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 $1.86 per day, $56.72 per month, and $680.13 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 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 19.4¢/kWh.
| Usage | kWh/day | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 h/day | 4.80 kWh | $0.93 | $28.36 | $340.06 |
| 8 h/day | 9.60 kWh | $1.86 | $56.72 | $680.13 |
| 12 h/day | 14.40 kWh | $2.80 | $85.08 | $1,020.19 |
| 16 h/day | 19.20 kWh | $3.73 | $113.44 | $1,360.25 |
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 | $0.93 | $28.36 |
| Typical | 1,200 W | 9.60 kWh | $1.86 | $56.72 |
| High-draw model | 2,500 W | 20.00 kWh | $3.88 | $118.17 |
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 | 16.8¢ | $1.61 | $49.01 | $587.62 |
| Alaska | 28.2¢ | $2.71 | $82.49 | $989.18 |
| Arizona | 15.2¢ | $1.46 | $44.51 | $533.66 |
| Arkansas | 14.4¢ | $1.38 | $41.96 | $503.17 |
| California | 33.2¢ | $3.19 | $97.16 | $1,165.08 |
| Colorado | 16.2¢ | $1.55 | $47.22 | $566.25 |
| Connecticut | 27.4¢ | $2.63 | $79.98 | $959.04 |
| Delaware | 19.4¢ | $1.86 | $56.63 | $679.08 |
| District of Columbia | 25.4¢ | $2.44 | $74.22 | $890.02 |
| Florida | 15.2¢ | $1.46 | $44.33 | $531.56 |
| Georgia | 15.8¢ | $1.52 | $46.29 | $555.03 |
| Hawaii | 52.0¢ | $4.99 | $151.96 | $1,822.08 |
| Idaho | 12.3¢ | $1.19 | $36.09 | $432.74 |
| Illinois | 23.9¢ | $2.29 | $69.70 | $835.70 |
| Indiana | 18.1¢ | $1.74 | $53.04 | $635.98 |
| Iowa | 14.1¢ | $1.36 | $41.32 | $495.47 |
| Kansas | 15.1¢ | $1.45 | $44.21 | $530.16 |
| Kentucky | 15.0¢ | $1.44 | $43.78 | $524.90 |
| Louisiana | 14.2¢ | $1.36 | $41.35 | $495.82 |
| Maine | 28.6¢ | $2.75 | $83.66 | $1,003.20 |
| Maryland | 21.8¢ | $2.09 | $63.62 | $762.82 |
| Massachusetts | 28.8¢ | $2.77 | $84.22 | $1,009.85 |
| Michigan | 22.0¢ | $2.11 | $64.32 | $771.23 |
| Minnesota | 16.9¢ | $1.63 | $49.53 | $593.93 |
| Mississippi | 16.2¢ | $1.55 | $47.22 | $566.25 |
| Missouri | 13.7¢ | $1.31 | $39.98 | $479.35 |
| Montana | 14.7¢ | $1.41 | $42.87 | $514.04 |
| Nebraska | 13.6¢ | $1.30 | $39.71 | $476.19 |
| Nevada | 13.6¢ | $1.31 | $39.74 | $476.54 |
| New Hampshire | 27.3¢ | $2.62 | $79.86 | $957.64 |
| New Jersey | 23.3¢ | $2.23 | $68.00 | $815.38 |
| New Mexico | 14.1¢ | $1.36 | $41.26 | $494.76 |
| New York | 29.9¢ | $2.87 | $87.46 | $1,048.75 |
| North Carolina | 15.1¢ | $1.45 | $44.10 | $528.75 |
| North Dakota | 13.6¢ | $1.31 | $39.77 | $476.89 |
| Ohio | 19.5¢ | $1.87 | $57.04 | $683.98 |
| Oklahoma | 13.4¢ | $1.28 | $39.10 | $468.84 |
| Oregon | 16.3¢ | $1.56 | $47.54 | $570.10 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.6¢ | $2.07 | $62.97 | $755.11 |
| Rhode Island | 29.5¢ | $2.83 | $86.09 | $1,032.28 |
| South Carolina | 16.2¢ | $1.55 | $47.28 | $566.95 |
| South Dakota | 15.7¢ | $1.51 | $45.97 | $551.18 |
| Tennessee | 14.5¢ | $1.39 | $42.28 | $507.03 |
| Texas | 16.4¢ | $1.58 | $48.04 | $576.06 |
| Utah | 13.0¢ | $1.24 | $37.87 | $454.12 |
| Vermont | 24.9¢ | $2.39 | $72.73 | $872.15 |
| Virginia | 17.6¢ | $1.69 | $51.46 | $617.05 |
| Washington | 14.9¢ | $1.44 | $43.69 | $523.85 |
| West Virginia | 16.8¢ | $1.61 | $49.09 | $588.67 |
| Wisconsin | 19.7¢ | $1.90 | $57.69 | $691.69 |
| Wyoming | 14.8¢ | $1.42 | $43.25 | $518.59 |
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 19.4¢/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 19.4¢/kWh is $1.86 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.