How much does it cost to run a box fan?
A box fan costs about 1.3¢ per hour, 11¢ a day, $3.29 a month and $16 a year at typical use (8 hours a day for 5 months a year) and the U.S. average rate of 17.99¢/kWh. A standard 20-inch box fan draws about 45-75 W. Running one 8 hours a day all summer costs a few dollars.
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Cost by setting
| Setting | Watts | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | 45 | 0.8¢ | 6.5¢ | $1.97 | $10 |
| Medium | 60 | 1.1¢ | 8.6¢ | $2.63 | $13 |
| High | 75 | 1.3¢ | 11¢ | $3.29 | $16 |
At 8 hours a day for 5 months a year and 17.99¢/kWh.
Cost by hours of use
| Hours per day | kWh/day | Per day | Per month | Per year (all year) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour | 0.07 | 1.3¢ | $0.41 | $5 |
| 2 hours | 0.15 | 2.7¢ | $0.82 | $10 |
| 4 hours | 0.30 | 5.4¢ | $1.64 | $20 |
| 8 hours | 0.60 | 11¢ | $3.29 | $39 |
| 12 hours | 0.90 | 16¢ | $4.93 | $59 |
| 24 hours | 1.80 | 32¢ | $9.86 | $118 |
Cost to run a box fan in every state
The same box fan costs $11 a year in North Dakota and $40 in Hawaii, at each state's average residential rate (12 months ending July 2026).
| State | Rate | Per hour | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | 12.32¢ | 0.9¢ | $2.25 | $11 |
| Idaho | 12.65¢ | 0.9¢ | $2.31 | $12 |
| Nebraska | 12.86¢ | 1.0¢ | $2.35 | $12 |
| Louisiana | 12.99¢ | 1.0¢ | $2.37 | $12 |
| Utah | 13.32¢ | 1.0¢ | $2.43 | $12 |
| Nevada | 13.36¢ | 1.0¢ | $2.44 | $12 |
| Arkansas | 13.43¢ | 1.0¢ | $2.45 | $12 |
| Tennessee | 13.56¢ | 1.0¢ | $2.48 | $12 |
| Oklahoma | 13.70¢ | 1.0¢ | $2.50 | $13 |
| Montana | 13.84¢ | 1.0¢ | $2.53 | $13 |
| Kentucky | 13.92¢ | 1.0¢ | $2.54 | $13 |
| Missouri | 13.95¢ | 1.0¢ | $2.55 | $13 |
| Wyoming | 14.01¢ | 1.1¢ | $2.56 | $13 |
| Washington | 14.12¢ | 1.1¢ | $2.58 | $13 |
| Iowa | 14.13¢ | 1.1¢ | $2.58 | $13 |
| South Dakota | 14.20¢ | 1.1¢ | $2.59 | $13 |
| Mississippi | 14.77¢ | 1.1¢ | $2.70 | $13 |
| North Carolina | 14.77¢ | 1.1¢ | $2.70 | $13 |
| Kansas | 15.09¢ | 1.1¢ | $2.76 | $14 |
| Georgia | 15.12¢ | 1.1¢ | $2.76 | $14 |
| New Mexico | 15.32¢ | 1.1¢ | $2.80 | $14 |
| Florida | 15.39¢ | 1.2¢ | $2.81 | $14 |
| Arizona | 15.40¢ | 1.2¢ | $2.81 | $14 |
| West Virginia | 15.48¢ | 1.2¢ | $2.83 | $14 |
| Oregon | 15.50¢ | 1.2¢ | $2.83 | $14 |
| South Carolina | 15.64¢ | 1.2¢ | $2.86 | $14 |
| Texas | 15.96¢ | 1.2¢ | $2.91 | $15 |
| Minnesota | 16.22¢ | 1.2¢ | $2.96 | $15 |
| Alabama | 16.44¢ | 1.2¢ | $3.00 | $15 |
| Virginia | 16.48¢ | 1.2¢ | $3.01 | $15 |
| Colorado | 16.58¢ | 1.2¢ | $3.03 | $15 |
| Indiana | 16.94¢ | 1.3¢ | $3.09 | $15 |
| Delaware | 17.79¢ | 1.3¢ | $3.25 | $16 |
| Ohio | 18.25¢ | 1.4¢ | $3.33 | $17 |
| Wisconsin | 18.74¢ | 1.4¢ | $3.42 | $17 |
| Illinois | 18.79¢ | 1.4¢ | $3.43 | $17 |
| Pennsylvania | 20.70¢ | 1.6¢ | $3.78 | $19 |
| Maryland | 21.03¢ | 1.6¢ | $3.84 | $19 |
| Michigan | 21.05¢ | 1.6¢ | $3.84 | $19 |
| New Jersey | 23.78¢ | 1.8¢ | $4.34 | $22 |
| Vermont | 23.80¢ | 1.8¢ | $4.35 | $22 |
| District of Columbia | 24.20¢ | 1.8¢ | $4.42 | $22 |
