❄️ Air conditioner

How much electricity does an air conditioner use? Hourly cost of split, inverter and portable units

Air conditioner power use and cost per hour, per day and per summer: inverter split units, multi-split, portable and old models.

Typical power

700 W

Cost per hour

$0.126 · £0.182

Per year · 315 kWh

$57 · £82

With 6 hours a day for 75 days a year, electricity at $0.18/kWh and £0.26/kWh all-in.

An inverter split unit draws 1,000 W or more for the first few minutes, then drops to 300–700 W once the room is cool: about 0.7 kWh per hour on average. Six hours a day for two and a half months is about 300 kWh.

Portable units use far more for the same cooling: they vent heat through a hose out of the window and pull warm air in from outside, so they’re about half as efficient as a split. Old non-inverter models cycle on and off at full power and use 30–50% more.

Consumption compared

TypeUsagekWh/yearCost/year
2.5 kW (9,000 BTU) inverter, A+++450 W203$36 · £53
3.5 kW (12,000 BTU) inverter, A++750 W338$61 · £88
Inverter multi-split (two rooms)1,300 W585$105 · £152
Portable unit1,100 W495$89 · £129
Old on/off (non-inverter) unit1,200 W540$97 · £140

Yearly cost with 6 hours a day for 75 days a year.

Work out your cost

Per hour
$0.13
Per month
$4.72
Per year
$57
Energy per year
315 kWh

The price is a typical all-in figure for your country: replace it with yours (bill total ÷ kWh).

How to use less

  • Set 26–27 °C: each degree cooler adds about 6–8% to consumption. You rarely need more than 6–7 degrees below the outdoor temperature.
  • Use dry mode on humid but not scorching days: dry air feels cooler and the compressor works less.
  • Clean the filters every 2–3 weeks of use and close blinds during sunny hours.
  • With solar panels, cool the house in the middle of the day when they produce.
Lower-energy modelsCompare prices and energy labels on AmazonAmazon ↗

FAQ

How much electricity does an air conditioner use?
About 700 W, or 0.7 kWh for each hour of use; from 250 to 2,500 W depending on the model.
How much does it cost per year?
With 6 hours a day for 75 days a year it uses about 315 kWh a year: about $57 · £82 at $0.18/kWh and £0.26/kWh.
How can I reduce it?
Set 26–27 °C: each degree cooler adds about 6–8% to consumption. You rarely need more than 6–7 degrees below the outdoor temperature. Use dry mode on humid but not scorching days: dry air feels cooler and the compressor works less.
❄️GuideHow much does air conditioning cost to run?

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