How much does it cost to run a tower fan?
A tower fan costs about 0.9¢ per hour, 7.5¢ a day, $2.28 a month and $11 a year at typical use (8 hours a day for 5 months a year) and the U.S. average rate of 17.99¢/kWh. Tower fans typically draw 30-60 W. DC-motor models such as many Dreo fans use as little as 10-35 W.
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Cost by setting
| Setting | Watts | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | 30 | 0.5¢ | 4.6¢ | $1.40 | $7 |
| Medium | 40 | 0.7¢ | 6.0¢ | $1.84 | $9 |
| High | 50 | 0.9¢ | 7.5¢ | $2.28 | $11 |
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¢ | $0.40 | $5 |
| 2 hours | 0.12 | 2.2¢ | $0.67 | $8 |
| 4 hours | 0.22 | 4.0¢ | $1.20 | $14 |
| 8 hours | 0.42 | 7.5¢ | $2.28 | $27 |
| 12 hours | 0.61 | 11¢ | $3.35 | $40 |
| 24 hours | 1.20 | 22¢ | $6.57 | $79 |
Cost to run a tower fan in every state
The same tower fan costs $8 a year in North Dakota and $28 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¢ | 0.6¢ | $1.56 | $8 |
| Idaho | 12.65¢ | 0.6¢ | $1.60 | $8 |
| Nebraska | 12.86¢ | 0.6¢ | $1.63 | $8 |
| Louisiana | 12.99¢ | 0.6¢ | $1.64 | $8 |
| Utah | 13.32¢ | 0.7¢ | $1.69 | $8 |
| Nevada | 13.36¢ | 0.7¢ | $1.69 | $8 |
| Arkansas | 13.43¢ | 0.7¢ | $1.70 | $9 |
| Tennessee | 13.56¢ | 0.7¢ | $1.72 | $9 |
| Oklahoma | 13.70¢ | 0.7¢ | $1.73 | $9 |
| Montana | 13.84¢ | 0.7¢ | $1.75 | $9 |
| Kentucky | 13.92¢ | 0.7¢ | $1.76 | $9 |
| Missouri | 13.95¢ | 0.7¢ | $1.77 | $9 |
| Wyoming | 14.01¢ | 0.7¢ | $1.77 | $9 |
| Washington | 14.12¢ | 0.7¢ | $1.79 | $9 |
| Iowa | 14.13¢ | 0.7¢ | $1.79 | $9 |
| South Dakota | 14.20¢ | 0.7¢ | $1.80 | $9 |
| Mississippi | 14.77¢ | 0.7¢ | $1.87 | $9 |
| North Carolina | 14.77¢ | 0.7¢ | $1.87 | $9 |
| Kansas | 15.09¢ | 0.8¢ | $1.91 | $10 |
| Georgia | 15.12¢ | 0.8¢ | $1.91 | $10 |
| New Mexico | 15.32¢ | 0.8¢ | $1.94 | $10 |
| Florida | 15.39¢ | 0.8¢ | $1.95 | $10 |
| Arizona | 15.40¢ | 0.8¢ | $1.95 | $10 |
| West Virginia | 15.48¢ | 0.8¢ | $1.96 | $10 |
| Oregon | 15.50¢ | 0.8¢ | $1.96 | $10 |
| South Carolina | 15.64¢ | 0.8¢ | $1.98 | $10 |
| Texas | 15.96¢ | 0.8¢ | $2.02 | $10 |
| Minnesota | 16.22¢ | 0.8¢ | $2.05 | $10 |
| Alabama | 16.44¢ | 0.8¢ | $2.08 | $10 |
| Virginia | 16.48¢ | 0.8¢ | $2.09 | $10 |
| Colorado | 16.58¢ | 0.8¢ | $2.10 | $10 |
| Indiana | 16.94¢ | 0.8¢ | $2.14 | $11 |
| Delaware | 17.79¢ | 0.9¢ | $2.25 | $11 |
| Ohio | 18.25¢ | 0.9¢ | $2.31 | $12 |
| Wisconsin | 18.74¢ | 0.9¢ | $2.37 | $12 |
| Illinois | 18.79¢ | 0.9¢ | $2.38 | $12 |
| Pennsylvania | 20.70¢ | 1.0¢ | $2.62 | $13 |
| Maryland | 21.03¢ | 1.1¢ | $2.66 | $13 |
| Michigan | 21.05¢ | 1.1¢ | $2.67 | $13 |
| New Jersey | 23.78¢ | 1.2¢ | $3.01 | $15 |
| Vermont | 23.80¢ | 1.2¢ | $3.01 | $15 |
| District of Columbia | 24.20¢ | 1.2¢ | $3.06 | $15 |
| New Hampshire | 26.67¢ | 1.3¢ | $3.38 | $17 |
| Alaska | 26.85¢ | 1.3¢ | $3.40 | $17 |
| Connecticut | 27.99¢ | 1.4¢ | $3.54 | $18 |
| New York | 28.39¢ | 1.4¢ | $3.59 | $18 |
