How Much Electricity Does a Dehumidifier Use?

Calculate dehumidifier running costs. Standard dehumidifiers cost $15-40 per month running continuously.

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Quick Answer

A standard dehumidifier uses 300-700 watts, costing $15-40 per month running 12-24 hours daily. Energy Star models use 15-20% less. Use the Power Cost Calculator to calculate your exact costs.

Key Takeaways

Dehumidifier wattage depends on capacity (measured in pints per day).
Whole-house dehumidifiers use more power but often run less than portable units.
Energy Star dehumidifiers save $20-40 per year compared to non-certified models.

Explanation

Dehumidifier wattage depends on capacity (measured in pints per day). Small units (20-30 pints) use 300-400 watts, medium units (50-60 pints) use 500-600 watts, and large units (70+ pints) use 600-800 watts.

A 500W dehumidifier running 12 hours daily uses 180 kWh monthly, costing about $29 at $0.16/kWh. In very humid conditions requiring 24/7 operation, costs can exceed $50/month.

Built-in humidistats allow units to cycle on and off, reducing runtime. Setting humidity to 50% instead of 40% can significantly reduce operating time and costs.

Things to Know

Whole-house dehumidifiers use more power but often run less than portable units.
Energy Star dehumidifiers save $20-40 per year compared to non-certified models.
Proper home ventilation can reduce the need for dehumidification.