Data through June 2026
Calculator · wattage estimate
Ceiling Fan running cost calculator
These are estimates, not certified measurements.
Wattage range reflects the measured low/high-speed power of ENERGY STAR certified ceiling fans (the certification covers airflow efficiency in CFM/W, not annual kWh).
Ceiling fans are among the cheapest devices in the house to run — the question is almost never the fan, it's whether it lets you raise the thermostat.
Calculator
Estimate — watts × hours × your rate
- Per day
- 5¢
- Per month
- $1.56
- Per year
- $19
35 W × 8 h/day × 365 ÷ 1,000 = 102 kWh/yr × 18.3¢ = $19/yr
Eight hours covers overnight use or a full day in an occupied room.
Typical wattages
| Setting | Watts |
|---|---|
| Low speed (~15 W) | 15 |
| Medium (~35 W) | 35 |
| High speed (~60 W) | 60 |
Estimated annual cost by state
| State | Rate ¢/kWh | Est. $/yr | Relative cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.4¢ | $17 | |
| Alaska | 28.2¢ | $29 | |
| Arizona | 15.2¢ | $16 | |
| Arkansas | 14.1¢ | $14 | |
| California | 34.7¢ | $36 | |
| Colorado | 17.1¢ | $18 | |
| Connecticut | 24.3¢ | $25 | |
| Delaware | 19.3¢ | $20 | |
| District of Columbia | 24.4¢ | $25 | |
| Florida | 15.1¢ | $15 | |
| Georgia | 16.4¢ | $17 | |
| Hawaiipriciest | 52.7¢ | $54 | |
| Idaho | 14.4¢ | $15 | |
| Illinois | 19.9¢ | $20 | |
| Indiana | 17.5¢ | $18 | |
| Iowa | 15.9¢ | $16 | |
| Kansas | 15.7¢ | $16 | |
| Kentucky | 14.3¢ | $15 | |
| Louisiana | 13.5¢ | $14 | |
| Maine | 29.6¢ | $30 | |
| Maryland | 21.8¢ | $22 | |
| Massachusetts | 29.6¢ | $30 | |
| Michigan | 23.0¢ | $23 | |
| Minnesota | 17.5¢ | $18 | |
| Mississippi | 14.9¢ | $15 | |
| Missouri | 16.2¢ | $17 | |
| Montana | 15.1¢ | $15 | |
| Nebraska | 13.3¢ | $14 | |
| Nevadacheapest | 13.1¢ | $13 | |
| New Hampshire | 27.0¢ | $28 | |
| New Jersey | 24.9¢ | $25 | |
| New Mexico | 15.1¢ | $15 | |
| New York | 29.5¢ | $30 | |
| North Carolina | 14.7¢ | $15 | |
| North Dakota | 14.1¢ | $14 | |
| Ohio | 19.2¢ | $20 | |
| Oklahoma | 14.3¢ | $15 | |
| Oregon | 16.3¢ | $17 | |
| Pennsylvania | 21.7¢ | $22 | |
| Rhode Island | 29.2¢ | $30 | |
| South Carolina | 15.6¢ | $16 | |
| South Dakota | 15.4¢ | $16 | |
| Tennessee | 14.1¢ | $14 | |
| Texas | 15.9¢ | $16 | |
| Utah | 13.4¢ | $14 | |
| Vermont | 24.4¢ | $25 | |
| Virginia | 17.2¢ | $18 | |
| Washington | 14.9¢ | $15 | |
| West Virginia | 15.4¢ | $16 | |
| Wisconsin | 19.6¢ | $20 | |
| Wyoming | 15.2¢ | $16 |
Questions, answered with the data
- How much does a ceiling fan cost per hour?
- At a typical 35 W draw and the U.S. average rate of 18.3¢/kWh, about 0.6¢ an hour. That ranges from 0.5¢ in Nevada to 1.8¢ in Hawaii.
- What does 8 hours a day add up to?
- 35 W × 8 h/day comes to about $1.56 a month ($19 a year) at the U.S. average rate. Eight hours covers overnight use or a full day in an occupied room.
- Why is this an estimate instead of certified data?
- Wattage range reflects the measured low/high-speed power of ENERGY STAR certified ceiling fans (the certification covers airflow efficiency in CFM/W, not annual kWh).