Dehumidifier cost calculator
How Much Does a Dehumidifier Cost to Run?
Estimate a dehumidifier's hourly, monthly, and annual electricity cost from its wattage, run time, and your electricity price.
Cost estimate
Calculate your electricity cost
Estimated energy use0 kWh/day
Estimated monthly energy0 kWh/month
Cost = watts ÷ 1,000 × hours used × electricity price.
Example
How the starting estimate works
At 500 watts for 8 hours per day, the starting example uses 4 kWh per day.
Real-world use
Humidity control changes run time.
The compressor may cycle off once the target humidity is reached. Basement moisture, temperature, unit size, fan settings, and the humidity setpoint all affect actual energy use.
Humidity drives runtime
A dehumidifier's compressor cycles with moisture conditions.
The unit may draw several hundred watts while actively removing moisture, then cycle off or run only its fan when the target humidity is reached. Basement dampness, outdoor humidity, air leakage, room temperature, and the humidity setpoint all affect how many hours the compressor actually runs.
Capacity and power are different
Pints per day describes moisture removal, not electrical input.
A higher-capacity dehumidifier can remove more moisture under test conditions, but you still need its electrical wattage or measured energy use to estimate cost. Two units with similar moisture-removal ratings can use different amounts of power.
Continuous drainage can change behavior
Automatic operation may extend runtime without requiring attention.
A unit draining to a hose or pump can continue operating after a bucket would otherwise fill and stop the machine. That can be useful for humidity control, but it also means actual weekly runtime may be much higher than someone who empties a bucket manually expects.
For the underlying watts × hours calculation, see How to Estimate an Appliance's Electricity Cost.