How much does it cost to run a mini-split?
EIA data · June 2026About $30.12 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.
164.3 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 400–2,200 W. Use the figure on your own label if you have it.
60% duty cycle applied — it draws power for part of that time.
A ductless mini-split is #12 of 88 on this site by annual cost, so it is probably not the only thing worth checking. See what a ductless mini-split costs beside everything else you run.
Published figures for this appliance disagree by a wide margin. Why other sites price a ductless mini-split so differently.
How many watts a ductless mini-split uses
A single-zone ductless mini-split sized for one room draws roughly 600–1,200 W at steady state. The wide range reflects inverter compressors, which modulate continuously rather than switching between full power and off.
- Low
- 400 W
- Typical
- 900 W
- High
- 2,200 W
What it costs across the country
Same appliance, same usage, different electricity price. Annual cost at 900 W and the default usage above.
| State | ¢/kWh | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 52.72 | $1,039 |
| California | 34.74 | $685 |
| Massachusetts | 29.61 | $584 |
| New York | 29.49 | $581 |
| Ohio | 19.19 | $378 |
| Texas | 15.94 | $314 |
| Florida | 15.10 | $298 |
| Utah | 13.37 | $264 |
| Nebraska | 13.25 | $261 |
| Nevada | 13.11 | $258 |
Worth knowing
- An inverter compressor changes speed instead of cycling, so a mini-split spends most of its time drawing far less than its nameplate rating once the room reaches temperature.
- That modulation is also why leaving one running steadily often costs less than switching it off and on — the opposite of the advice that applies to a single-speed system.
- There are no ducts, so none of the 20–30% loss that ducted systems suffer in unconditioned attics and crawlspaces applies.
Other appliances
- Space heater
- Central air conditioner
- Window air conditioner
- Dehumidifier
- Ceiling fan
- Electric blanket
- Heat pump
- Electric baseboard heater
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.