What a room air conditioner costs to run
A typical certified room air conditioner uses 532 kWh a year, about $96.75 at the U.S. average rate.
Window and through-the-wall units. Based on 589 models on the ENERGY STAR certified list.
Cost by state
| Rank | State | Cents per kWh | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii | 46.41 | $246.85 | $20.57 |
| 2 | California | 32.58 | $173.29 | $14.44 |
| 3 | Maine | 30.23 | $160.79 | $13.40 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | 30.19 | $160.58 | $13.38 |
| 5 | New York | 29.26 | $155.63 | $12.97 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | 29.05 | $154.52 | $12.88 |
| 7 | Connecticut | 27.47 | $146.11 | $12.18 |
| 8 | Alaska | 27.32 | $145.32 | $12.11 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | 26.91 | $143.13 | $11.93 |
| 10 | District of Columbia | 24.86 | $132.23 | $11.02 |
| 11 | New Jersey | 24.09 | $128.13 | $10.68 |
| 12 | Vermont | 23.93 | $127.28 | $10.61 |
| 13 | Michigan | 21.73 | $115.58 | $9.63 |
| 14 | Maryland | 21.31 | $113.35 | $9.45 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | 21.13 | $112.39 | $9.37 |
| 16 | Illinois | 19.23 | $102.28 | $8.52 |
| 17 | Wisconsin | 19.05 | $101.33 | $8.44 |
| 18 | Ohio | 18.81 | $100.05 | $8.34 |
| 19 | Delaware | 17.98 | $95.64 | $7.97 |
| 20 | Indiana | 17.04 | $90.64 | $7.55 |
| 21 | Virginia | 16.95 | $90.16 | $7.51 |
| 22 | Colorado | 16.80 | $89.36 | $7.45 |
| 23 | Alabama | 16.51 | $87.82 | $7.32 |
| 24 | Minnesota | 16.44 | $87.44 | $7.29 |
| 25 | Texas | 16.03 | $85.26 | $7.11 |
| 26 | South Carolina | 15.90 | $84.57 | $7.05 |
| 27 | West Virginia | 15.58 | $82.87 | $6.91 |
| 28 | Georgia | 15.48 | $82.34 | $6.86 |
| 29 | Oregon | 15.46 | $82.23 | $6.85 |
| 30 | Arizona | 15.36 | $81.70 | $6.81 |
| 31 | New Mexico | 15.34 | $81.59 | $6.80 |
| 32 | Florida | 15.32 | $81.49 | $6.79 |
| 33 | Kansas | 15.26 | $81.17 | $6.76 |
| 34 | Mississippi | 15.06 | $80.10 | $6.68 |
| 35 | North Carolina | 14.94 | $79.47 | $6.62 |
| 36 | South Dakota | 14.58 | $77.55 | $6.46 |
| 37 | Iowa | 14.55 | $77.39 | $6.45 |
| 38 | Washington | 14.42 | $76.70 | $6.39 |
| 39 | Missouri | 14.28 | $75.96 | $6.33 |
| 40 | Kentucky | 14.20 | $75.53 | $6.29 |
| 41 | Montana | 14.13 | $75.16 | $6.26 |
| 42 | Wyoming | 14.01 | $74.52 | $6.21 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | 13.81 | $73.46 | $6.12 |
| 44 | Tennessee | 13.80 | $73.40 | $6.12 |
| 45 | Arkansas | 13.74 | $73.08 | $6.09 |
| 46 | Nevada | 13.36 | $71.06 | $5.92 |
| 47 | Louisiana | 13.27 | $70.58 | $5.88 |
| 48 | Utah | 13.19 | $70.16 | $5.85 |
| 49 | Idaho | 13.02 | $69.25 | $5.77 |
| 50 | Nebraska | 12.92 | $68.72 | $5.73 |
| 51 | North Dakota | 12.46 | $66.27 | $5.52 |
Models that use the least electricity
| Model | Details | kWh per year | Cost per year, U.S. average |
|---|---|---|---|
| BLACK+DECKER BDM05C | Window, 5000 btu/h | 260 | $47.37 |
| Brothers 102372 | Window, 5000 btu/h | 260 | $47.37 |
| Frigidaire FHWC055TF1 | Window, 5000 btu/h | 260 | $47.37 |
| Frigidaire FHWC056TF1 | Window, 5000 btu/h | 260 | $47.37 |
| Midea MAW05R1KWT-B | Window, 5000 btu/h | 260 | $47.37 |
| Midea MAW05R1VWBL-T | Window, 5000 btu/h | 260 | $47.37 |
| Midea MAW05R1VWWT-T | Window, 5000 btu/h | 260 | $47.37 |
| Midea MAW05S1KWT-A | Window, 5000 btu/h | 260 | $47.37 |
| Midea MWEUWA-05CRFN8-BCN4 | Window, 5000 btu/h | 260 | $47.37 |
| Noma 143-1378-6 | Window, 5000 btu/h | 260 | $47.37 |
| Perfect aire 1PACV5000 | Window, 5000 btu/h | 260 | $47.37 |
| Vissani VAW05V1KWT | Window, 5000 btu/h | 260 | $47.37 |
| TCL T05WV9M | Window, 5000 btu/h | 274 | $49.79 |
| TCL T05WV9MB | Window, 5000 btu/h | 274 | $49.79 |
| TCL T05WV9R | Window, 5000 btu/h | 274 | $49.79 |
Brands with the most certified models
| Brand | Models | Typical kWh per year |
|---|---|---|
| Midea | 203 | 500 |
| TCL | 59 | 469 |
| Friedrich | 31 | 734 |
| Frigidaire | 27 | 532 |
| Hisense | 22 | 520 |
| Whirlpool | 20 | 581 |
| Perfect aire | 18 | 547 |
| Seasons | 13 | 562 |
| LG | 12 | 600 |
| Frigidaire Gallery | 12 | 500 |
Frequently asked questions
How much electricity does a room air conditioner use?
A typical ENERGY STAR certified room air conditioner uses about 532 kWh a year. The most efficient 10% use 375 kWh or less. The 10% that use the most need 900 kWh or more.
How much does it cost to run a room air conditioner for a year?
About $96.75 at the U.S. average rate of 18.19 cents per kWh. It ranges from $66.27 in North Dakota to $246.85 in Hawaii.
How we get these numbers: yearly electricity use comes from the ENERGY STAR certified product lists, measured with the federal test procedure. The rate is the average residential price the U.S. Energy Information Administration reports for each state, January to August 2026. Your own bill depends on your utility, your plan and how you use the appliance. See sources.