How much does it cost to run a ceiling fan?
EIA data · June 2026About $2.68 a month at the U.S. average price of 18.34¢ per kilowatt-hour — but that figure moves a long way depending on where you live. Set your state below.
14.6 kWh a month at the U.S. average, 18.34¢/kWh for June 2026. Excludes fixed charges, taxes and time-of-use rates, which vary by utility and are on your bill.
Typical 15–100 W. Use the figure on your own label if you have it.
A ceiling fan sits mid-table at #51 of 88, which means something else in the house costs more. See whether heating & cooling or something else drives your bill.
This is one of the appliances big enough to move a bill on its own. What usually drives a bill that jumped.
How many watts a ceiling fan uses
A standard 52-inch ceiling fan draws about 50–75 W on high. DC-motor fans draw as little as 15 W; the high end covers large fans with an integrated light.
- Low
- 15 W
- Typical
- 60 W
- High
- 100 W
What it costs across the country
Same appliance, same usage, different electricity price. Annual cost at 60 W and the default usage above.
| State | ¢/kWh | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 52.72 | $92.37 |
| California | 34.74 | $60.86 |
| Massachusetts | 29.61 | $51.88 |
| New York | 29.49 | $51.67 |
| Ohio | 19.19 | $33.62 |
| Texas | 15.94 | $27.93 |
| Florida | 15.10 | $26.46 |
| Utah | 13.37 | $23.42 |
| Nebraska | 13.25 | $23.21 |
| Nevada | 13.11 | $22.97 |
Worth knowing
- A ceiling fan is one of the cheapest appliances in the house. Running one around the clock for a full day still costs less than a single hour of central air conditioning.
- Fans cool people, not rooms. Leaving one running in an empty room is pure cost with no benefit.
- Used together with air conditioning, a fan lets you raise the thermostat a few degrees, which saves far more than the fan costs.
Other appliances
- Space heater
- Central air conditioner
- Window air conditioner
- Dehumidifier
- Electric blanket
- Heat pump
- Electric baseboard heater
- Portable air conditioner
Prices are statewide residential averages for June 2026 from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. They exclude fixed monthly charges, taxes and time-of-use rates. See how these figures are calculated.