The short answer
A 50-pint dehumidifier draws about 545 W and costs about 10 cents an hour at the U.S. average electricity rate of 18.16¢ per kWh (August 2026). Running 12 hours a day, that's $35.63 a month, or $178.15 over a 5-month damp season.
The same dehumidifier in every state
A 545 W dehumidifier running 12 hours a day, 30 days a month for 5 months, at each state's average residential rate (August 2026).
| Alabama | $32.04 | $160.20 | 16.33¢ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $57.70 | $288.51 | 29.41¢ |
| Arizona | $29.53 | $147.64 | 15.05¢ |
| Arkansas | $28.19 | $140.97 | 14.37¢ |
| California | $58.37 | $291.85 | 29.75¢ |
| Colorado | $33.69 | $168.44 | 17.17¢ |
| Connecticut | $48.09 | $240.44 | 24.51¢ |
| Delaware | $36.69 | $183.45 | 18.70¢ |
| District of Columbia | $50.97 | $254.86 | 25.98¢ |
| Florida | $29.41 | $147.05 | 14.99¢ |
| Georgia | $31.20 | $155.98 | 15.90¢ |
| Hawaii | $92.57 | $462.84 | 47.18¢ |
| Idaho | $26.23 | $131.16 | 13.37¢ |
| Illinois | $37.91 | $189.53 | 19.32¢ |
| Indiana | $33.39 | $166.97 | 17.02¢ |
| Iowa | $33.47 | $167.36 | 17.06¢ |
| Kansas | $30.35 | $151.76 | 15.47¢ |
| Kentucky | $27.08 | $135.38 | 13.80¢ |
| Louisiana | $25.25 | $126.25 | 12.87¢ |
| Maine | $63.00 | $315.00 | 32.11¢ |
| Maryland | $41.99 | $209.93 | 21.40¢ |
| Massachusetts | $59.80 | $299.01 | 30.48¢ |
| Michigan | $45.11 | $225.53 | 22.99¢ |
| Minnesota | $33.75 | $168.73 | 17.20¢ |
| Mississippi | $28.31 | $141.56 | 14.43¢ |
| Missouri | $31.43 | $157.16 | 16.02¢ |
| Montana | $30.55 | $152.74 | 15.57¢ |
| Nebraska | $26.57 | $132.83 | 13.54¢ |
| Nevada | $24.96 | $124.78 | 12.72¢ |
| New Hampshire | $54.23 | $271.15 | 27.64¢ |
| New Jersey | $48.28 | $241.42 | 24.61¢ |
| New Mexico | $32.39 | $161.96 | 16.51¢ |
| New York | $56.21 | $281.06 | 28.65¢ |
| North Carolina | $29.33 | $146.66 | 14.95¢ |
| North Dakota | $26.11 | $130.57 | 13.31¢ |
| Ohio | $38.02 | $190.12 | 19.38¢ |
| Oklahoma | $29.08 | $145.38 | 14.82¢ |
| Oregon | $31.24 | $156.18 | 15.92¢ |
| Pennsylvania | $42.71 | $213.56 | 21.77¢ |
| Rhode Island | $55.29 | $276.45 | 28.18¢ |
| South Carolina | $30.92 | $154.61 | 15.76¢ |
| South Dakota | $29.72 | $148.62 | 15.15¢ |
| Tennessee | $26.33 | $131.65 | 13.42¢ |
| Texas | $31.22 | $156.08 | 15.91¢ |
| Utah | $26.11 | $130.57 | 13.31¢ |
| Vermont | $46.77 | $233.87 | 23.84¢ |
| Virginia | $34.61 | $173.05 | 17.64¢ |
| Washington | $28.70 | $143.52 | 14.63¢ |
| West Virginia | $32.00 | $160.00 | 16.31¢ |
| Wisconsin | $38.08 | $190.41 | 19.41¢ |
| Wyoming | $28.31 | $141.56 | 14.43¢ |
How it works
The formula
cost = kWh × rate
Assumptions
- Watts: 545 W for Frigidaire's 50-pint ENERGY STAR model, and 580 W for a Santa Fe Compact70 crawlspace unit (at 80°F and 60% humidity, from its original data sheet; the newer version lists 444 W at 65°F). Check your unit's label.
- Hours: the time the compressor runs. The humidistat switches it off once the air reaches your setting, so a dry room costs much less than a wet one.
Worked example: a damp basement in summer
545 W, 12 hours a day, May to September
- 545 W × 12 h × 30 days ÷ 1,000 = 196.2 kWh a month
- 196.2 kWh × 18.16¢ = $35.63 a month
- × 5 months = $178.15 a season
Ways to cut the cost
- Set it to 50%, not lower: below the EPA's 60% limit without running all day.
- Close the doors and windows of the space you're drying.
- Clean the filter every few weeks so air flows freely over the coils.
- Fix the water source: gutters, downspouts and grading that send water away from the foundation cut the run time.
- Use a drain hose so a full bucket doesn't stop it, and an ENERGY STAR model when you replace it.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to run a dehumidifier?
A 50-pint dehumidifier draws about 545 W, so 10 cents an hour at the U.S. average of 18.16¢ per kWh (EIA, August 2026). Running 12 hours a day, that's $35.63 a month: $24.96 in Nevada and $92.57 in Hawaii.
Does a dehumidifier use a lot of electricity?
About as much as a window air conditioner. Running all day and night, a 545 W unit uses 392 kWh a month, $71.26 at the U.S. average rate. Its humidistat usually cuts that well down once the room is dry.
How many hours a day does a dehumidifier run?
It depends on how damp the space is and the humidity you set. In a damp basement in summer, 12 hours or more is common; once it's dry, a unit set to 50% may run only a few hours a day. The compressor is what draws the power; the fan alone uses little.
Should I set my dehumidifier to 50%?
The EPA recommends keeping indoor humidity below 60%, ideally between 30% and 50%. Setting it lower than you need makes it run longer for little benefit.
Is a bigger dehumidifier cheaper to run?
Often per pint of water, yes: a larger ENERGY STAR unit removes more water per kWh and runs fewer hours. A unit too small for the space runs all day and may never reach the setting.