Cost to Run a Dehumidifier: Monthly & Yearly

Want dry, mold-free air without a scary jump in your electric bill? Figuring out how much it costs to run a dehumidifier is the math thousands of homeowners do before they buy.

The honest answer is that it depends on three things: the unit’s wattage, how many hours a day it runs, and your local electricity price. A small unit can add just a few dollars a month, while a large one left on around the clock can cost more than a hundred.

Below we break the numbers down with real wattages, show you the simple formula to price your own machine, and share the settings that keep the meter from spinning.

Does My Dehumidifier Need to Run 24/7?

No, most homes do not need to run one non-stop. How long yours should run depends on your room size, the current humidity, and the age of your home. New construction traps moisture, so it may need longer run times at first.

The EPA recommends keeping indoor relative humidity below 60 percent, and ideally between 30 and 50 percent, to stop mold and dust mites ⁽¹⁾. Once you drop under that 60 percent mark, you can ease off the usage.

Modern dehumidifiers make that easy. Most include a built-in humidistat that reads the air for you: set your target level and the machine cycles on and off on its own to hold it. That single feature is what keeps a right-sized unit from running any longer than it has to.

You technically can run a unit 24 hours a day, but it rarely pays off. Constant operation strains the compressor and shortens the machine’s life, so you replace it sooner than you should have to.

What Is the Average Cost of Running a Dehumidifier?

How much you pay tracks two things: how many watts your unit pulls and how many hours a day it runs. A tiny mini dehumidifier might add only about $25 a year, while a large 50 or 70-pint unit left running around the clock can run $500 to $1,000 a year.

To put real numbers on it, here is what a typical 500-watt dehumidifier costs at about $0.17 per kilowatt-hour, the 2025 U.S. residential average ⁽²⁾:

• 24 hours per day: about $2.04 daily, or $61 a month.
• 12 hours per day: about $1.02 daily, or $31 a month.
• 8 hours per day: about $0.68 daily, or $20 a month.
• 6 hours per day: about $0.51 daily, or $15 a month.
• 4 hours per day: about $0.34 daily, or $10 a month.

Most homes never run a unit non-stop. A right-sized dehumidifier hits your target humidity and cycles off, so real bills usually land near the middle of that range.

How to Calculate the Energy Cost of Your Dehumidifier

To get an exact figure for your own model, do a little math with your local power rate and the machine’s energy draw. Grab your latest electric bill and read the label on the unit.

Here are the two numbers you need:

• Your utility rate per kilowatt-hour (kWh): Check your monthly bill for this rate. It usually falls between $0.10 and $0.25 depending on where you live; the 2025 U.S. average is about 17 cents.
• The power your dehumidifier draws: Look for a wattage figure on the sticker. If it only lists volts and amps, multiply them (Volts x Amps = Watts). Divide that number by 1,000 to get kilowatts.

Multiply the kilowatts by your kWh rate to see what one hour of running costs, then multiply by the hours you run it each day. A 500-watt unit is 0.5 kilowatts, so at $0.17 per kWh it costs about $0.09 an hour, or roughly $1.02 across a 12-hour day.

What Popular Dehumidifiers Cost to Run

We ran the numbers on five popular dehumidifiers, from a compact 13-pint desiccant model up to a heavy-duty 70-pint unit, so you can see how wattage and runtime move the bill.

Shinco 30-Pint Dehumidifier

• Pints Per Day: 30.
• Energy Star Rated: No.
• Power Usage: 280 W.

Waykar 34-Pint Energy Star Dehumidifier

• Pints Per Day: 34.
• Energy Star Rated: Yes.
• Power Usage: 190 W.

Honeywell 50-Pint Dehumidifier With Pump

• Pints Per Day: 50.
• Energy Star Rated: Yes.
• Power Usage: 710 W.

Airplus 70-Pint Dehumidifier

• Pints Per Day: 70.
• Energy Star Rated: No.
• Power Usage: 305 W.

Ivation 13-Pint Desiccant Dehumidifier

• Pints Per Day: 13.
• Energy Star Rated: No.
• Power Usage: 470 W.

Tips for Reducing Dehumidifier Costs

The tables above show that unless you run a tiny model, a dehumidifier can add $100 or more to your yearly bill. The good news is that you have plenty of control over that number. Here are practical ways to bring it down:

1. Choose the Right Size

When picking the right size dehumidifier, balance capacity (pints per day) against room size.

Many people buy a small unit to save money up front. Put that small unit in a large basement, though, and it runs non-stop without ever hitting the target humidity. That means maximum energy use and a still-damp room.

A larger 50 or 70-pint unit may pull more watts, but it dries the air faster and shuts off sooner. In many homes the bigger, more efficient unit costs less over a season because it spends far fewer hours running.

2. Improve Air Circulation Naturally

Stagnant air holds moisture. Before you switch on the dehumidifier, try running ceiling or floor fans. A fan uses a small fraction of the electricity a compressor-based dehumidifier does.

If the weather outside is dry, opening a window flushes out humid indoor air and pulls in fresh air for free.

3. Use Moisture Absorbers

For small spaces like closets or bathrooms, a powered unit is overkill. Moisture absorbers, or desiccants, trap water passively with no electricity at all.

A rechargeable option like the Eva-Dry needs no constant power. It will not dry out a basement, but it keeps small areas in check and takes some load off your main electric unit.

4. Go for Energy-Efficient Dehumidifiers

Look for the Energy Star logo. Certified models remove the same amount of moisture as a comparable standard unit while using about 20 percent less energy, and the top Most Efficient tier stretches that to roughly 30 percent. To compare two units directly, check the integrated energy factor (IEF), measured in liters of water removed per kilowatt-hour: a higher number means more water pulled from the air for every cent you spend.

5. Reduce Humidity at the Source

The cheapest moisture to remove is the moisture that never gets in. Cut it off before it reaches the air:

• Improve exterior drainage: Make sure downspouts carry water well away from your foundation so rain does not pool against basement walls ⁽³⁾.
• Repair leaks: Even a slow drip under a sink adds real moisture to the air. Fix leaks right away.
• Vent your appliances: Make sure your clothes dryer vents outdoors, and dry laundry outside rather than on indoor racks when you can.

6. Limit Usage in Cold Weather

Standard refrigerant dehumidifiers struggle below about 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The coils can frost over, which forces the unit to work harder and burn energy without actually pulling water from the air.

If you have to dehumidify a cold space, switch to a desiccant model. These run without a compressor and keep working even near freezing.

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