81 | $141.56 |
| Missouri | 13.7¢ | $0.33 | $9.99 | $119.84 |
| Montana | 14.7¢ | $0.35 | $10.72 | $128.51 |
| Nebraska | 13.6¢ | $0.33 | $9.93 | $119.05 |
| Nevada | 13.6¢ | $0.33 | $9.94 | $119.14 |
| New Hampshire | 27.3¢ | $0.66 | $19.97 | $239.41 |
| New Jersey | 23.3¢ | $0.56 | $17.00 | $203.85 |
| New Mexico | 14.1¢ | $0.34 | $10.32 | $123.69 |
| New York | 29.9¢ | $0.72 | $21.87 | $262.19 |
| North Carolina | 15.1¢ | $0.36 | $11.02 | $132.19 |
| North Dakota | 13.6¢ | $0.33 | $9.94 | $119.22 |
| Ohio | 19.5¢ | $0.47 | $14.26 | $171.00 |
| Oklahoma | 13.4¢ | $0.32 | $9.77 | $117.21 |
| Oregon | 16.3¢ | $0.39 | $11.89 | $142.53 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.6¢ | $0.52 | $15.74 | $188.78 |
| Rhode Island | 29.5¢ | $0.71 | $21.52 | $258.07 |
| South Carolina | 16.2¢ | $0.39 | $11.82 | $141.74 |
| South Dakota | 15.7¢ | $0.38 | $11.49 | $137.79 |
| Tennessee | 14.5¢ | $0.35 | $10.57 | $126.76 |
| Texas | 16.4¢ | $0.39 | $12.01 | $144.01 |
| Utah | 13.0¢ | $0.31 | $9.47 | $113.53 |
| Vermont | 24.9¢ | $0.60 | $18.18 | $218.04 |
| Virginia | 17.6¢ | $0.42 | $12.87 | $154.26 |
| Washington | 14.9¢ | $0.36 | $10.92 | $130.96 |
| West Virginia | 16.8¢ | $0.40 | $12.27 | $147.17 |
| Wisconsin | 19.7¢ | $0.47 | $14.42 | $172.92 |
| Wyoming | 14.8¢ | $0.36 | $10.81 | $129.65 |
How to cut the cost
- Set the humidistat to around 50% rather than the lowest setting; over-drying wastes energy.
- Fix the moisture source where you can — grading, gutters, and sealing beat continuous dehumidification.
- Keep coils and filters clean so it removes moisture faster per hour of runtime.
- Use a unit sized to the space; an undersized one runs constantly without catching up.
Compare with related appliances
Monthly cost at typical usage and 19.4¢/kWh.
Questions
Do dehumidifiers use a lot of electricity?
Moderate power, but long runtime. In a damp basement running most of the day through summer, seasonal cost adds up more than the wattage alone implies.
How do you calculate what a dehumidifier costs to run?
Multiply its wattage by the hours it runs per day, divide by 1,000 to get kilowatt-hours, then multiply by your electricity rate. For a dehumidifier: 300 W × 8 h ÷ 1,000 = 2.40 kWh per day, which at 19.4¢/kWh is $0.47 per day.
How many watts does a dehumidifier use?
Typically 300 watts, with most models falling between 200 and 700 watts. The label on the appliance or its power supply gives the figure for your specific unit.