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How Much Does It Cost to Run a Portable Fan (Box or Pedestal) in Alberta? (2026)
Box fans and pedestal fans are among the cheapest ways to feel cooler. A typical 40 to 50 watt fan running all evening costs less than a single cup of coffee per month.
A typical portable fan (box or pedestal) (50 W) costs C$0.011 per hour, or about C$2.64 per month at 8 hours a day in Alberta. Cheap to run
| Wattage | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low (20 W) | C$0.004 | C$0.035 | C$1.06 | C$12.85 |
| Typical (50 W) | C$0.011 | C$0.088 | C$2.64 | C$32.12 |
| High (100 W) | C$0.022 | C$0.18 | C$5.28 | C$64.24 |
Formula: watts ÷ 1000 × hours × price per kWh. Typical use is 8 h/day ≈ 146 kWh per year.
One day of a portable fan (box or pedestal) (1.2 kWh) is the same electricity as
- 6.7km in an electric car
- 12hours of TV
- 27hours of a laptop
- 133hours of an LED bulb
In Alberta, with electricity at C$0.22 per kWh (source: Hydro-Québec 2025 comparison, 2025-04), a typical portable fan (box or pedestal) costs C$0.011 per hour and about C$32.12 per year at 8 hours a day. That is about 57% more than the national average for Canada (C$1.68 per month), because electricity in Alberta costs C$0.22 per kWh against C$0.14 nationally. Each C$1.00 of electricity buys roughly 90.9 hours of use.
How to lower the cost of running a portable fan (box or pedestal)
- Point a fan out of a window at night to push hot air out and pull cooler air in.
- Use the lowest speed that keeps you comfortable. High speed can double the draw.
- Turn it off when leaving the room. Fans cool people, not spaces.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a fan all night?
A 50 watt fan for 8 hours uses 0.4 kWh, a few cents in most regions.
Is a tower fan more efficient than a box fan?
Box fans generally move more air per watt. Tower fans are quieter and take less floor space.
Does a fan use more electricity than a ceiling fan?
Similar. Both sit in the 15 to 100 watt range depending on size and speed.
Compare with
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