How Much Does It Cost to Run a Central Air Conditioner?
A 3-ton central AC is one of the biggest summer loads in a home, pulling roughly 3,500 watts while the compressor runs. At the US-average rate of 16.5¢/kWh, running a central air conditioner costs about $105.27/month ($1,263.19/year) at typical use. Adjust the watts, hours, and your rate below for your exact number.
Cost to run a central air conditioner
$1,263/yr
- Per day
- $3.46
- Per month
- $105.27
- Energy per year
- 7,665 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 central air conditioner use?
At 3,500 W for 6 hours a day, a central air conditioner uses about 21 kWh per day — roughly 639 kWh per month and 7,665 kWh per year. That's about 74% 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 central air conditioner draws.
Cost to run a central air conditioner by electricity rate
Same 3,500 W appliance, 6 h/day — the bill changes with where you live.
| Scenario | Rate | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheapest states (North Dakota) | 11.5¢ | $73.52 | $882.24 |
| US average | 16.5¢ | $105.27 | $1,263.19 |
| Most expensive (Hawaii) | 42.9¢ | $273.77 | $3,285.22 |
Find your state's rate on the electricity rates by state page, or see the appliance wattage chart for more devices.
Frequently asked questions
Ask AI about this
Open an AI assistant with a question grounded in this page.