Cost to Run a 1,500-watt air conditioner for 4 hours
Running a 1,500-watt air conditioner for 4 hours uses 6 kWh and costs $1.05 at $0.175/kWh. Do that every day and it adds up to $31.50 a month.
Calculate your own cost
- Per hour
- $0.2631.5 kWh
- Per day
- $1.056 kWh
- Per week
- $7.3542 kWh
- Per month (30 days)
- $31.50180 kWh
- Per year
- $383.252,190 kWh
Formula: watts ÷ 1,000 × hours × rate. Edit any box and every number updates instantly.
People also ask
How much does a 1,500-watt air conditioner cost per hour?
At $0.175/kWh, it costs $0.263 per hour. The maths: 1,500 W ÷ 1,000 = 1.5 kWh per hour, × $0.175 = $0.263.
How much does it cost per month?
Used 4 hours a day for 30 days, it costs about $31.50 per month and uses 180 kWh. Change the hours in the calculator above to match how you use it.
How many kWh does it use?
6 kWh per day, 180 kWh per month and 2,190 kWh per year at 4 hours a day. A kWh is one kilowatt (1,000 W) used for one hour. It is the unit on your electricity bill.
How can I lower the cost?
Set the thermostat to 78°F (26°C), clean the filter monthly and shade sunny windows. Check your bill for the exact rate and enter it above.
Does my electricity rate change the answer?
Yes, a lot. At 10¢ per kWh the monthly cost is $18.00 and at 30¢ it is $54.00. Find your rate on your bill (total cost ÷ kWh used) and type it into the calculator.
Cost by hours of use
| Used per day | Energy per day | Cost per day | Cost per month | Cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour | 1.5 kWh | $0.263 | $7.88 | $95.81 |
| 2 hours | 3 kWh | $0.525 | $15.75 | $191.63 |
| 3 hours | 4.5 kWh | $0.788 | $23.63 | $287.44 |
| 4 hours | 6 kWh | $1.05 | $31.50 | $383.25 |
| 5 hours | 7.5 kWh | $1.31 | $39.38 | $479.06 |
| 6 hours | 9 kWh | $1.58 | $47.25 | $574.88 |
| 7 hours | 10.5 kWh | $1.84 | $55.13 | $670.69 |
| 8 hours | 12 kWh | $2.10 | $63.00 | $766.50 |
| 9 hours | 13.5 kWh | $2.36 | $70.88 | $862.31 |
| 10 hours | 15 kWh | $2.63 | $78.75 | $958.13 |
| 11 hours | 16.5 kWh | $2.89 | $86.63 | $1,053.94 |
| 12 hours | 18 kWh | $3.15 | $94.50 | $1,149.75 |
| 13 hours | 19.5 kWh | $3.41 | $102.38 | $1,245.56 |
| 14 hours | 21 kWh | $3.68 | $110.25 | $1,341.38 |
| 15 hours | 22.5 kWh | $3.94 | $118.13 | $1,437.19 |
| 16 hours | 24 kWh | $4.20 | $126.00 | $1,533.00 |
| 17 hours | 25.5 kWh | $4.46 | $133.88 | $1,628.81 |
| 18 hours | 27 kWh | $4.73 | $141.75 | $1,724.63 |
| 19 hours | 28.5 kWh | $4.99 | $149.63 | $1,820.44 |
| 20 hours | 30 kWh | $5.25 | $157.50 | $1,916.25 |
| 21 hours | 31.5 kWh | $5.51 | $165.38 | $2,012.06 |
| 22 hours | 33 kWh | $5.78 | $173.25 | $2,107.88 |
| 23 hours | 34.5 kWh | $6.04 | $181.13 | $2,203.69 |
| 24 hours | 36 kWh | $6.30 | $189.00 | $2,299.50 |
How we worked it out
- Energy per hour: 1,500 W ÷ 1,000 = 1.5 kWh
- Cost per hour: 1.5 kWh × $0.175 = $0.263
- Cost per day: × 4 hours = $1.05
- Month and year: × 30 days = $31.50, × 365 days = $383.25
What it costs in different places
Same 1,500-watt air conditioner, 4 hours a day. Only the local electricity rate changes.
| Place | Rate per kWh | Cost per month |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $0.175 | $31.50 |
| California | $0.32 | $57.60 |
| Texas | $0.155 | $27.90 |
| New York | $0.25 | $45.00 |
| Florida | $0.155 | $27.90 |
| Illinois | $0.17 | $30.60 |
| Pennsylvania | $0.18 | $32.40 |
| Ohio | $0.17 | $30.60 |
| Washington | $0.115 | $20.70 |
About air conditioner running costs
Window and split air conditioners use a compressor that cycles on and off. Watts depend on size, from about 500 W for a small unit to 3,500 W for a large one.
Typical sizes: 500 W, 900 W, 1,200 W, 1,500 W, 2,000 W, 3,500 W.
How to spend less: Set the thermostat to 78°F (26°C), clean the filter monthly and shade sunny windows.
What this estimate assumes
- The appliance draws its full stated wattage the whole time it is on. Real units with a thermostat cycle off and cost less.
- Wattage is the typical label value, not a measured value. Check the label on your own appliance.
- The rate is an approximate residential average. Your bill may include fixed fees, tiers or time-of-use pricing. Edit the rate above.
- A month is 30 days and a year is 365 days.