United States Cooling and fans
How much does it cost to run a central air conditioning?
Central air conditioning is usually the biggest electricity user in an American home in summer. A 3 ton system draws about 3,500 watts while the compressor runs, and the air handler adds a few hundred more.
A 3.5 kW central air conditioning costs about 38 cents an hour to run in the US on average at 18.16 cents per kWh. Running it 8 hours a day cycling 60% of the time comes to about $3.05 a day, $92.86 a month and $1,114 a year.
- Prices: EIA, August 2026, every state
- Wattage range with its source
- Checked 26 October 2026
Uses 17 kWh a day, 511 kWh a month, at 18.16 cents per kWh (US 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 3.5 kW central air conditioning costs about 38 cents an hour to run in the US on average at 18.16 cents per kWh. Running it 8 hours a day cycling 60% of the time comes to about $3.05 a day, $92.86 a month and $1,114 a year.
What this assumes
The default is a 3.5 kW central air conditioning running 8 hours a day, drawing full power 60% of the time it is switched on (the rest of the time a thermostat or sensor has it idle). Published typical ratings run from 2,500 to 5,000 watts. Your label or manual gives the exact figure, and the calculator takes it.
The price is the average residential rate in each state from the EIA's Electric Power Monthly for August 2026, released 23 October 2026. The next monthly table is due 24 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 to run a central air conditioning in every state
Same 3.5 kW central air conditioning, 8 hours a day, priced at each state's average residential rate for August 2026. Cheapest: Nevada at 12.72 cents per kWh. Dearest: Hawaii at 47.18. Change the numbers above and the table follows.
| State | Rate | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | 12.72c | 27 cents | $2.14 | $65.04 | $780.52 |
| Louisiana | 12.87c | 27 cents | $2.16 | $65.81 | $789.73 |
| North Dakota | 13.31c | 28 cents | $2.24 | $68.06 | $816.73 |
| Utah | 13.31c | 28 cents | $2.24 | $68.06 | $816.73 |
| Idaho | 13.37c | 28 cents | $2.25 | $68.37 | $820.41 |
| Tennessee | 13.42c | 28 cents | $2.25 | $68.62 | $823.48 |
| Nebraska | 13.54c | 28 cents | $2.27 | $69.24 | $830.84 |
| Kentucky | 13.8c | 29 cents | $2.32 | $70.57 | $846.80 |
| Arkansas | 14.37c | 30 cents | $2.41 | $73.48 | $881.77 |
| Mississippi | 14.43c | 30 cents | $2.42 | $73.79 | $885.45 |
| Wyoming | 14.43c | 30 cents | $2.42 | $73.79 | $885.45 |
| Washington | 14.63c | 31 cents | $2.46 | $74.81 | $897.73 |
| Oklahoma | 14.82c | 31 cents | $2.49 | $75.78 | $909.38 |
| North Carolina | 14.95c | 31 cents | $2.51 | $76.45 | $917.36 |
| Florida | 14.99c | 31 cents | $2.52 | $76.65 | $919.82 |
| Arizona | 15.05c | 32 cents | $2.53 | $76.96 | $923.50 |
| South Dakota | 15.15c | 32 cents | $2.55 | $77.47 | $929.63 |
| Kansas | 15.47c | 32 cents | $2.60 | $79.11 | $949.27 |
| Montana | 15.57c | 33 cents | $2.62 | $79.62 | $955.41 |
| South Carolina | 15.76c | 33 cents | $2.65 | $80.59 | $967.07 |
| Georgia | 15.9c | 33 cents | $2.67 | $81.30 | $975.66 |
| Texas | 15.91c | 33 cents | $2.67 | $81.36 | $976.27 |
| Oregon | 15.92c | 33 cents | $2.67 | $81.41 | $976.88 |
| Missouri | 16.02c | 34 cents | $2.69 | $81.92 | $983.02 |
| West Virginia | 16.31c | 34 cents | $2.74 | $83.40 | $1,001 |
| Alabama | 16.33c | 34 cents | $2.74 | $83.50 | $1,002 |
| New Mexico | 16.51c | 35 cents | $2.77 | $84.42 | $1,013 |
| Indiana | 17.02c | 36 cents | $2.86 | $87.03 | $1,044 |
| Iowa | 17.06c | 36 cents | $2.87 | $87.24 | $1,047 |
| Colorado | 17.17c | 36 cents | $2.88 | $87.80 | $1,054 |
| Minnesota | 17.2c | 36 cents | $2.89 | $87.95 | $1,055 |
| Virginia | 17.64c | 37 cents | $2.96 | $90.20 | $1,082 |
| Delaware | 18.7c | 39 cents | $3.14 | $95.62 | $1,147 |
| Illinois | 19.32c | 41 cents | $3.25 | $98.79 | $1,186 |
| Ohio | 19.38c | 41 cents | $3.26 | $99.10 | $1,189 |
| Wisconsin | 19.41c | 41 cents | $3.26 | $99.25 | $1,191 |
| Maryland | 21.4c | 45 cents | $3.60 | $109.43 | $1,313 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.77c | 46 cents | $3.66 | $111.32 | $1,336 |
| Michigan | 22.99c | 48 cents | $3.86 | $117.56 | $1,411 |
| Vermont | 23.84c | 50 cents | $4.01 | $121.91 | $1,463 |
| Connecticut | 24.51c | 51 cents | $4.12 | $125.33 | $1,504 |
| New Jersey | 24.61c | 52 cents | $4.13 | $125.84 | $1,510 |
| District of Columbia | 25.98c | 55 cents | $4.36 | $132.85 | $1,594 |
| New Hampshire | 27.64c | 58 cents | $4.64 | $141.34 | $1,696 |
| Rhode Island | 28.18c | 59 cents | $4.73 | $144.10 | $1,729 |
| New York | 28.65c | 60 cents | $4.81 | $146.50 | $1,758 |
| Alaska | 29.41c | 62 cents | $4.94 | $150.39 | $1,805 |
| California | 29.75c | 62 cents | $5.00 | $152.13 | $1,826 |
| Massachusetts | 30.48c | 64 cents | $5.12 | $155.86 | $1,870 |
| Maine | 32.11c | 67 cents | $5.39 | $164.19 | $1,970 |
| Hawaii | 47.18c | 99 cents | $7.93 | $241.25 | $2,895 |
Rates: EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A, residential sector, August 2026, preliminary. All rates with the year-on-year change.
How a central air conditioning uses electricity
Systems cycle on the thermostat. A correctly sized system in a well insulated house runs about 60% of the time on a hot day, so an 8 hour afternoon of cooling is about 17 kWh. Older SEER 10 systems draw almost twice what a new SEER 18 system does for the same cooling.
Setting the thermostat one degree higher saves roughly 3 to 5% of cooling energy. A smart thermostat that lets the house warm while you are out saves more than any brand of unit.
Ways to cut the cost
- Change the filter every one to three months.
- Keep the outdoor coil clean and shaded.
- Use ceiling fans so you can set the thermostat higher.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to run central AC per month?
At 3,500 watts, 60% duty, 8 hours a day, about 500 kWh a month. At the US average of about 18 cents that is roughly 90 dollars. In Texas at 15.9 cents it is about 80, in California at 29.8 cents about 150.
Is it cheaper to leave the AC on all day?
No. The system uses less energy recovering a warm house in the evening than it does holding it cool all day, because heat flows in more slowly when the inside is warmer.
Other cooling and fans costs
More in the US
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.