United States Cooling and fans
How much does it cost to run a portable air conditioner?
A portable air conditioner draws about 1,000 to 1,500 watts and is the least efficient way to cool a room, because the hot side of the machine sits inside the room with you and most of them pull cooled air out through the exhaust hose.
A 1.2 kW portable air conditioner costs about 16 cents an hour to run in the US on average at 18.16 cents per kWh. Running it 8 hours a day cycling 75% of the time comes to about $1.31 a day, $39.80 a month and $477.57 a year.
- Prices: EIA, August 2026, every state
- Wattage range with its source
- Checked 26 October 2026
Uses 7.2 kWh a day, 219 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 1.2 kW portable air conditioner costs about 16 cents an hour to run in the US on average at 18.16 cents per kWh. Running it 8 hours a day cycling 75% of the time comes to about $1.31 a day, $39.80 a month and $477.57 a year.
What this assumes
The default is a 1.2 kW portable air conditioner running 8 hours a day, drawing full power 75% of the time it is switched on (the rest of the time a thermostat or sensor has it idle). Published typical ratings run from 900 to 1,500 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 portable air conditioner in every state
Same 1.2 kW portable air conditioner, 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 | 11 cents | 92 cents | $27.88 | $334.51 |
| Louisiana | 12.87c | 12 cents | 93 cents | $28.20 | $338.46 |
| North Dakota | 13.31c | 12 cents | 96 cents | $29.17 | $350.03 |
| Utah | 13.31c | 12 cents | 96 cents | $29.17 | $350.03 |
| Idaho | 13.37c | 12 cents | 96 cents | $29.30 | $351.60 |
| Tennessee | 13.42c | 12 cents | 97 cents | $29.41 | $352.92 |
| Nebraska | 13.54c | 12 cents | 97 cents | $29.67 | $356.07 |
| Kentucky | 13.8c | 12 cents | 99 cents | $30.24 | $362.91 |
| Arkansas | 14.37c | 13 cents | $1.03 | $31.49 | $377.90 |
| Mississippi | 14.43c | 13 cents | $1.04 | $31.62 | $379.48 |
| Wyoming | 14.43c | 13 cents | $1.04 | $31.62 | $379.48 |
| Washington | 14.63c | 13 cents | $1.05 | $32.06 | $384.74 |
| Oklahoma | 14.82c | 13 cents | $1.07 | $32.48 | $389.74 |
| North Carolina | 14.95c | 13 cents | $1.08 | $32.76 | $393.16 |
| Florida | 14.99c | 13 cents | $1.08 | $32.85 | $394.21 |
| Arizona | 15.05c | 14 cents | $1.08 | $32.98 | $395.78 |
| South Dakota | 15.15c | 14 cents | $1.09 | $33.20 | $398.41 |
| Kansas | 15.47c | 14 cents | $1.11 | $33.90 | $406.83 |
| Montana | 15.57c | 14 cents | $1.12 | $34.12 | $409.46 |
| South Carolina | 15.76c | 14 cents | $1.13 | $34.54 | $414.46 |
| Georgia | 15.9c | 14 cents | $1.14 | $34.84 | $418.14 |
| Texas | 15.91c | 14 cents | $1.15 | $34.87 | $418.40 |
| Oregon | 15.92c | 14 cents | $1.15 | $34.89 | $418.66 |
| Missouri | 16.02c | 14 cents | $1.15 | $35.11 | $421.29 |
| West Virginia | 16.31c | 15 cents | $1.17 | $35.74 | $428.92 |
| Alabama | 16.33c | 15 cents | $1.18 | $35.79 | $429.45 |
| New Mexico | 16.51c | 15 cents | $1.19 | $36.18 | $434.18 |
| Indiana | 17.02c | 15 cents | $1.23 | $37.30 | $447.59 |
| Iowa | 17.06c | 15 cents | $1.23 | $37.39 | $448.64 |
| Colorado | 17.17c | 15 cents | $1.24 | $37.63 | $451.54 |
| Minnesota | 17.2c | 15 cents | $1.24 | $37.69 | $452.33 |
| Virginia | 17.64c | 16 cents | $1.27 | $38.66 | $463.90 |
| Delaware | 18.7c | 17 cents | $1.35 | $40.98 | $491.77 |
| Illinois | 19.32c | 17 cents | $1.39 | $42.34 | $508.08 |
| Ohio | 19.38c | 17 cents | $1.40 | $42.47 | $509.66 |
| Wisconsin | 19.41c | 17 cents | $1.40 | $42.54 | $510.44 |
| Maryland | 21.4c | 19 cents | $1.54 | $46.90 | $562.78 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.77c | 20 cents | $1.57 | $47.71 | $572.51 |
| Michigan | 22.99c | 21 cents | $1.66 | $50.38 | $604.59 |
| Vermont | 23.84c | 21 cents | $1.72 | $52.25 | $626.94 |
| Connecticut | 24.51c | 22 cents | $1.76 | $53.71 | $644.56 |
| New Jersey | 24.61c | 22 cents | $1.77 | $53.93 | $647.19 |
| District of Columbia | 25.98c | 23 cents | $1.87 | $56.94 | $683.22 |
| New Hampshire | 27.64c | 25 cents | $1.99 | $60.57 | $726.88 |
| Rhode Island | 28.18c | 25 cents | $2.03 | $61.76 | $741.08 |
| New York | 28.65c | 26 cents | $2.06 | $62.79 | $753.44 |
| Alaska | 29.41c | 26 cents | $2.12 | $64.45 | $773.42 |
| California | 29.75c | 27 cents | $2.14 | $65.20 | $782.37 |
| Massachusetts | 30.48c | 27 cents | $2.19 | $66.80 | $801.56 |
| Maine | 32.11c | 29 cents | $2.31 | $70.37 | $844.43 |
| Hawaii | 47.18c | 42 cents | $3.40 | $103.39 | $1,241 |
Rates: EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A, residential sector, August 2026, preliminary. All rates with the year-on-year change.
How a portable air conditioner uses electricity
Single-hose units draw warm air into the room from elsewhere in the house to replace what they blow out of the window. Dual-hose units avoid that and cool the same room on noticeably less run time.
Because the cooling is less effective, the compressor runs more of the time than a window unit would, so the duty assumed here is 75%.
Ways to cut the cost
- Seal the window kit properly. A gap undoes most of the cooling.
- Keep the hose short and straight.
- Pre-cool the room in the evening rather than fighting the afternoon sun.
Questions people ask
Why is my portable AC so expensive to run?
Three reasons: it draws 1,000 to 1,500 watts, it rejects heat inside the room, and the exhaust pulls warm air in from the rest of the house. It runs longer to do the same job as a window unit.
How much does a portable AC cost per hour?
At 1,200 watts and 75% duty, about 0.9 kWh an hour. At 18 cents that is about 16 cents an hour, at 26p about 24p an hour.
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.