United Kingdom Cooling and fans
How much does it cost to run a ceiling fan?
A ceiling fan on high draws 50 to 75 watts with an AC motor and 15 to 30 watts with a DC motor. It does not cool the room, it cools you, so it costs nothing to run while nobody is in the room except the electricity.
A 50 watt ceiling fan costs about 1.3p an hour to run in Great Britain at 26.32 pence per kWh. Running it 8 hours a day comes to about 11p a day, £3.20 a month and £38.45 a year.
- Price: Ofgem cap, Oct to Dec 2026
- Wattage range with its source
- Checked 26 October 2026
Uses 0.40 kWh a day, 12 kWh a month, at 26.32 pence per kWh (Great Britain (price cap average)).
The dial places the daily cost between a 50 watt fan and a 4.5 kW water heater on 2.5 hours a day.
A 50 watt ceiling fan costs about 1.3p an hour to run in Great Britain at 26.32 pence per kWh. Running it 8 hours a day comes to about 11p a day, £3.20 a month and £38.45 a year.
What this assumes
The default is a 50 watt ceiling fan running 8 hours a day. Published typical ratings run from 15 to 75 watts. Your label or manual gives the exact figure, and the calculator takes it.
The price is the Ofgem price cap unit rate for 1 October to 31 December 2026, average for England, Scotland and Wales, paying by Direct Debit. The cap for 1 January to 31 March 2027 is announced in late November 2026. A fixed tariff, a time-of-use plan or a different payment method changes the rate, which is why the rate field is editable.
Cost by wattage and hours at the price cap rate
At 26.32p per kWh, running flat out. Multiply by the share of the time your thermostat keeps the element on.
| Power | 1 hour | 8 hours | 24 hours | A week at 8 hours a day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 watt | 0.4p | 3.2p | 9.5p | 22p |
| 50 watt | 1.3p | 11p | 32p | 74p |
| 75 watt | 2p | 16p | 47p | £1.11 |
How a ceiling fan uses electricity
Running a 50 watt fan for 24 hours uses 1.2 kWh, about the same as a 1,500 watt heater for 48 minutes. It is one of the cheapest appliances in the house.
The light kit can use more than the motor. Three 60 watt incandescent bulbs draw 180 watts, three LEDs about 25.
Ways to cut the cost
- Switch it off when you leave the room.
- In summer the blades should push air down (counter clockwise when viewed from below). Reverse them in winter on low.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to run a ceiling fan 24/7?
A 50 watt fan all day is 1.2 kWh. At 18 cents that is about 22 cents a day or 6.50 dollars a month. At 26p it is about 31p a day.
Does a ceiling fan lower the electric bill?
Only if it lets you set the air conditioner higher or leave it off. The fan itself adds a small cost. The saving comes from the AC running less.
Other cooling and fans costs
More in the UK
Sources
The electricity price on this page is read from the data file that also lists the release it came from. The wattage range is a published typical range, not a measurement of your appliance.