Box fan vs. tower fan: running cost
A tower fan is cheaper to run: about $11 a year versus $16 for a box fan at typical use and 17.99¢/kWh, a $5 difference.
| Box fan | Tower fan | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical watts | 75 W | 50 W |
| Watt range | 40–110 W | 20–110 W |
| Typical use | 8 hours a day for 5 months a year | 8 hours a day for 5 months a year |
| Energy per year | 91 kWh | 63 kWh |
| Cost per hour | 1.3¢ | 0.9¢ |
| Cost per day | 11¢ | 7.5¢ |
| Cost per month | $3.29 | $2.28 |
| Cost per year | $16 | $11 |
| Per year in Hawaii (43.51¢) | $40 | $28 |
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What drives the difference
- Box fan: A standard 20-inch box fan draws about 45-75 W. Running one 8 hours a day all summer costs a few dollars.
- Tower fan: Tower fans typically draw 30-60 W. DC-motor models such as many Dreo fans use as little as 10-35 W.
Ways to cut either cost
DC tower fan
Uses roughly half the power of an AC-motor tower fan.
See options on Amazon DC-motor floor fan
Moves similar air on 10-30 W.
See options on AmazonWe may earn a commission from qualifying purchases. It never changes the numbers we show. Disclosure.
Frequently asked questions
Which costs more to run, a box fan or a tower fan?
At typical use and the U.S. average rate (17.99¢/kWh), a box fan costs about $16 a year versus $11 for a tower fan. That's $5 more, or 1.4× as much.
How many watts do box fan and tower fan use?
A box fan typically draws 75 W (range 40–110 W). A tower fan draws 50 W (range 20–110 W). Watts alone don't decide cost. Hours of use, cycling and standby matter just as much.
Rates: EIA, 12 months ending 2026-07. Methodology.