How Much Does It Cost to Run a Box Fan?
A box fan moves a lot of air for 75 watts — running one all night costs a few cents. At the US-average rate of 16.5¢/kWh, running a box fan 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 a box fan
$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 a box fan use?
At 75 W for 8 hours a day, a box fan 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 a box fan draws.
Cost to run a box fan by electricity rate
Same 75 W appliance, 8 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 a box fan 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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