Desk fan vs. USB fan: running cost
A USB fan is cheaper to run: about $0 a year versus $4 for a desk fan at typical use and 17.99¢/kWh, a $3 difference.
| Desk fan | USB fan | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical watts | 25 W | 3 W |
| Watt range | 5–40 W | 1–10 W |
| Typical use | 8 hours a day, 5 days a week for 5 months a year | 6 hours a day for 5 months a year |
| Energy per year | 22 kWh | 3 kWh |
| Cost per hour | 0.4¢ | 0.05¢ |
| Cost per day | 2.6¢ | 0.3¢ |
| Cost per month | $0.78 | $0.10 |
| Cost per year | $4 | $0 |
| Per year in Hawaii (43.51¢) | $9 | $1 |
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What drives the difference
- Desk fan: Small plug-in desk fans draw about 10-35 W.
- USB fan: USB and rechargeable fans use about 1-10 W; recharging a handheld fan uses a few watt-hours.
Ways to cut either cost
Rechargeable desk fan
Cordless cooling anywhere for a few watts.
See options on Amazon USB desk fan
Uses 2-5 W for close-range personal cooling.
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 USB fan?
At typical use and the U.S. average rate (17.99¢/kWh), a desk fan costs about $4 a year versus $0 for a USB fan. That's $3 more, or 7.9× as much.
How many watts do desk fan and USB fan use?
A desk fan typically draws 25 W (range 5–40 W). A USB fan draws 3 W (range 1–10 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.