While the wattage (483.24W on average) and hourly power usage (0.427 kWh on average) are not significant, dehumidifiers consume a significant amount of electricity due to the long duration of use.
Older dehumidifiers can consume up to 23.6 kWh per day, which is a significant amount of energy.
Dehumidifiers today are far more energy efficient, consuming as little as 5.52 kWh per day.
Let’s compare the amount of electricity a dehumidifier needs each day to the amount of electricity used by other household appliances to put dehumidifier electricity usage into perspective.
One day of use of the most energy efficient dehumidifier equates to:
How much do dehumidifiers cost in terms of electricity?
Electricity expenses for dehumidifiers range from 3 cents to 15 cents per hour. 8 cents is the most typical hourly rate.
The power consumption was calculated using data from 573 dehumidifiers. Visit Dehumidifier Wattage & Most Efficient Revealed for more information about dehumidifier power consumption.
The hourly cost is calculated using the daily operating costs for accuracy. So, let’s have a look at how much it costs to run a dehumidifier for a day.
How much does it cost to run a dehumidifier 24 hours a day
A dehumidifier can cost anywhere from $0.83 to $3.54 per day to run, with $1.97 being the most common price.
Dehumidifiers that are older and less efficient tend to use a lot of electricity. The coils, compressors, and fans in their refrigerators are not as efficient as those in modern models.
This leads to higher daily operating costs, which can add up quickly over time.
Cost to run a dehumidifier per month
The monthly cost of running a dehumidifier ranges from $24.84 for the most efficient model to $106.20 for older inefficient versions.
Cost to run energy efficient dehumidifiers
The cost of running an energy efficient dehumidifier ranges from $0.83 to $1.97 per day, with an average of $1.54.
This is based on 502 ENERGY STAR certified dehumidifiers’ IEF (L/kWh) and daily capacity.
The cost per hour, cost per week, and cost per month to run 14 energy efficient dehumidifiers are listed in the table below.
This table also shows the dehumidifiers’ sq. ft. coverage, as well as whether they’re ENERGY STAR certified and have earned the coveted “ENERGY STAR Most Efficient” certification. If you want additional information on individual dehumidifiers, there are also links to Amazon.
The operating costs are calculated at 15 cents per kWh and assume that the appliance is used 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Cost to run the most energy efficient dehumidifier
The most energy efficient dehumidifier (the 50 pint Midea Cubesee more, including pricing, on Amazon, here) costs 8 cents per hour, $1.80 per day, and $54.14 per month to run. The same type, but with a pump, may be found here).
Because of its IEF (L/kWh) and innovative features, the 50 Pint Media Cube is considered the most energy efficient. More information about the most energy efficient dehumidifier may be found here.
While it has the “ENERGY STAR Most Efficient” badge, it does not use the least amount of electricity among the energy efficient dehumidifiers on the short list.
The 20 Pint Media Cube is the most energy efficient dehumidifier on the market, costing just over 3 cents per hour, 84 cents per day, and $25.10 per month to run.
In comparison to its greater capacity counterpart, this model is suited for smaller rooms.
Amazon’s #1 best seller, which costs just 1 cent more per hour and has a more classic dehumidifier style, also made the shortlist of energy efficient dehumidifiers. Here’s a link to Amazon’s best seller.
Visit Dehumidifier Wattage & Most Efficient Revealed to learn more about dehumidifier energy efficiency, including why the most energy efficient model uses more electricity than others.
So now that we know how much it costs to run a dehumidifier, let’s put it in context by examining the impact on power bills and comparing the expenses to those of other typical household appliances.
Are dehumidifiers expensive to run
While the hourly operating cost (6 cents on average) may not appear to be significant, the expenditures accumulate over time.
Dehumidifiers are frequently used for long periods of time, running for days or even months at a time.
Dehumidifiers can add $46.07 to your electricity bill if left running constantly for 30 days.
Dehumidifiers can add a stunning 40% to your monthly electricity price, according to eia.gov, when compared to the average US electricity bill of $115.
