How much does it cost to run a window air conditioner?
EIA data · June 2026About $28.12 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.
153.3 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 500–1,500 W. Use the figure on your own label if you have it.
70% duty cycle applied — it draws power for part of that time.
A window air conditioner is #13 of 88 on this site by annual cost, so it is probably not the only thing worth checking. See what a window air conditioner costs beside everything else you run.
Published figures for this appliance disagree by a wide margin. Why other sites price a window air conditioner so differently.
How many watts a window air conditioner uses
A 10,000 BTU window unit — the most common size — draws about 800–1,000 W. The range covers a 5,000 BTU bedroom unit at the low end and a 15,000 BTU unit at the high end.
- Low
- 500 W
- Typical
- 900 W
- High
- 1,500 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 | $970 |
| California | 34.74 | $639 |
| Massachusetts | 29.61 | $545 |
| New York | 29.49 | $542 |
| Ohio | 19.19 | $353 |
| Texas | 15.94 | $293 |
| Florida | 15.10 | $278 |
| Utah | 13.37 | $246 |
| Nebraska | 13.25 | $244 |
| Nevada | 13.11 | $241 |
Worth knowing
- Window units cycle on their thermostat like central systems, so actual draw is typically 60–80% of the hours the unit is switched on.
- BTU rating and wattage are different things. Divide BTU by the unit’s CEER rating to estimate watts.
- An oversized unit costs more to run, not less: it cools fast, shuts off, and never runs long enough to remove humidity, so the room feels clammy and you set it colder.
Other appliances
- Space heater
- Central air conditioner
- Dehumidifier
- Ceiling fan
- 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.