How Much Does It Cost to Run an Air Purifier in the UK? (2026)
Air purifiers run continuously at 10 to 100 watts depending on fan speed and room size. On a low setting they cost little; on high around the clock they can match a fridge.
A typical air purifier (40 W) costs £0.011 per hour, or about £7.58 per month at 24 hours a day in the UK. Average running cost
| Wattage | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low 10 W | £0.003 | £0.063 | £1.90 | £23.06 |
| Typical 40 W | £0.011 | £0.25 | £7.58 | £92.23 |
| High 100 W | £0.026 | £0.63 | £18.95 | £230.56 |
Formula: watts ÷ 1000 × hours × price per kWh. Typical use is 24 h/day ≈ 350 kWh per year.
One day of an air purifier (0.96 kWh) is the same electricity as
- 5.3km in an electric car
- 9.6hours of TV
- 21hours of a laptop
- 107hours of an LED bulb
In the UK, with electricity at 26.3p per kWh (source: Ofgem price cap 1 Oct–31 Dec 2026, 2026-10), a typical air purifier costs £0.011 per hour and about £92.23 per year at 24 hours a day. Each £1.00 of electricity buys roughly 95.0 hours of use.
How to lower the cost of running an air purifier
- Run on high only to clear a room, then drop to low or auto.
- Replace filters on schedule. A clogged filter makes the fan draw more for less air.
- Size the unit to the room. An oversized purifier on low beats a small one on high.
In standby it draws about 1 W, which adds roughly 9 kWh (£2.31) per year if it is never unplugged.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run an air purifier 24/7?
About 29 kWh a month at 40 watts. Pick your region above.
Do air purifiers use a lot of electricity?
Not per hour, but continuous use adds up. Auto mode helps.
Should I leave my air purifier on all the time?
Manufacturers say yes for consistent air quality. On low, the cost is small.
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