How much does it cost to run a ceiling fan?
A typical ceiling fan draws about 70 watts. Used 8 hours a day, that works out to roughly $0.10 per day, $1.43 per month, and $17.14 per year on an average electricity rate of 17¢ per kWh. Fans are a cheap alternative to air conditioning for many days of the year.
Ceiling Fan running cost calculator
- Per day
- $0.10
- Per month
- $1.43
- Per year
- $17.14
- CO₂ / year
- 40.3 kg
Based on 100.8 kWh per year. Adjust the price per kWh to match your latest electricity bill for an exact figure.
The number that matters most is your own electricity rate. Rates range from under 11¢ per kWh in some regions to over 30¢ in others, so the same ceiling fan can cost two or three times as much depending on where you live. Enter your exact rate in the calculator above to get a figure tailored to your bill.
Over a full year this ceiling fan uses about 100.8 kWh of electricity and is responsible for roughly 40.3 kg of CO₂ emissions on an average grid. Reducing run time, or switching to a more efficient model, lowers both the cost and the footprint.
If this ceiling fan is one you use daily, even small efficiency gains compound. Cutting its usage or wattage by 20% would save around $3.43 every year — money that an efficient replacement can recover over its lifetime.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does it cost to run a ceiling fan per hour?
- At 70 watts and a 17¢/kWh rate, a ceiling fan costs about $0.01 per hour to run.
- How much electricity does a ceiling fan use per month?
- Running 8 hours a day, a ceiling fan uses roughly 8.4 kWh per month, costing about $1.43.
- Is a ceiling fan expensive to run?
- Not particularly — at around $17.14 per year, a ceiling fan is a relatively minor part of most electricity bills.
- How can I reduce my ceiling fan running costs?
- Use it during off-peak hours if your utility offers time-of-use pricing, reduce daily run time, and consider an ENERGY STAR rated ceiling fan, which uses less power for the same job.