How much does a humidifier cost to run?
Updated August 2026 · average residential rates
Quick answer: a humidifier (20–60 W for evaporative units) costs about 0.7¢ per hour to run at the US average rate. With 10 hours/day in dry season, that's 6.8¢/day, $2.06/month and $24.67/year — using ~0.4 kWh a day. Your state's rate can move this from $1.36 to $5.12 monthly.
Run your own numbers
20–60 W for evaporative units · default assumes 10 hours/day in dry season
Uses about 0.4 kWh/day at 15.6¢/kWh (Texas). National average would be $2.06/month.
Humidifier cost by state
| State | Rate | Per hour | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 15.6¢/kWh | 0.6¢ | $1.90 |
| Alaska | 24.9¢/kWh | 1.0¢ | $3.03 |
| Arizona | 15.2¢/kWh | 0.6¢ | $1.85 |
| Arkansas | 12.7¢/kWh | 0.5¢ | $1.54 |
| California | 31.8¢/kWh | 1.3¢ | $3.87 |
| Colorado | 15.3¢/kWh | 0.6¢ | $1.86 |
| Connecticut | 32.3¢/kWh | 1.3¢ | $3.93 |
| Delaware | 16.8¢/kWh | 0.7¢ | $2.04 |
| District of Columbia | 17.6¢/kWh | 0.7¢ | $2.14 |
| Florida | 15.1¢/kWh | 0.6¢ | $1.84 |
| Georgia | 14.2¢/kWh | 0.6¢ | $1.73 |
| Hawaii | 42.1¢/kWh | 1.7¢ | $5.12 |
| Idaho | 11.6¢/kWh | 0.5¢ | $1.41 |
| Illinois | 16.4¢/kWh | 0.7¢ | $1.99 |
| Indiana | 15.7¢/kWh | 0.6¢ | $1.91 |
| Iowa | 13.7¢/kWh | 0.5¢ | $1.67 |
| Kansas | 14.3¢/kWh | 0.6¢ | $1.74 |
| Kentucky | 13.1¢/kWh | 0.5¢ | $1.59 |
| Louisiana | 12.1¢/kWh | 0.5¢ | $1.47 |
| Maine | 25.6¢/kWh | 1.0¢ | $3.11 |
| Maryland | 18.1¢/kWh | 0.7¢ | $2.20 |
| Massachusetts | 31.2¢/kWh | 1.2¢ | $3.79 |
| Michigan | 19.4¢/kWh | 0.8¢ | $2.36 |
| Minnesota | 15.1¢/kWh | 0.6¢ | $1.84 |
| Mississippi | 13.6¢/kWh | 0.5¢ | $1.65 |
| Missouri | 12.6¢/kWh | 0.5¢ | $1.53 |
| Montana | 12.8¢/kWh | 0.5¢ | $1.56 |
| Nebraska | 12.1¢/kWh | 0.5¢ | $1.47 |
| Nevada | 15.4¢/kWh | 0.6¢ | $1.87 |
| New Hampshire | 25.2¢/kWh | 1.0¢ | $3.06 |
| New Jersey | 19.6¢/kWh | 0.8¢ | $2.38 |
| New Mexico | 14.6¢/kWh | 0.6¢ | $1.78 |
| New York | 24.6¢/kWh | 1.0¢ | $2.99 |
| North Carolina | 14.1¢/kWh | 0.6¢ | $1.71 |
| North Dakota | 11.2¢/kWh | 0.4¢ | $1.36 |
| Ohio | 16.3¢/kWh | 0.7¢ | $1.98 |
| Oklahoma | 12.2¢/kWh | 0.5¢ | $1.48 |
| Oregon | 14.8¢/kWh | 0.6¢ | $1.80 |
| Pennsylvania | 18.4¢/kWh | 0.7¢ | $2.24 |
| Rhode Island | 30.4¢/kWh | 1.2¢ | $3.70 |
| South Carolina | 14.7¢/kWh | 0.6¢ | $1.79 |
| South Dakota | 12.6¢/kWh | 0.5¢ | $1.53 |
| Tennessee | 13.2¢/kWh | 0.5¢ | $1.61 |
| Texas | 15.6¢/kWh | 0.6¢ | $1.90 |
| Utah | 11.7¢/kWh | 0.5¢ | $1.42 |
| Vermont | 21.6¢/kWh | 0.9¢ | $2.63 |
| Virginia | 14.6¢/kWh | 0.6¢ | $1.78 |
| Washington | 12.3¢/kWh | 0.5¢ | $1.50 |
| West Virginia | 14.8¢/kWh | 0.6¢ | $1.80 |
| Wisconsin | 17.2¢/kWh | 0.7¢ | $2.09 |
| Wyoming | 11.8¢/kWh | 0.5¢ | $1.43 |
FAQ
How much electricity does a humidifier use?+
A typical humidifier draws 20–60 W for evaporative units. At 10 hours/day in dry season, that's about 0.4 kWh per day.
How much does a humidifier cost to run per month?+
About $2.06 per month at the US average residential rate of 16.9¢/kWh — ranging from roughly $1.36 in North Dakota to $5.12 in Hawaii.
Is it expensive to leave a humidifier on?+
Running it costs about 0.7¢ per hour at average rates. Multiply by your actual hours — and check your state's rate above, since electricity prices vary almost 4× across the US.