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How many watts does an air compressor use? (1,500 W)
An air compressor uses about 1,500 W
Typical range 1,000–2,400 watts.
Typical range 1,000–2,400 watts.
Running cost calculator
Per hour—
Per day—
Per month—
Per year—
Energy/mo—
An air compressor's motor spikes sharply when the pump kicks in, so its starting watts matter more than its running watts.
Air compressor power specs
| Typical running power | 1,500 W |
| Typical range | 1,000–2,400 W |
| Startup surge | 4,000 W |
| Energy use | 0.75 kWh/day · 22.5 kWh/mo |
What affects the wattage
- Model size, age and energy rating.
- Settings and how hard it works (heat, speed, load).
- How many hours a day you run it.
Running cost at $0.17/kWh
| Electricity rate | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0.10/kWh | $0.08 | $2.25 | $27.38 |
| $0.15/kWh | $0.11 | $3.37 | $41.06 |
| $0.20/kWh | $0.15 | $4.50 | $54.75 |
| $0.25/kWh | $0.19 | $5.63 | $68.44 |
| $0.30/kWh | $0.22 | $6.75 | $82.12 |
| $0.40/kWh | $0.30 | $9.00 | $109.50 |
See the full breakdown of what it costs to run an air compressor, or what size power station runs an air compressor.
FAQ
How many watts does an air compressor use?
Roughly 1000-2400 running watts, with a much higher surge at startup.
Why does my compressor trip breakers?
The startup surge can briefly double the running draw, tripping a marginal circuit.
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