How Much Does It Cost to Run Whole-House Fan?
A whole-house fan swaps hot indoor air for cool evening air at a tenth of central AC's draw. At the US-average rate of 16.5¢/kWh, running a whole-house fan costs about $6.02/month ($72.18/year) at typical use. Adjust the watts, hours, and your rate below for your exact number.
Cost to run a whole-house fan
$72/yr
- Per day
- $0.20
- Per month
- $6.02
- Energy per year
- 438 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.
Cost to run a whole-house fan by electricity rate
Same 400 W appliance, 3 h/day — the bill changes with where you live.
| Scenario | Rate | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheapest states (North Dakota) | 11.5¢ | $4.20 | $50.41 |
| US average | 16.5¢ | $6.02 | $72.18 |
| Most expensive (Hawaii) | 42.9¢ | $15.64 | $187.73 |
Find your state's rate on the electricity rates by state page, or see the appliance wattage chart for more devices.
Frequently asked questions
At the US-average residential rate of 16.5¢/kWh, a whole-house fan drawing 400 watts for about 3 hours a day costs roughly $0.20 per day, $6.02 per month, and $72.18 per year. Your actual cost depends on your electricity rate and how much you use it — adjust both in the calculator above.
Ask AI about this
Open an AI assistant with a question grounded in this page.