How much does a dehumidifier cost to run?
By Sithum Imarsha Last reviewed
A 250 W dehumidifier running 8 hours uses 2 kWh: 66c a day in NSW.
Your result
Running cost
$234a year
730 kWh a year × 32c/kWh = $234
- Per hour of use
- $0.08
- Energy an hour
- 0.25kWh
- Per day of use
- $0.64
- Energy a day
- 2kWh
- Per load
- —
- Energy a load
- —kWh
- Per wash
- —
- Energy a wash
- —kWh
- Rate used
- 32c/kWh ·
Australian average import rate - Worked from
- Watts × hours ·
share at full power 100% (Estimate)
A thermostat switches it on and off, so it does not draw full power all day. Lower the share of time at full power under Advanced settings.
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How we calculated this
- Energy in a year comes from the watts and the hours of use, or from the energy label scaled to your use.
- It is priced at the usage rate only. The daily supply charge is not a running cost.
- On your own solar, the cost is the feed-in credit you give up.
Full method, tables and sources: Appliance running cost calculator
Energy in a year
250 W × 100% × 8 h × 365 days ÷ 1,000 = 730 kWh
Pick the rate
32c/kWh (Australian average import rate)
Work out the cost
730 kWh × 32c/kWh = $234 a year
Cost an hour of use
0.25 kWh × 32c/kWh = $0.08 an hour
| State | Import c/kWh | Feed-in c/kWh | Cost a year |
|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | 33.1 | 5 | $242 |
| Victoria | 27.2 | 3 | $199 |
| Queensland | 27.9 | 5 | $204 |
| South Australia | 41.5 | 5 | $303 |
| Western Australia | 33.2621 | 3 | $243 |
| Tasmania | 28.8 | 9.276 | $210 |
| Australian Capital Territory | 32.1 | 5 | $234 |
Uses each state's import rate, or its feed-in rate when Power from is set to solar. Your own rate is not used here. Import rates: Dated third-party source, except Western Australia (Official source). Feed-in rates: Estimate, except Tasmania (Official source).
This version starts with a 250 W dehumidifier running 8 hours a day. Its humidistat switches it off when the room is dry, so lower the share of time at full power under Advanced settings if yours cycles.
Dehumidifier: what the sources say
Estimate
- We start at 250 W: our pick inside what AlorAir gives for a small unit, about 200 to 300 W. Across sizes it gives 200 W to 1,000 W. Check the rating plate on yours.
New to running costs? Read how it is worked out on the main appliance running cost calculator.
Questions
Are dehumidifiers expensive to run?
Not very. A 250 W dehumidifier running 8 hours a day costs 66c a day in NSW, about $242 a year if it runs every day. Its humidistat switches it off when the room is dry, so real use is lower.
How many watts does a dehumidifier use?
It depends on the size. This page starts at 250 W (Estimate). Check the rating plate on your model.
Does it run all the time?
No. The humidistat switches it off when the room is dry, so real use is lower than hours × watts.
Does a dehumidifier heat the room?
Slightly. The electricity it uses ends up as heat in the room.