Home / Heating & Cooling / Cost to run Window air conditioner
How much does it cost to run a window air conditioner? ($27.54/mo)
Running a window air conditioner costs about $27.54 / month
($0.92/day at 6 h/day, $0.17/kWh).
($0.92/day at 6 h/day, $0.17/kWh).
Running cost calculator
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A window AC cools one room, so it draws far less than central air but still runs for long stretches in summer.
Cost at different electricity rates
| Electricity rate | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0.10/kWh | $0.54 | $16.20 | $197.10 |
| $0.15/kWh | $0.81 | $24.30 | $295.65 |
| $0.20/kWh | $1.08 | $32.40 | $394.20 |
| $0.25/kWh | $1.35 | $40.50 | $492.75 |
| $0.30/kWh | $1.62 | $48.60 | $591.30 |
| $0.40/kWh | $2.16 | $64.80 | $788.40 |
Cost over time
| Per hour of use | $0.15 |
| Per day (6 h) | $0.92 |
| Per month | $27.54 |
| Per year | $335.07 |
How to spend less running a window air conditioner
- Cut the hours: A window air conditioner at 6 h/day runs about $27.54/month — trimming one hour saves roughly $4.59/month.
- Tune the setpoint: a degree or two changes how long the window air conditioner has to run.
- Upgrade efficiency: a newer window air conditioner near 500 W uses far less than an old 1,500 W one.
- Kill standby: a smart plug or timer removes the ~1 W it draws even when off.
Want the raw figure? See how many watts a window air conditioner uses.
FAQ
How many watts does a window AC use?
Around 500-1500 watts depending on the cooling capacity (BTU rating).
What size generator runs a window AC?
Plan for the startup surge - many need 1500-2000 starting watts even if running watts are lower.
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