| Rhode Island | 29.27¢ | 1.5¢ | $3.71 | $19 |
| Maine | 29.31¢ | 1.5¢ | $3.71 | $19 |
| Massachusetts | 30.43¢ | 1.5¢ | $3.85 | $19 |
| California | 32.99¢ | 1.6¢ | $4.18 | $21 |
| Hawaii | 43.51¢ | 2.2¢ | $5.51 | $28 |
How to cut the cost
- Use the timer function (1-12 hours) at night so it shuts off after you fall asleep.
- Keep it 2-4 ft from you; airflow drops off quickly with distance.
- Vacuum the intake grille every few weeks; tower fans clog with dust easily.
- Turn off the display lights and ionizer if not needed.
Cheaper ways to get the job done
Uses roughly half the power of an AC-motor tower fan.
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Compare with similar appliances
| Appliance | Watts | Typical use | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tower fan | 50 | 8 hours a day for 5 months a year | $2.28 | $11 |
| Box fan | 75 | 8 hours a day for 5 months a year | $3.29 | $16 |
| Pedestal fan | 50 | 8 hours a day for 5 months a year | $2.19 | $11 |
| Bladeless fan | 40 | 8 hours a day for 5 months a year | $1.84 | $9 |
| Ceiling fan | 40 | 8 hours a day | $1.84 | $22 |
| Window fan | 60 | 8 hours a day for 5 months a year | $2.63 | $13 |
| Air circulator fan | 60 | 8 hours a day for 5 months a year | $2.63 | $13 |
Head-to-head comparisons
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a tower fan per hour?
A tower fan drawing 50 watts uses 0.05 kWh per hour. At the U.S. average of 17.99¢/kWh that's 0.9¢ per hour. In North Dakota (12.32¢) it's 0.6¢. In Hawaii (43.51¢) it's 2.2¢.
How much does it cost to run a tower fan per month?
At typical use (8 hours a day for 5 months a year), a tower fan costs about $2.28 a month while in use and $11 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 tower fan use?
Most tower fans use 20 to 110 watts, depending on the setting (low 30 W, medium 40 W, high 50 W). Plugged in but off, it still draws about 1 W of standby power. Check the label on the back or bottom for your model's exact rating.
How many kWh does a tower fan use?
About 0.42 kWh a day and 63 kWh a year at typical use (8 hours a day for 5 months a year).
Does a tower fan use a lot of electricity?
No. At about 63 kWh a year it's a small share (0.6%) of the average U.S. home's 10,492 kWh.
Is it cheaper to run a tower fan or a box fan?
At typical use, a tower fan costs about $11 a year versus $16 for a box fan. So the tower fan is cheaper by about $5 a year. Use the comparison table above to compare them at your own settings.
How can I lower the cost of running a tower fan?
- Use the timer function (1-12 hours) at night so it shuts off after you fall asleep.
- Keep it 2-4 ft from you; airflow drops off quickly with distance.
- Vacuum the intake grille every few weeks; tower fans clog with dust easily.
Rates updated 2026-10-21: EIA data through July 2026. Typical wattage and usage reviewed against DOE, ENERGY STAR and manufacturer specs. Methodology.