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How Much Does It Cost to Run a Air Conditioner (Window Unit) in Delaware? (2026)
Window and portable air conditioners range from small 5,000 BTU units around 500 watts to 15,000 BTU units near 1,500 watts. Cost scales with outdoor temperature, insulation, and how low you set the thermostat.
A typical air conditioner (window unit) (1,000 W) costs $0.19 per hour, or about $45.60 per month at 8 hours a day in Delaware. Expensive to run
| Wattage | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low (500 W) | $0.095 | $0.76 | $22.80 | $277.40 |
| Typical (1,000 W) | $0.19 | $1.52 | $45.60 | $554.80 |
| High (1,500 W) | $0.29 | $2.28 | $68.40 | $832.20 |
Formula: watts ÷ 1000 × hours × price per kWh. Typical use is 8 h/day ≈ 2,920 kWh per year.
One hour of an air conditioner (window unit) (1.0 kWh) is the same electricity as
- 5.6km in an electric car
- 10hours of TV
- 22hours of a laptop
- 111hours of an LED bulb
In Delaware, with electricity at $0.19 per kWh (source: EIA Table 5.6.A, 2026-06), a typical air conditioner (window unit) costs $0.19 per hour and about $554.80 per year at 8 hours a day. That is about 6% more than the national average for the US ($43.20 per month), because electricity in Delaware costs $0.19 per kWh against $0.18 nationally. Each $1.00 of electricity buys roughly 5.3 hours of use.
How to lower the cost of running a air conditioner (window unit)
- Every degree you raise the thermostat saves roughly 3 to 5 percent of cooling cost.
- Clean or replace the filter monthly in summer.
- Seal the gaps around a window unit with foam. Warm air leaking in is the biggest hidden cost.
- Use a fan alongside the AC. Moving air feels several degrees cooler at almost no cost.
In standby it draws about 2 W, which adds roughly 18 kWh ($3.33) per year if it is never unplugged.
Would switching to a newer high-EER unit pay for itself?
At your hours and region above, this air conditioner (window unit) uses about 2,920 kWh a year and a newer high-EER unit about 2,044 kWh.
Saves – per year. Pays for itself in –, and over 10 years you come out –.
Replacing a 10 year old window unit with a current high-efficiency model. Prices are typical and editable; the saving updates with the region and hours you set in the table above.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run an AC all day?
A 1,000 watt unit running 8 hours uses 8 kWh, so multiply by your local rate. Use the table above with your region selected.
Is a portable AC more expensive to run than a window unit?
Usually yes. Portable units are less efficient because they pull conditioned room air out through the exhaust hose.
What does EER mean?
Energy Efficiency Ratio: BTU of cooling per watt. Higher is cheaper to run.
Compare with
Cost by region
US states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Canadian provinces
Related appliances
- Electric Blanket100 W typical
- Heat Pump (Ducted or Mini-Split)2,000 W typical
- Baseboard Heater1,500 W typical
- Portable Fan (Box or Pedestal)50 W typical
Use the generic electricity cost calculator → · Which uses more? Take the quiz →