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How Much Does It Cost to Run a Dehumidifier? (2026)
A dehumidifier runs like a small air conditioner, and people often leave it on for most of the day in damp basements. That combination of moderate wattage and long hours makes it a surprising line item on the bill.
A typical dehumidifier (400 W) costs $0.072 per hour, or about $21.60 per month at 10 hours a day in United States (average). Expensive to run
| Wattage | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low (250 W) | $0.045 | $0.45 | $13.50 | $164.25 |
| Typical (400 W) | $0.072 | $0.72 | $21.60 | $262.80 |
| High (700 W) | $0.13 | $1.26 | $37.80 | $459.90 |
Formula: watts ÷ 1000 × hours × price per kWh. Typical use is 10 h/day ≈ 1,460 kWh per year.
How to lower the cost of running a dehumidifier
- Set the humidistat to 50 percent. Lower settings make the unit run far longer for little benefit.
- Close windows and doors in the room being dried.
- Empty the tank promptly or use continuous drain so the unit does not sit idle.
- Look for the Energy Star rating, which measures litres removed per kWh.
In standby it draws about 1 W, which adds roughly 9 kWh ($1.58) per year if it is never unplugged.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a dehumidifier 24/7?
A 400 watt unit uses 9.6 kWh a day if it never cycles off. With a humidistat, real use is usually half that.
Does a dehumidifier heat the room?
Yes, slightly. All the electricity it uses ends up as heat, which can help in a cold basement.
Are desiccant dehumidifiers cheaper to run?
No, they typically use more electricity, but they work better in cold rooms.
Cost by region
- United States (average)
- California
- Texas
- New York
- Florida
- Canada (average)
- United Kingdom
- Germany
- France
- Australia
- India