| New Hampshire | 26.67¢ | 2.0¢ | $4.87 | $24 |
| Alaska | 26.85¢ | 2.0¢ | $4.90 | $25 |
| Connecticut | 27.99¢ | 2.1¢ | $5.11 | $26 |
| New York | 28.39¢ | 2.1¢ | $5.18 | $26 |
| Rhode Island | 29.27¢ | 2.2¢ | $5.35 | $27 |
| Maine | 29.31¢ | 2.2¢ | $5.35 | $27 |
| Massachusetts | 30.43¢ | 2.3¢ | $5.56 | $28 |
| California | 32.99¢ | 2.5¢ | $6.02 | $30 |
| Hawaii | 43.51¢ | 3.3¢ | $7.95 | $40 |
How to cut the cost
- Use low or medium speed; power drops by 25-40% while still moving plenty of air at close range.
- At night, put it in a window blowing out and open a window across the house to pull in cool air.
- Turn it off when you leave the room.
- Dust the blades and grilles monthly; dirty blades move less air for the same watts.
Cheaper ways to get the job done
Moves similar air on 10-30 W.
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Compare with similar appliances
| Appliance | Watts | Typical use | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Box fan | 75 | 8 hours a day for 5 months a year | $3.29 | $16 |
| Window fan | 60 | 8 hours a day for 5 months a year | $2.63 | $13 |
| Pedestal fan | 50 | 8 hours a day for 5 months a year | $2.19 | $11 |
| Tower fan | 50 | 8 hours a day for 5 months a year | $2.28 | $11 |
| Ceiling fan | 40 | 8 hours a day | $1.84 | $22 |
| Air purifier | 40 | 24 hours a day | $5.26 | $63 |
| Radon fan | 70 | 24 hours a day | $9.20 | $110 |
Head-to-head comparisons
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a box fan per hour?
A box fan drawing 75 watts uses 0.07 kWh per hour. At the U.S. average of 17.99¢/kWh that's 1.3¢ per hour. In North Dakota (12.32¢) it's 0.9¢. In Hawaii (43.51¢) it's 3.3¢.
How much does it cost to run a box fan per month?
At typical use (8 hours a day for 5 months a year), a box fan costs about $3.29 a month while in use and $16 a year over the 5 months it's typically used, at the U.S. average rate. Enter your ZIP in the calculator above for your utility's rate.
How many watts does a box fan use?
Most box fans use 40 to 110 watts, depending on the setting (low 45 W, medium 60 W, high 75 W). Check the label on the back or bottom for your model's exact rating.
How many kWh does a box fan use?
About 0.60 kWh a day and 91 kWh a year at typical use (8 hours a day for 5 months a year).
Does a box fan use a lot of electricity?
No. At about 91 kWh a year it's a small share (0.9%) of the average U.S. home's 10,492 kWh.
Is it cheaper to run a box fan or a window fan?
At typical use, a box fan costs about $16 a year versus $13 for a window fan. So the window fan is cheaper by about $3 a year. Use the comparison table above to compare them at your own settings.
How can I lower the cost of running a box fan?
- Use low or medium speed; power drops by 25-40% while still moving plenty of air at close range.
- At night, put it in a window blowing out and open a window across the house to pull in cool air.
- Turn it off when you leave the room.
Rates updated 2026-10-21: EIA data through July 2026. Typical wattage and usage reviewed against DOE, ENERGY STAR and manufacturer specs. Methodology.