United Kingdom Cooling and fans
How much does it cost to run a desk or tower fan?
A 20 inch box fan draws about 75 watts on high and 50 on low. Desk and tower fans draw 25 to 70 watts. A fan running all night costs a few cents, which is why it is the first thing to try before the air conditioner.
A 45 watt desk or tower fan costs about 1.2p an hour to run in Great Britain at 26.32 pence per kWh. Running it 8 hours a day comes to about 9.5p a day, £2.88 a month and £34.61 a year.
- Price: Ofgem cap, Oct to Dec 2026
- Wattage range with its source
- Checked 26 October 2026
Uses 0.36 kWh a day, 11 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 45 watt desk or tower fan costs about 1.2p an hour to run in Great Britain at 26.32 pence per kWh. Running it 8 hours a day comes to about 9.5p a day, £2.88 a month and £34.61 a year.
What this assumes
The default is a 45 watt desk or tower fan running 8 hours a day. Published typical ratings run from 25 to 70 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 watt | 0.7p | 5.3p | 16p | 37p |
| 45 watt | 1.2p | 9.5p | 28p | 66p |
| 70 watt | 1.8p | 15p | 44p | £1.03 |
How a desk or tower fan uses electricity
Fans use the same power whether the room is hot or cold, so the hours are the only variable that matters. Eight hours a night on a 75 watt fan is 0.6 kWh.
A fan in an open window at night moving cool outdoor air in is more effective than the same fan in the middle of the room.
Ways to cut the cost
- Use low speed. Air movement, not speed, is what cools skin.
- Point it at you, not at the ceiling.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to run a fan all night?
A 75 watt box fan for 8 hours uses 0.6 kWh. At 18 cents that is about 11 cents a night. A 45 watt UK fan at 26p is about 9p a night.
Does a fan use a lot of electricity?
No. Even a large box fan on high draws about a twentieth of what a space heater or window air conditioner does.
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.