Cost to Run a 20-watt evaporative humidifier for 5 hours in California
Running a 20-watt evaporative humidifier for 5 hours uses 0.1 kWh and costs $0.032 at $0.32/kWh in California. Do that every day and it adds up to $0.96 a month.
Calculate your own cost
- Per hour
- $0.0060.02 kWh
- Per day
- $0.0320.1 kWh
- Per week
- $0.2240.7 kWh
- Per month (30 days)
- $0.963 kWh
- Per year
- $11.6836.5 kWh
Formula: watts ÷ 1,000 × hours × rate. Edit any box and every number updates instantly.
People also ask
How much does a 20-watt evaporative humidifier cost per hour?
At $0.32/kWh, it costs $0.006 per hour. The maths: 20 W ÷ 1,000 = 0.02 kWh per hour, × $0.32 = $0.006.
How much does it cost per month?
Used 5 hours a day for 30 days, it costs about $0.96 per month and uses 3 kWh. Change the hours in the calculator above to match how you use it.
How many kWh does it use?
0.1 kWh per day, 3 kWh per month and 36.5 kWh per year at 5 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?
Clean the unit as directed and use a humidistat to avoid unnecessary runtime. 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 $0.30 and at 30¢ it is $0.90. Find your rate on your bill (total cost ÷ kWh used) and type it into the calculator.
Cost by hours of use in California
| Used per day | Energy per day | Cost per day | Cost per month | Cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour | 0.02 kWh | $0.006 | $0.192 | $2.34 |
| 2 hours | 0.04 kWh | $0.013 | $0.384 | $4.67 |
| 3 hours | 0.06 kWh | $0.019 | $0.576 | $7.01 |
| 4 hours | 0.08 kWh | $0.026 | $0.768 | $9.34 |
| 5 hours | 0.1 kWh | $0.032 | $0.96 | $11.68 |
| 6 hours | 0.12 kWh | $0.038 | $1.15 | $14.02 |
| 7 hours | 0.14 kWh | $0.045 | $1.34 | $16.35 |
| 8 hours | 0.16 kWh | $0.051 | $1.54 | $18.69 |
| 9 hours | 0.18 kWh | $0.058 | $1.73 | $21.02 |
| 10 hours | 0.2 kWh | $0.064 | $1.92 | $23.36 |
| 11 hours | 0.22 kWh | $0.07 | $2.11 | $25.70 |
| 12 hours | 0.24 kWh | $0.077 | $2.30 | $28.03 |
| 13 hours | 0.26 kWh | $0.083 | $2.50 | $30.37 |
| 14 hours | 0.28 kWh | $0.09 | $2.69 | $32.70 |
| 15 hours | 0.3 kWh | $0.096 | $2.88 | $35.04 |
| 16 hours | 0.32 kWh | $0.102 | $3.07 | $37.38 |
| 17 hours | 0.34 kWh | $0.109 | $3.26 | $39.71 |
| 18 hours | 0.36 kWh | $0.115 | $3.46 | $42.05 |
| 19 hours | 0.38 kWh | $0.122 | $3.65 | $44.38 |
| 20 hours | 0.4 kWh | $0.128 | $3.84 | $46.72 |
| 21 hours | 0.42 kWh | $0.134 | $4.03 | $49.06 |
| 22 hours | 0.44 kWh | $0.141 | $4.22 | $51.39 |
| 23 hours | 0.46 kWh | $0.147 | $4.42 | $53.73 |
| 24 hours | 0.48 kWh | $0.154 | $4.61 | $56.06 |
How we worked it out
- Energy per hour: 20 W ÷ 1,000 = 0.02 kWh
- Cost per hour: 0.02 kWh × $0.32 = $0.006
- Cost per day: × 5 hours = $0.032
- Month and year: × 30 days = $0.96, × 365 days = $11.68
California electricity prices
California pays about $0.32 per kWh, which is 83% higher than the US average of $0.175. The same evaporative humidifier would cost $0.525 a month at the national average.
What it costs in different places
Same 20-watt evaporative humidifier, 5 hours a day. Only the local electricity rate changes.
| Place | Rate per kWh | Cost per month |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $0.175 | $0.525 |
| California | $0.32 | $0.96 |
| Texas | $0.155 | $0.465 |
| New York | $0.25 | $0.75 |
| Florida | $0.155 | $0.465 |
| Illinois | $0.17 | $0.51 |
| Pennsylvania | $0.18 | $0.54 |
| Ohio | $0.17 | $0.51 |
| Washington | $0.115 | $0.345 |
About evaporative humidifier running costs
Evaporative humidifiers mainly power a fan and sometimes a small pump. Their energy use depends on fan speed and model design.
Typical sizes: 20 W, 30 W, 50 W, 80 W.
How to spend less: Clean the unit as directed and use a humidistat to avoid unnecessary runtime.
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 in California. 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.