How Much Does It Cost to Run an Air Purifier?
A HEPA purifier on medium draws about as much as a laptop, even running half the day. At the US-average rate of 16.5¢/kWh, running an air purifier costs about $3.01/month ($36.09/year) at typical use. Adjust the watts, hours, and your rate below for your exact number.
Cost to run an air purifier
$36/yr
- Per day
- $0.10
- Per month
- $3.01
- Energy per year
- 219 kWh
Cost = power (kW) × hours × days × your rate. Defaults are typical values — enter your appliance's actual watts (often on a label) and your real rate for a precise figure.
How much electricity does an air purifier use?
At 50 W for 12 hours a day, an air purifier uses about 0.6 kWh per day — roughly 18 kWh per month and 219 kWh per year. That's about 2% of the 863 kWh the average US home uses in a month. Energy use is the same everywhere — only the price per kWh changes your bill.
Wondering about the circuit instead? See how many amps an air purifier draws.
Cost to run an air purifier by electricity rate
Same 50 W appliance, 12 h/day — the bill changes with where you live.
| Scenario | Rate | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheapest states (North Dakota) | 11.5¢ | $2.10 | $25.21 |
| US average | 16.5¢ | $3.01 | $36.09 |
| Most expensive (Hawaii) | 42.9¢ | $7.82 | $93.86 |
Find your state's rate on the electricity rates by state page, or see the appliance wattage chart for more devices.
Measure what an air purifier really costs you
The estimate above uses typical wattage and hours. A plug-in energy meter logs the kilowatt-hours this appliance actually uses — leave it in for a week, multiply by your rate, and the estimate becomes a measurement. A whole-home monitor does the same for every circuit at once, but its sensors install inside the panel.
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Plug-in power meter
P3 International Kill A Watt P4400
Best for: Measuring what one plug-in appliance really uses
Whole-home energy monitor
Emporia Vue 3 Home Energy Monitor (16 circuit sensors)
Best for: Measuring hardwired and 240 V loads, or every circuit at once
Frequently asked questions
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