Data through April 2026
Category · 214 certified models
Air Purifiers: what they cost to run
How much an air purifier costs depends heavily on your hours of use; the certified figures assume a standardized duty cycle so models can be compared fairly. On that basis, the 214 certified models span $5.65 to $92 a year at the U.S. average rate, median $28.
Efficiency here is airflow per watt (CADR/W) — a right-sized unit run on auto usually beats an oversized one run flat out. Every figure on this page comes from ENERGY STAR's certified test data — the 30–490 kWh/yr range you see is measured, not estimated.
- Median cost
- $28/yr
- Cheapest model
- $5.65/yr
- Priciest model
- $92/yr
The 10 cheapest to run
| # | Model | kWh/yr | $/yr (US avg) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blueair 4612522000most efficient | 30 | $5.65 |
| 2 | AeroNova DH-JH01Amost efficient | 33 | $6.21 |
| 3 | AeroNova MK01Amost efficient | 33 | $6.21 |
| 4 | ALROCKET MK01Amost efficient | 33 | $6.21 |
| 5 | AROEVE MK01Amost efficient | 33 | $6.21 |
| 6 | BREEZOME MK01Amost efficient | 33 | $6.21 |
| 7 | Greenlite G-Pure-7Wmost efficient | 33 | $6.21 |
| 8 | KLOUDIC MK01Amost efficient | 33 | $6.21 |
| 9 | REEMKIZZ MK01Amost efficient | 33 | $6.21 |
| 10 | ALROCKET DH-JH020US-A00most efficient | 36 | $6.78 |
Typical cost by state
| State | Rate ¢/kWh | Median $/yr | Relative cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 17.4¢ | $26 | |
| Alaska | 27.4¢ | $40 | |
| Arizona | 15.5¢ | $23 | |
| Arkansas | 14.2¢ | $21 | |
| California | 35.3¢ | $52 | |
| Colorado | 16.5¢ | $24 | |
| Connecticut | 32.2¢ | $48 | |
| Delaware | 18.8¢ | $28 | |
| District of Columbia | 25.4¢ | $38 | |
| Florida | 15.4¢ | $23 | |
| Georgia | 15.4¢ | $23 | |
| Hawaiipriciest | 46.6¢ | $69 | |
| Idaho | 12.7¢ | $19 | |
| Illinois | 20.5¢ | $30 | |
| Indiana | 17.9¢ | $26 | |
| Iowa | 13.9¢ | $21 | |
| Kansas | 15.8¢ | $23 | |
| Kentucky | 15.0¢ | $22 | |
| Louisiana | 14.4¢ | $21 | |
| Maine | 28.4¢ | $42 | |
| Maryland | 22.1¢ | $33 | |
| Massachusetts | 29.4¢ | $44 | |
| Michigan | 21.4¢ | $32 | |
| Minnesota | 16.4¢ | $24 | |
| Mississippi | 16.8¢ | $25 | |
| Missouri | 14.0¢ | $21 | |
| Montana | 13.9¢ | $21 | |
| Nebraska | 13.3¢ | $20 | |
| Nevada | 14.3¢ | $21 | |
| New Hampshire | 27.2¢ | $40 | |
| New Jersey | 23.5¢ | $35 | |
| New Mexico | 15.2¢ | $22 | |
| New York | 29.4¢ | $44 | |
| North Carolina | 16.3¢ | $24 | |
| North Dakotacheapest | 12.3¢ | $18 | |
| Ohio | 19.5¢ | $29 | |
| Oklahoma | 13.3¢ | $20 | |
| Oregon | 15.8¢ | $23 | |
| Pennsylvania | 21.5¢ | $32 | |
| Rhode Island | 28.3¢ | $42 | |
| South Carolina | 17.1¢ | $25 | |
| South Dakota | 14.5¢ | $21 | |
| Tennessee | 14.9¢ | $22 | |
| Texas | 17.0¢ | $25 | |
| Utah | 13.3¢ | $20 | |
| Vermont | 24.6¢ | $36 | |
| Virginia | 17.4¢ | $26 | |
| Washington | 14.4¢ | $21 | |
| West Virginia | 16.1¢ | $24 | |
| Wisconsin | 19.2¢ | $28 | |
| Wyoming | 14.7¢ | $22 |
How to read these numbers
The certified annual kWh comes from the ENERGY STAR room air cleaner test basis, which assumes continuous daily operation. Running fewer hours costs proportionally less. Full methodology and limitations →
Questions, answered with the data
- How much does an air purifier cost to run per year?
- The median ENERGY STAR certified air purifier costs about $28 a year at the U.S. average rate (18.8¢/kWh). Across all 214 certified models, costs range from $5.65 to $92.
- How much electricity does an air purifier use?
- Certified models use between 30 and 490 kWh per year (median 148). The certified annual kWh comes from the ENERGY STAR room air cleaner test basis, which assumes continuous daily operation. Running fewer hours costs proportionally less.
- Where is an air purifier cheapest and most expensive to run?
- North Dakota has the lowest residential rate (12.3¢/kWh), putting the median air purifier at $18 a year; Hawaii (46.6¢/kWh) is the most expensive at $69.
- What makes one air purifier cheaper to run than another?
- Efficiency here is airflow per watt (CADR/W) — a right-sized unit run on auto usually beats an oversized one run flat out.