How much does a portable air conditioner cost to run?
Updated August 2026 · average residential rates
Quick answer: a portable air conditioner (800–1,400 W for 8,000–14,000 BTU units) costs about 12.7¢ per hour to run at the US average rate. With 8 hours/day in summer, that's $1.01/day, $30.83/month and $370/year — using ~6.0 kWh a day. Your state's rate can move this from $20.43 to $76.79 monthly.
Run your own numbers
800–1,400 W for 8,000–14,000 BTU units · default assumes 8 hours/day in summer · compressor duty cycle ~75% factored in
Uses about 6.0 kWh/day at 15.6¢/kWh (Texas). National average would be $30.83/month.
Portable Air Conditioner cost by state
| State | Rate | Per hour | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 15.6¢/kWh | 11.7¢ | $28.45 |
| Alaska | 24.9¢/kWh | 18.7¢ | $45.42 |
| Arizona | 15.2¢/kWh | 11.4¢ | $27.72 |
| Arkansas | 12.7¢/kWh | 9.5¢ | $23.16 |
| California | 31.8¢/kWh | 23.8¢ | $58.00 |
| Colorado | 15.3¢/kWh | 11.5¢ | $27.91 |
| Connecticut | 32.3¢/kWh | 24.2¢ | $58.92 |
| Delaware | 16.8¢/kWh | 12.6¢ | $30.64 |
| District of Columbia | 17.6¢/kWh | 13.2¢ | $32.10 |
| Florida | 15.1¢/kWh | 11.3¢ | $27.54 |
| Georgia | 14.2¢/kWh | 10.6¢ | $25.90 |
| Hawaii | 42.1¢/kWh | 31.6¢ | $76.79 |
| Idaho | 11.6¢/kWh | 8.7¢ | $21.16 |
| Illinois | 16.4¢/kWh | 12.3¢ | $29.91 |
| Indiana | 15.7¢/kWh | 11.8¢ | $28.64 |
| Iowa | 13.7¢/kWh | 10.3¢ | $24.99 |
| Kansas | 14.3¢/kWh | 10.7¢ | $26.08 |
| Kentucky | 13.1¢/kWh | 9.8¢ | $23.89 |
| Louisiana | 12.1¢/kWh | 9.1¢ | $22.07 |
| Maine | 25.6¢/kWh | 19.2¢ | $46.69 |
| Maryland | 18.1¢/kWh | 13.6¢ | $33.01 |
| Massachusetts | 31.2¢/kWh | 23.4¢ | $56.91 |
| Michigan | 19.4¢/kWh | 14.5¢ | $35.39 |
| Minnesota | 15.1¢/kWh | 11.3¢ | $27.54 |
| Mississippi | 13.6¢/kWh | 10.2¢ | $24.81 |
| Missouri | 12.6¢/kWh | 9.4¢ | $22.98 |
| Montana | 12.8¢/kWh | 9.6¢ | $23.35 |
| Nebraska | 12.1¢/kWh | 9.1¢ | $22.07 |
| Nevada | 15.4¢/kWh | 11.5¢ | $28.09 |
| New Hampshire | 25.2¢/kWh | 18.9¢ | $45.96 |
| New Jersey | 19.6¢/kWh | 14.7¢ | $35.75 |
| New Mexico | 14.6¢/kWh | 10.9¢ | $26.63 |
| New York | 24.6¢/kWh | 18.5¢ | $44.87 |
| North Carolina | 14.1¢/kWh | 10.6¢ | $25.72 |
| North Dakota | 11.2¢/kWh | 8.4¢ | $20.43 |
| Ohio | 16.3¢/kWh | 12.2¢ | $29.73 |
| Oklahoma | 12.2¢/kWh | 9.2¢ | $22.25 |
| Oregon | 14.8¢/kWh | 11.1¢ | $27.00 |
| Pennsylvania | 18.4¢/kWh | 13.8¢ | $33.56 |
| Rhode Island | 30.4¢/kWh | 22.8¢ | $55.45 |
| South Carolina | 14.7¢/kWh | 11.0¢ | $26.81 |
| South Dakota | 12.6¢/kWh | 9.4¢ | $22.98 |
| Tennessee | 13.2¢/kWh | 9.9¢ | $24.08 |
| Texas | 15.6¢/kWh | 11.7¢ | $28.45 |
| Utah | 11.7¢/kWh | 8.8¢ | $21.34 |
| Vermont | 21.6¢/kWh | 16.2¢ | $39.40 |
| Virginia | 14.6¢/kWh | 10.9¢ | $26.63 |
| Washington | 12.3¢/kWh | 9.2¢ | $22.44 |
| West Virginia | 14.8¢/kWh | 11.1¢ | $27.00 |
| Wisconsin | 17.2¢/kWh | 12.9¢ | $31.37 |
| Wyoming | 11.8¢/kWh | 8.9¢ | $21.52 |
FAQ
How much electricity does a portable air conditioner use?+
A typical portable air conditioner draws 800–1,400 W for 8,000–14,000 BTU units. At 8 hours/day in summer (with a ~75% duty cycle), that's about 6.0 kWh per day.
How much does a portable air conditioner cost to run per month?+
About $30.83 per month at the US average residential rate of 16.9¢/kWh — ranging from roughly $20.43 in North Dakota to $76.79 in Hawaii.
Is it expensive to leave a portable air conditioner on?+
Running it costs about 12.7¢ 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.