If you run a dehumidifier for 8 hours per day for 30 days, your electricity bill will increase by $15.36, or 13%.
Let’s put things into perspective by comparing the average daily cost of running a dehumidifier to the cost of running other typical household equipment.
The average daily cost of running a dehumidifier (i.e. $1.54) is equal to:
How much kWh does A dehumidifier use?
A dehumidifier’s average energy usage is 280 watts-hour, or 0.28 kilowatt-hour. Are you unsure what it means? Don’t be concerned; you’re not alone. Simply said, a kilowatt-hour (Wh) is a unit of measurement for the quantity of energy consumed over time. Your dehumidifier will use 0.28 kilowatts if you operate it for an hour.
We put up this short tutorial to help you navigate the basics like a pro if you’re interested in learning more about different energy units and what they signify for your power usage.
A dehumidifier consumes how many kWh per day?
The energy consumption of a dehumidifier is quite minimal. A tiny 30-pint dehumidifier consumes 300W of power. A typical large 70-pint dehumidifier consumes 700W of power.
To put the energy use into perspective, these are the wattages of some other devices:
A dehumidifier uses significantly less electricity than a water heater, air conditioner, or even a hair dryer. A dehumidifier uses roughly the same amount of electricity as a computer. If you look at how dehumidifiers work, you’ll notice that the majority of the energy goes into compressing refrigerant gas.
Nonetheless, purchasing the most energy-efficient dehumidifier makes sense. Let’s look at how we can determine which dehumidifiers are more energy efficient.
It costs less than $1 to run the most energy-efficient dehumidifier for 10 hours.
How much does it cost to run a dehumidifier for a month?
Example 1 (Highest Costs): Assume we have a large, moist basement. According to the obsolete 2012 DOE standard, we install a strong 700W dehumidifier with a 70-pint capacity. By the way, a list of the best dehumidifiers can be found here.
We operate the dehumidifier 24 hours a day, 7 days a week because of the extremely high relative humidity of 90%, and we reside in an area where power costs $0.2 per kWh. It will cost us: Depending on how long we keep it on:
Monthly rent is $100.8.
In other words, running one of the most powerful dehumidifiers at maximum capacity for a month in a high-cost electricity area will cost us around $100 in electricity bills.
Example 2 (Minimum Costs): Our apartment’s air is a little humid. To make breathing a little easier, we’d want to lower the relative humidity rate.
We buy a tiny 30-pint 300W dehumidifier and run it for 8 hours every day. After 8 hours, the air will have a normal humidity level, and you can turn it off for the day. Electricity is inexpensive ($0.1 kWh). How much does it cost to run a small dehumidifier for 8 hours a day:
For less than $10 in power, you can run a modest dehumidifier for a month (8 hours each day).
Example 3 (Average Costs): The majority of households choose to purchase a typical 50-pint dehumidifier with a 500W power supply that runs for 8 hours per day. If the average price of electricity is $0.1319, a dehumidifier of this type will cost:
Monthly rent is $16.80.
As you can see, even the most powerful commercial dehumidifiers utilize very little electricity in terms of dollars. Other HVAC systems, such as air conditioners and heaters, consume several times more energy in most households.
Will a dehumidifier help me save money on my power bill?
When you turn on a dehumidifier, it will instantly begin to lower your utility bills. You won’t need to run the air conditioner as much because your home will seem cooler with less moisture in the air.
Is it cheaper to run an air conditioner or a dehumidifier?
However, this convenience comes at a cost, and many people ask if it is more cost effective to use an air conditioner or a dehumidifier. When both units are of average capacity and have typical running times, it is generally cheaper to run a dehumidifier than an air conditioner. Regardless, because each has its unique role, this does not mean you should get rid of your air conditioner and replace it with a dehumidifier.
Both air conditioners and dehumidifiers have their functions, and understanding them will keep you from preferring one over the other without reason.
