Desk fan vs. tower fan: running cost
A desk fan is cheaper to run: about $4 a year versus $11 for a tower fan at typical use and 17.99¢/kWh, a $7 difference.
| Desk fan | Tower fan | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical watts | 25 W | 50 W |
| Watt range | 5–40 W | 20–110 W |
| Typical use | 8 hours a day, 5 days a week for 5 months a year | 8 hours a day for 5 months a year |
| Energy per year | 22 kWh | 63 kWh |
| Cost per hour | 0.4¢ | 0.9¢ |
| Cost per day | 2.6¢ | 7.5¢ |
| Cost per month | $0.78 | $2.28 |
| Cost per year | $4 | $11 |
| Per year in Hawaii (43.51¢) | $9 | $28 |
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What drives the difference
- Desk fan: Small plug-in desk fans draw about 10-35 W.
- 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
USB desk fan
Uses 2-5 W for close-range personal cooling.
See options on Amazon DC tower fan
Uses roughly half the power of an AC-motor tower fan.
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 desk fan or a tower fan?
At typical use and the U.S. average rate (17.99¢/kWh), a tower fan costs about $11 a year versus $4 for a desk fan. That's $7 more, or 2.9× as much.
How many watts do desk fan and tower fan use?
A desk fan typically draws 25 W (range 5–40 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.