How much does it cost to run a whole-house humidifier?
A whole-house humidifier costs about 0.2¢ per hour, 2.2¢ a day, $0.66 a month and $3 a year at typical use (12 hours a day for 5 months a year) and the U.S. average rate of 17.99¢/kWh. Bypass and fan-powered furnace humidifiers draw only a solenoid and small fan (10-100 W). Electric steam models use 1,500-2,500 W while making steam.
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Cost by setting
| Setting | Watts | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bypass | 20 | 0.2¢ | 2.2¢ | $0.66 | $3 |
| Fan-powered | 100 | 0.9¢ | 11¢ | $3.29 | $16 |
| Steam | 2,000 | 18¢ | $2.16 | $65.71 | $329 |
At 12 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 | 0.01 | 0.2¢ | $0.05 | $1 |
| 2 hours | 0.02 | 0.4¢ | $0.11 | $1 |
| 4 hours | 0.04 | 0.7¢ | $0.22 | $3 |
| 8 hours | 0.08 | 1.4¢ | $0.44 | $5 |
| 12 hours | 0.12 | 2.2¢ | $0.66 | $8 |
| 24 hours | 0.24 | 4.3¢ | $1.31 | $16 |
Cost to run a whole-house humidifier in every state
The same whole-house humidifier costs $2 a year in North Dakota and $8 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¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.45 | $2 |
| Idaho | 12.65¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.46 | $2 |
| Nebraska | 12.86¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.47 | $2 |
| Louisiana | 12.99¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.47 | $2 |
| Utah | 13.32¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.49 | $2 |
| Nevada | 13.36¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.49 | $2 |
| Arkansas | 13.43¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.49 | $2 |
| Tennessee | 13.56¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.50 | $2 |
| Oklahoma | 13.70¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.50 | $3 |
| Montana | 13.84¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.51 | $3 |
| Kentucky | 13.92¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.51 | $3 |
| Missouri | 13.95¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.51 | $3 |
| Wyoming | 14.01¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.51 | $3 |
| Washington | 14.12¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.52 | $3 |
| Iowa | 14.13¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.52 | $3 |
| South Dakota | 14.20¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.52 | $3 |
| Mississippi | 14.77¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.54 | $3 |
| North Carolina | 14.77¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.54 | $3 |
| Kansas | 15.09¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.55 | $3 |
| Georgia | 15.12¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.55 | $3 |
| New Mexico | 15.32¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.56 | $3 |
| Florida | 15.39¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.56 | $3 |
| Arizona | 15.40¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.56 | $3 |
| West Virginia | 15.48¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.57 | $3 |
| Oregon | 15.50¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.57 | $3 |
| South Carolina | 15.64¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.57 | $3 |
| Texas | 15.96¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.58 | $3 |
| Minnesota | 16.22¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.59 | $3 |
| Alabama | 16.44¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.60 | $3 |
| Virginia | 16.48¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.60 | $3 |
| Colorado | 16.58¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.61 | $3 |
| Indiana | 16.94¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.62 | $3 |
| Delaware | 17.79¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.65 | $3 |
| Ohio | 18.25¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.67 | $3 |
| Wisconsin | 18.74¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.68 | $3 |
| Illinois | 18.79¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.69 | $3 |
| Pennsylvania | 20.70¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.76 | $4 |
| Maryland | 21.03¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.77 | $4 |
| Michigan | 21.05¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.77 | $4 |
| New Jersey | 23.78¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.87 | $4 |
| Vermont | 23.80¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.87 | $4 |
| District of Columbia | 24.20¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.88 | $4 |
| New Hampshire | 26.67¢ | 0.3¢ | $0.97 | $5 |
| Alaska | 26.85¢ | 0.3¢ | $0.98 | $5 |
| Connecticut | 27.99¢ | 0.3¢ | $1.02 | $5 |
| New York | 28.39¢ | 0.3¢ | $1.04 | $5 |
| Rhode Island | 29.27¢ | 0.3¢ | $1.07 | $5 |
| Maine | 29.31¢ | 0.3¢ | $1.07 | $5 |
| Massachusetts | 30.43¢ | 0.3¢ | $1.11 | $6 |
| California | 32.99¢ | 0.3¢ | $1.20 | $6 |
| Hawaii | 43.51¢ | 0.4¢ | $1.59 | $8 |
How to cut the cost
- Set humidity to 30-35% on very cold days to avoid window condensation, and 40% in mild weather.
- Replace the water panel each heating season so it evaporates efficiently.
- Close the bypass damper in summer.
- Use an outdoor-temperature-compensating control (such as Aprilaire automatic models).
Cheaper ways to get the job done
Adjusts humidity to outdoor temperature so it runs only as needed.
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Compare with similar appliances
| Appliance | Watts | Typical use | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whole-house humidifier | 20 | 12 hours a day for 5 months a year | $0.66 | $3 |
| Humidifier | 30 | 10 hours a day for 5 months a year | $1.72 | $9 |
| Warm mist humidifier | 300 | 8 hours a day for 5 months a year | $9.20 | $46 |
| Electric furnace | 15,000 | 24 hours a day for 5 months a year | $394 | $1,971 |
| Heat pump | 4,000 | 24 hours a day for 5 months a year | $184 | $920 |
| Desk fan | 25 | 8 hours a day, 5 days a week for 5 months a year | $0.78 | $4 |
| Bathroom exhaust fan | 15 | 1 hour a day | $0.08 | $1 |
Head-to-head comparisons
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a whole-house humidifier per hour?
A whole-house humidifier drawing 20 watts uses 0.01 kWh per hour while running (50% duty cycle). At the U.S. average of 17.99¢/kWh that's 0.2¢ per hour. In North Dakota (12.32¢) it's 0.1¢. In Hawaii (43.51¢) it's 0.4¢.
How much does it cost to run a whole-house humidifier per month?
At typical use (12 hours a day for 5 months a year), a whole-house humidifier costs about $0.66 a month while in use and $3 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 whole-house humidifier use?
Most whole-house humidifiers use 10 to 2,500 watts, depending on the setting (bypass 20 W, fan-powered 100 W, steam 2,000 W). Check the label on the back or bottom for your model's exact rating.
How many kWh does a whole-house humidifier use?
About 0.12 kWh a day and 18 kWh a year at typical use (12 hours a day for 5 months a year).
Does a whole-house humidifier use a lot of electricity?
No. At about 18 kWh a year it's a small share (0.2%) of the average U.S. home's 10,492 kWh.
Is it cheaper to run a whole-house humidifier or a humidifier?
At typical use, a whole-house humidifier costs about $3 a year versus $9 for a humidifier. So the whole-house humidifier 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 whole-house humidifier?
- Set humidity to 30-35% on very cold days to avoid window condensation, and 40% in mild weather.
- Replace the water panel each heating season so it evaporates efficiently.
- Close the bypass damper in summer.
Rates updated 2026-10-21: EIA data through July 2026. Typical wattage and usage reviewed against DOE, ENERGY STAR and manufacturer specs. Methodology.