On average, you can anticipate to pay the following amount on your monthly power bill:
- Depending on their size, portable dehumidifiers can cost anywhere from $25 to $350 per year. Although this isn’t the most accurate way of looking at it, it breaks down to $2 to $29 every month. In the hot and humid winter months, most dehumidifiers, like air conditioners, operate nonstop, whereas in the summer, they barely run or are even turned off.
- Your monthly electricity bill will normally increase by $80 to $125 if you have central air conditioning.
- Electricity costs for mini-split air conditioners with an average capacity (about 12,000 to 20,000 BTU) range from $35 to $50 per month. Portable or window air conditioners with equivalent BTU capabilities should cost around half as much.
Let’s look at the similarities and differences between your air conditioner and dehumidifier now that you know the pricing.
Do dehumidifiers save money on energy?
Increased atmospheric humidity stops the body from releasing heat through sweat in hot and humid weather. As a result, the “real feel temperature” is greater than the actual temperature, prompting people to turn up the thermostat. Dehumidifiers remove moisture from your home’s air, making the temperature feel a little cooler. Despite the fact that both dehumidifiers and air conditioners use electricity, dehumidifiers use less, resulting in a lower overall electricity expenditure.
How much does it cost to run a dehumidifier in the UK 24 hours a day, 7 days a week?
How much does it cost to run the dehumidifier? The cost of electricity consumption for our normal industrial machine ranges from roughly 2.50 per day to around 6.40 per day for our larger portable machine while running continuously for 24 hours.
A dehumidifier consumes how many amps?
When running, dehumidifiers consume between 2.2 and 10 amps. The amp draw temporarily jumps to 27A or more on startup in some circumstances, but 13A is more common.
You’ll find a sample list of amperage for ENERGY STAR certified dehumidifiers below, as well as how many amps 20 to 50 pint dehumidifiers utilize.
But first, consider how many amps dehumidifiers consume during startup and operation.
Dehumidifier amp draw on start-up
Dehumidifiers can take up to 5 times the amount of electricity when they first turn on.
On startup, many household appliances, especially those with electric motors (e.g., washing machines, clothes dryers), consume much more current. Dehumidifiers work in a similar way.
Components of dehumidifiers (such as compressors, coils, and fans) require greater current to start. After that, the current draw decreases. This is due to the fact that dehumidifiers require more power to start up than they do to run.
Standard circuits are designed to handle initial surges in current demand. Household circuits are often safeguarded by 13A breakers. The breaker will not trip until the initial draw is much more than the breaker size.
In the vast majority of circumstances, standard household outlets can be utilized to power household dehumidifiers.
Whole-house dehumidifiers necessitate a professional installation, whereas industrial dehumidifiers may have a higher current. The vast majority of portable dehumidifiers, on the other hand, can operate on ordinary circuits.
Dehumidifier amps drawn on start-upthe figures
A dehumidifier’s start-up amp draw is typically 13A. However, it’s usual to witness a 20A or larger current increase at first.
In my investigation into dehumidifier energy efficiency, the largest initial amp draw I found was 27A. Look at the amperage given in the product description for the “BLACK+DECKER 4500 Sq. Ft. Dehumidifier with Drain Pump” on Amazon, for example.
Dehumidifier amp draw when running
When running, dehumidifiers consume anything from 2.2 to 10 amps, with 7.8 amps being the most frequent.
The amp draw of the dehumidifier diminishes dramatically after the initial spike when it is turned on. This is because continuing to run the device’s components uses less energy than starting them up and getting them going.
In the vast majority of circumstances, running a portable household dehumidifier on a typical household outlet protected by a 10A / 13A breaker is safe.
However, before purchasing a dehumidifier, make sure to read the product descriptions and manuals.
A dehumidifier’s amp draw tends to increase in proportion to its size. So let’s take a look at this for a moment.
How many amps do 20, 30, 40 and 50 pint dehumidifiers use
The table below shows the usual amp draw of different-sized contemporary dehumidifiers.
Dehumidifiers that are larger, older, and less efficient can draw more current than what is stated in the chart above. These models increase the amperage of the most common dehumidifier to 7.8A.