How much does it cost to run a dehumidifier?
We've pre-filled a typical dehumidifier below. Set your electricity rate and adjust the hours to match how you use yours — the cost updates instantly.
Typical power 500W
Usual range 300–800W
Category Heating & cooling
A dehumidifier is a surprise on a lot of bills because it runs quietly for long stretches — often half the day or more in a damp basement through summer. At a few hundred watts for ten or twelve hours, it can rival appliances people worry about far more.
The cost is almost entirely about run hours, which are driven by how humid the space is and how low you set the target.
What drives the cost of running a dehumidifier
- It runs until the room hits the target humidity, so a damp space means long hours.
- A lower humidity setpoint makes it run much longer.
- An old or undersized unit cycles more to keep up.
How to cut it
- Set the target to 50% rather than chasing 40% — it'll run far fewer hours.
- Fix the source of the damp (drainage, a leak) so it isn't fighting a losing battle.
- Empty/clean it and pick a right-sized unit so it isn't running constantly.
- An Energy Star model pulls noticeably fewer watts for the same water removed.