Fan vs. AC Cost Calculator
See what a fan actually costs to run compared to your air conditioner — cost per day, per month, and how much you'd save running a fan instead over a full cooling season.
This compares electricity cost only. A fan doesn't actually lower room temperature the way an AC does — it just moves air, which can make you feel cooler. See the FAQ below for when that trade-off makes sense.
How this is calculated
Same underlying math on both sides — wattage converted to kilowatt-hours, times your electricity rate — just compared side by side:
cost = kWh used × rate per kWh
savings = AC cost − fan cost
Worked example: a 50W box fan run 8 hours a day costs about $0.068/day, while a 900W window AC unit run the same 8 hours costs about $1.22/day, at $0.17/kWh — running the fan instead saves roughly $1.16/day, or about $104 over a 90-day cooling season.
Frequently asked questions
Is it actually cheaper to run a fan instead of AC?
Yes, by a wide margin on electricity cost alone — a typical fan draws 40–75W, while even a small window AC unit draws roughly 10–20 times that. The catch is that a fan doesn't cool a room the way an AC does, so "cheaper" and "equally effective" aren't the same question.
Does a fan actually cool a room the same way an AC does?
No — a fan doesn't lower the air temperature at all, it just moves air across your skin, which speeds up evaporation and sweat cooling and makes you feel cooler. An AC unit actually removes heat and humidity from the room. On very hot or humid days, a fan alone often isn't enough, which is why this is a real trade-off and not just a "use this instead" swap.
How much does it cost to run a window AC unit?
A typical window AC unit draws around 900W. Run 8 hours a day at the 2026 U.S. average rate of about $0.17/kWh, that's roughly $1.22/day, or about $37/month if run daily. Enter your unit's actual wattage above (check the nameplate) for a precise figure.
Do ceiling fans use much electricity?
Very little — a typical ceiling fan draws around 75W, less than a single incandescent light bulb used to. Running one continuously all day still costs only a few cents, which is part of why "ceiling fan plus AC set a couple degrees higher" is a common way to cut cooling costs without giving up comfort entirely.
Can I use a fan and AC together to save money?
Yes — this is often the best middle ground. Running a fan alongside your AC lets you raise the thermostat a couple of degrees while feeling just as cool, since moving air makes a slightly warmer room feel comparable to a stiller, colder one. Even a small thermostat adjustment can meaningfully cut your AC's runtime and cost.