How Much Electricity Does a Fan Use?
Fans are among the cheapest things in the house to run. The number that matters is the wattage on the label, and for most fans it is a small one.
Quick answer
Most household fans use between 55 and 250 watts. A 100-watt fan uses 0.1 kWh per hour, which costs about 2 cents at the U.S. average rate of 18.31 cents per kWh (July 2026). Running it 8 hours a night costs about 15 cents, or roughly $4.45 a month. Left on around the clock, the same fan costs about $13 a month.
- Difficulty
- Easy DIY
- Ceiling fan
- 65 to 175 W
- Window fan
- 55 to 250 W
- 100 W for 8 hours
- About 15¢
- Rate used
- 18.31¢/kWh, U.S. average (EIA)
On this page
A fan is a small motor turning blades. It does not heat or cool anything, which is why it draws so little power compared with an air conditioner or a heater.
Typical fan wattage
Virginia Cooperative Extension lists these typical wattages for household fans:
| Fan type | Typical wattage |
|---|---|
| Ceiling fan | 65 to 175 W |
| Window fan | 55 to 250 W |
| Whole-house fan | 240 to 750 W |
| Furnace blower fan | 750 W |
The figure for your own fan is printed on its label or stamped on the motor housing, and it is normally the draw on the highest speed. Box fans, pedestal fans and tower fans are not listed separately in that table, so read the label. If it shows amps instead of watts, multiply the amps by 120 to get watts.
The calculation
Cost per hour = watts ÷ 1,000 × your rate per kWh
A 100-watt fan uses 100 ÷ 1,000 = 0.1 kWh per hour. At 18.31¢ per kWh that is 0.1 × $0.1831 = about 2 cents per hour.
Cost by wattage and hours
The table uses the U.S. average residential rate for July 2026 reported by the Energy Information Administration, 18.31¢ per kWh. A month is 30.4 days.
| Fan and use | Per day | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| 60 W, 8 hours a day | 9¢ | $2.67 |
| 60 W, 24 hours a day | 26¢ | $8.02 |
| 100 W, 8 hours a day | 15¢ | $4.45 |
| 100 W, 24 hours a day | 44¢ | $13.36 |
| 175 W, 8 hours a day | 26¢ | $7.79 |
| 175 W, 24 hours a day | 77¢ | $23.38 |
The same fan at other electricity rates
A 100-watt fan running 8 hours a day:
| At 12¢/kWh | At 18.31¢/kWh | At 25¢/kWh | At 35¢/kWh | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Per day | 10¢ | 15¢ | 20¢ | 28¢ |
| Per month | $2.92 | $4.45 | $6.08 | $8.51 |
For your exact wattage, hours and rate, use the appliance energy cost calculator.
Where fans sit on the bill
The Energy Information Administration puts the average U.S. home’s electricity purchases at about 899 kWh a month. A 100-watt fan running 8 hours a night adds about 24 kWh to that, under 3 percent. Even a fan left on all month, at about 73 kWh, is a small share. If a bill has jumped, the cause is almost never a fan: look at air conditioning, heating and water heating first, which together make up more than 40 percent of home electricity use according to the same agency.
Reading the label
Fan labels are not consistent, so it helps to know what you are looking at:
- Watts (W): use the number as it is.
- Amps (A) only: multiply by 120 volts. A label reading 0.6 A means about 72 watts.
- A range, such as 30 to 75 W: the low figure is the lowest speed and the high figure the highest.
- Ceiling fans with lights: the light kit is a separate load. Add the wattage of the bulbs when the light is on.
Fan or air conditioner?
A fan and an air conditioner do different jobs. The air conditioner removes heat from the room. The fan moves air across your skin, which makes you feel cooler without changing the room temperature. That has two practical consequences:
- A fan in an empty room is wasted electricity. Turn it off when you leave.
- A fan can let you run the air conditioner less. If moving air keeps you comfortable at a higher thermostat setting, the air conditioner, which costs far more per hour, runs for less time. See how much electricity an air conditioner uses.
Ways to use less
- Use the lowest speed that keeps you comfortable. Lower speeds draw less power.
- Choose an efficient ceiling fan when you replace one. ENERGY STAR states that certified ceiling fans are up to 44 percent more efficient than conventional fans.
- Put it on a timer overnight if you only need it while falling asleep.
Related guides: what size air conditioner a room needs and what it costs to run a space heater.
Frequently asked questions
Does a fan use a lot of electricity?
No. A fan moves air with a small motor, so it draws tens of watts, where an air conditioner or a heater draws hundreds or more than a thousand. A 100-watt fan running 8 hours uses 0.8 kWh, about 15 cents at the U.S. average rate.
Is it cheaper to run a fan or the air conditioner?
The fan, by a wide margin. A 100-watt fan costs about 2 cents an hour at the U.S. average rate, while a 900-watt window air conditioner costs about 16 cents. A fan does not lower the room temperature, though. It cools people by moving air across skin.
Does a fan use more electricity on high speed?
Yes. The wattage on the label is normally the draw at the highest speed. Lower speeds use less. A plug-in electricity monitor shows the exact figure for each speed.
Should I leave a fan on in an empty room?
There is no benefit. A fan cools people, not the air, so in an empty room it only uses electricity. Turn it off when you leave.
Sources
- Estimating Appliance and Home Electronic Energy Use (publication 2901-9014) Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech
- Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A: Average Price of Electricity to Ultimate Customers U.S. Energy Information Administration
- Ceiling Fans ENERGY STAR
- How much electricity does an American home use? U.S. Energy Information Administration
- Electricity use in homes U.S. Energy Information Administration
First published October 8, 2026. Last reviewed October 8, 2026. Spot an error? Tell us and we will check it against the source.