How Much Does It Cost to Run a Portable Fan (Box or Pedestal) in India? (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 ₹0.30 per hour, or about ₹72.00 per month at 8 hours a day in India. Cheap to run
| Wattage | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low 20 W | ₹0.12 | ₹0.96 | ₹28.80 | ₹115.20 |
| Typical 50 W | ₹0.30 | ₹2.40 | ₹72.00 | ₹288.00 |
| High 100 W | ₹0.60 | ₹4.80 | ₹144.00 | ₹576.00 |
Formula: watts ÷ 1000 × hours × price per kWh. Typical use is 8 h/day for about 120 days a year (the cooling season) ≈ 48 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 India, with electricity at ₹6.00 per kWh (source: Typical urban domestic slab rate; national average ≈ ₹5.5/unit FY2025-26, 2026-04), a typical portable fan (box or pedestal) costs ₹0.30 per hour and about ₹288.00 per year at 8 hours a day. Each ₹1.00 of electricity buys roughly 3.3 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
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
- Evaporative (Swamp) Cooler300 W typical
Use the generic electricity cost calculator · Which uses more? Take the quiz