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 $0.46 per day, $14.07 per month, and $168.72 per year at the US average residential rate of 19.3¢/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 19.3¢/kWh.
| Usage | kWh/day | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 h/day | 1.20 kWh | $0.23 | $7.04 | $84.36 |
| 8 h/day | 2.40 kWh | $0.46 | $14.07 | $168.72 |
| 12 h/day | 3.60 kWh | $0.69 | $21.11 | $253.08 |
| 16 h/day | 4.80 kWh | $0.92 | $28.14 | $337.44 |
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 | $9.38 |
| Typical | 300 W | 2.40 kWh | $0.46 | $14.07 |
| High-draw model | 700 W | 5.60 kWh | $1.08 | $32.83 |
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 | 16.4¢ | $0.39 | $11.98 | $143.66 |
| Alaska | 28.8¢ | $0.69 | $21.06 | $252.55 |
| Arizona | 15.4¢ | $0.37 | $11.24 | $134.73 |
| Arkansas | 14.3¢ | $0.34 | $10.47 | $125.53 |
| California | 33.6¢ | $0.81 | $24.55 | $294.42 |
| Colorado | 17.0¢ | $0.41 | $12.42 | $148.92 |
| Connecticut | 24.2¢ | $0.58 | $17.65 | $211.64 |
| Delaware | 18.5¢ | $0.44 | $13.50 | $161.88 |
| District of Columbia | 25.2¢ | $0.61 | $18.42 | $220.84 |
| Florida | 15.0¢ | $0.36 | $10.98 | $131.66 |
| Georgia | 16.3¢ | $0.39 | $11.89 | $142.53 |
| Hawaii | 48.0¢ | $1.15 | $35.07 | $420.48 |
| Idaho | 13.7¢ | $0.33 | $10.03 | $120.27 |
| Illinois | 19.2¢ | $0.46 | $14.04 | $168.37 |
| Indiana | 16.7¢ | $0.40 | $12.22 | $146.55 |
| Iowa | 16.0¢ | $0.38 | $11.68 | $140.07 |
| Kansas | 15.3¢ | $0.37 | $11.16 | $133.77 |
| Kentucky | 13.8¢ | $0.33 | $10.09 | $120.98 |
| Louisiana | 12.7¢ | $0.31 | $9.29 | $111.43 |
| Maine | 32.4¢ | $0.78 | $23.68 | $283.91 |
| Maryland | 21.4¢ | $0.51 | $15.64 | $187.55 |
| Massachusetts | 30.5¢ | $0.73 | $22.27 | $267.09 |
| Michigan | 23.1¢ | $0.55 | $16.84 | $201.92 |
| Minnesota | 17.4¢ | $0.42 | $12.75 | $152.86 |
| Mississippi | 14.5¢ | $0.35 | $10.62 | $127.37 |
| Missouri | 16.1¢ | $0.39 | $11.75 | $140.95 |
| Montana | 15.0¢ | $0.36 | $10.95 | $131.31 |
| Nebraska | 13.8¢ | $0.33 | $10.07 | $120.71 |
| Nevada | 12.8¢ | $0.31 | $9.33 | $111.87 |
| New Hampshire | 26.6¢ | $0.64 | $19.43 | $233.02 |
| New Jersey | 25.2¢ | $0.60 | $18.40 | $220.66 |
| New Mexico | 16.1¢ | $0.39 | $11.75 | $140.95 |
| New York | 29.9¢ | $0.72 | $21.84 | $261.92 |
| North Carolina | 15.2¢ | $0.36 | $11.08 | $132.80 |
| North Dakota | 13.4¢ | $0.32 | $9.80 | $117.47 |
| Ohio | 19.4¢ | $0.47 | $14.21 | $170.38 |
| Oklahoma | 14.3¢ | $0.34 | $10.48 | $125.71 |
| Oregon | 16.0¢ | $0.38 | $11.67 | $139.90 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.7¢ | $0.52 | $15.87 | $190.27 |
| Rhode Island | 28.3¢ | $0.68 | $20.67 | $247.82 |
| South Carolina | 15.5¢ | $0.37 | $11.30 | $135.52 |
| South Dakota | 15.4¢ | $0.37 | $11.23 | $134.64 |
| Tennessee | 13.7¢ | $0.33 | $10.02 | $120.10 |
| Texas | 15.9¢ | $0.38 | $11.60 | $139.11 |
| Utah | 13.1¢ | $0.31 | $9.58 | $114.93 |
| Vermont | 23.8¢ | $0.57 | $17.35 | $208.05 |
| Virginia | 17.6¢ | $0.42 | $12.82 | $153.74 |
| Washington | 14.7¢ | $0.35 | $10.75 | $128.86 |
| West Virginia | 15.8¢ | $0.38 | $11.53 | $138.23 |
| Wisconsin | 19.1¢ | $0.46 | $13.92 | $166.97 |
| Wyoming | 14.4¢ | $0.34 | $10.49 | $125.79 |
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 19.3¢/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 19.3¢/kWh is $0.46 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.