Dehumidifier Cost To Run Calculator
Enter your dehumidifier's watts and the hours its compressor runs each day, pick your state, and see the cost per day, month and season.
Dehumidifier cost
A09Scenario A
Sets the electricity rate. Pick US average if you're not sure.
From EIA for US average. Use the rate on your bill if you know it.
Rate used: 18.4¢/kWh · US average · EIA reference 2025–26 (data as of 2026-09-26) ·
50 pint ≈ 500 W · 35 pint ≈ 400 W · 22 pint ≈ 300 W.
With the humidistat on, most units run 30–60% of the time.
Estimated cost per month
Cost by month, in season only
The yearly cost spread across the months using a typical cooling degree-day pattern from NOAA 1991–2020 normals. Months outside the season show $0.
Per year assumes the same use every day. For seasonal appliances, see the monthly curve.
Estimate. Formula and sources are under “How it works”. Change any input; the result updates as you type.
Formula
How it works
- kWh per day = watts ÷ 1,000 × running hours
- Cost per hour = watts ÷ 1,000 × rate
- Cost per month = kWh per day × days × rate
- Cost by month = yearly cost × that month's share of cooling degree-days
Capacities follow the DOE 2019 test standard: a 50-pint unit draws about 500 W, a 35-pint about 400 W and a 22-pint about 300 W. The humidistat switches the compressor off once the air is dry enough, so in a damp basement in summer, 10 hours of actual running a day is a reasonable starting point.
Sources: pint ratings per DOE 2019 dehumidifier test procedure; electricity rate from EIA Electric Power Monthly table 5.6.A; monthly pattern from NOAA CPC degree-day normals 1991–2020.
Worked example
A worked example
A 50-pint dehumidifier at 500 W running 10 hours a day uses 5.00 kWh a day. At the Texas rate of 15.5¢/kWh that's $0.08 an hour, $0.78 a day and $24.02 for a 31-day month. Used only in the humid months, the estimate peaks at $73.55 in July.
Reference
Reference table
Dehumidifier cost per month at 18.4¢/kWh (US average), 30 days
| 6 h | 10 h | 16 h | 24 h | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 pint · 300 W | $9.94 | $16.56 | $26.50 | $39.74 |
| 35 pint · 400 W | $13.25 | $22.08 | $35.33 | $52.99 |
| 50 pint · 500 W | $16.56 | $27.60 | $44.16 | $66.24 |
Questions
FAQ
How many watts does a 50-pint dehumidifier use?
About 500 W while the compressor runs. A 35-pint unit uses about 400 W and a 22-pint about 300 W. Check the label for your model's exact rating.
How much does it cost to run a dehumidifier 24/7?
If the compressor never stopped, a 500 W unit would use 12 kWh a day, an estimated $66.24 a month at the US average rate of 18.4¢/kWh. With a humidistat it usually runs 30–60% of the time, so the real cost is lower.
How much does a dehumidifier add to my bill per month?
At the US average rate, a 500 W unit running 10 hours a day costs an estimated $27.60 a month. In California at 32.0¢/kWh, 20 hours a day comes to $96.00.
What size dehumidifier do I need?
Size depends on the room's area and how damp it is. A sizing calculator is on our roadmap; for now, compare the running cost of the sizes you're considering in Compare mode.
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