How much does it cost to run a ductless mini-split?
A ductless mini-split drawing 1,200 watts, used 8 hours a day, uses about 9.60 kWh per day and costs about $1.85 per day, $56.28 per month, and $674.87 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 ductless mini-split uses an inverter compressor that modulates its speed rather than cycling fully on and off, which is why it is typically the most efficient way to cool or heat a single zone. Draw varies continuously with load — it may sit at a few hundred watts holding temperature and spike only when recovering from a setback. It also avoids duct losses entirely.
Cost at different daily usage
Same ductless mini-split at 1,200 watts, run for different amounts of time, at 19.3¢/kWh.
| Usage | kWh/day | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 h/day | 4.80 kWh | $0.92 | $28.14 | $337.44 |
| 8 h/day | 9.60 kWh | $1.85 | $56.28 | $674.87 |
| 12 h/day | 14.40 kWh | $2.77 | $84.42 | $1,012.31 |
| 16 h/day | 19.20 kWh | $3.70 | $112.56 | $1,349.74 |
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 | 600 W | 4.80 kWh | $0.92 | $28.14 |
| Typical | 1,200 W | 9.60 kWh | $1.85 | $56.28 |
| High-draw model | 2,500 W | 20.00 kWh | $3.85 | $117.25 |
Cost by state
A ductless mini-split at 1,200 W for 8 h/day, priced at each state's average residential rate.
| State | Rate | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.4¢ | $1.57 | $47.92 | $574.66 |
| Alaska | 28.8¢ | $2.77 | $84.25 | $1,010.20 |
| Arizona | 15.4¢ | $1.48 | $44.94 | $538.92 |
| Arkansas | 14.3¢ | $1.38 | $41.88 | $502.12 |
| California | 33.6¢ | $3.23 | $98.22 | $1,177.69 |
| Colorado | 17.0¢ | $1.63 | $49.68 | $595.68 |
| Connecticut | 24.2¢ | $2.32 | $70.60 | $846.57 |
| Delaware | 18.5¢ | $1.77 | $54.00 | $647.54 |
| District of Columbia | 25.2¢ | $2.42 | $73.67 | $883.36 |
| Florida | 15.0¢ | $1.44 | $43.92 | $526.65 |
| Georgia | 16.3¢ | $1.56 | $47.54 | $570.10 |
| Hawaii | 48.0¢ | $4.61 | $140.27 | $1,681.92 |
| Idaho | 13.7¢ | $1.32 | $40.12 | $481.10 |
| Illinois | 19.2¢ | $1.85 | $56.17 | $673.47 |
| Indiana | 16.7¢ | $1.61 | $48.89 | $586.22 |
| Iowa | 16.0¢ | $1.54 | $46.73 | $560.29 |
| Kansas | 15.3¢ | $1.47 | $44.62 | $535.06 |
| Kentucky | 13.8¢ | $1.33 | $40.36 | $483.90 |
| Louisiana | 12.7¢ | $1.22 | $37.17 | $445.71 |
| Maine | 32.4¢ | $3.11 | $94.71 | $1,135.65 |
| Maryland | 21.4¢ | $2.06 | $62.57 | $750.21 |
| Massachusetts | 30.5¢ | $2.93 | $89.10 | $1,068.37 |
| Michigan | 23.1¢ | $2.21 | $67.36 | $807.67 |
| Minnesota | 17.4¢ | $1.68 | $50.99 | $611.45 |
| Mississippi | 14.5¢ | $1.40 | $42.49 | $509.48 |
| Missouri | 16.1¢ | $1.54 | $47.02 | $563.79 |
| Montana | 15.0¢ | $1.44 | $43.80 | $525.25 |
| Nebraska | 13.8¢ | $1.32 | $40.27 | $482.85 |
| Nevada | 12.8¢ | $1.23 | $37.32 | $447.46 |
| New Hampshire | 26.6¢ | $2.55 | $77.73 | $932.06 |
| New Jersey | 25.2¢ | $2.42 | $73.61 | $882.66 |
| New Mexico | 16.1¢ | $1.54 | $47.02 | $563.79 |
| New York | 29.9¢ | $2.87 | $87.37 | $1,047.70 |
| North Carolina | 15.2¢ | $1.46 | $44.30 | $531.21 |
| North Dakota | 13.4¢ | $1.29 | $39.19 | $469.89 |
| Ohio | 19.4¢ | $1.87 | $56.84 | $681.53 |
| Oklahoma | 14.3¢ | $1.38 | $41.93 | $502.82 |
| Oregon | 16.0¢ | $1.53 | $46.67 | $559.59 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.7¢ | $2.09 | $63.47 | $761.07 |
| Rhode Island | 28.3¢ | $2.72 | $82.67 | $991.28 |
| South Carolina | 15.5¢ | $1.49 | $45.21 | $542.07 |
| South Dakota | 15.4¢ | $1.48 | $44.91 | $538.56 |
| Tennessee | 13.7¢ | $1.32 | $40.06 | $480.40 |
| Texas | 15.9¢ | $1.52 | $46.41 | $556.44 |
| Utah | 13.1¢ | $1.26 | $38.34 | $459.72 |
| Vermont | 23.8¢ | $2.28 | $69.40 | $832.20 |
| Virginia | 17.6¢ | $1.68 | $51.29 | $614.95 |
| Washington | 14.7¢ | $1.41 | $42.99 | $515.44 |
| West Virginia | 15.8¢ | $1.51 | $46.11 | $552.93 |
| Wisconsin | 19.1¢ | $1.83 | $55.70 | $667.86 |
| Wyoming | 14.4¢ | $1.38 | $41.96 | $503.17 |
How to cut the cost
- Leave it running at a steady setpoint rather than switching it off and on; inverter systems are most efficient holding a temperature.
- Clean the indoor filters monthly — mini-splits are unusually sensitive to restricted airflow.
- Keep the outdoor unit clear and shaded where possible.
- Use zone control properly: condition occupied rooms rather than the whole house.
Compare with related appliances
Monthly cost at typical usage and 19.3¢/kWh.
Questions
Are mini-splits cheaper to run than central air?
Often yes, especially when cooling a few rooms rather than a whole house. They avoid duct losses and modulate output instead of cycling at full power.
Should I turn my mini-split off when I leave?
For short absences, no. Inverter systems run most efficiently maintaining a temperature; large setbacks force expensive recovery at full output.
How do you calculate what a ductless mini-split 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 ductless mini-split: 1,200 W × 8 h ÷ 1,000 = 9.60 kWh per day, which at 19.3¢/kWh is $1.85 per day.
How many watts does a ductless mini-split use?
Typically 1,200 watts, with most models falling between 600 and 2,500 watts. The label on the appliance or its power supply gives the figure for your specific unit.