How much does a ceiling fan cost to run in Montana?
$4.42 a month while in use, May to September
- A day of use
- $0.15
- An hour of running
- $0.02
- A year (season only)
- $22.24
120 W, 8 hours a day, May to September, at Montana’s average rate of 15.1¢ per kWh (EIA, June 2026). How we calculate this
Change the watts, hours or rate
What it costs at other usage levels
| Use | A day | A month in use | A year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour a day | $0.02 | $0.55 | $2.78 |
| 2 hours a day | $0.04 | $1.11 | $5.56 |
| 4 hours a day | $0.07 | $2.21 | $11.12 |
| 8 hours a day typical | $0.15 | $4.42 | $22.24 |
| 24 hours a day | $0.44 | $13.26 | $66.71 |
Models range from 65 W to 175 W (Virginia Cooperative Extension). We use 120 W, the middle of that range.
Montana compared with other states
Montana’s residential rate is the 16th cheapest of 51 states and DC, 3.2¢ below the US average of 18.3¢ (−17%). Montana’s rate is up 0.3¢ from June 2025 (14.8¢, +2.2%).
Ways to spend less
- Turn it off when you leave the room: fans cool people, not rooms.
- Use a lower speed; power draw falls quickly as speed drops. Saves about $2.21 a month in season.
- Run it with the air conditioner and set the thermostat a few degrees higher.
- Run it two fewer hours a day. Saves about $1.11 a month in season.
Questions
How much does it cost to run a ceiling fan per hour?
About $0.02 an hour in Montana. A ceiling fan at 120 W uses 0.120 kWh per hour, and at Montana’s average of 15.1¢ per kWh that comes to $0.02.
How much does a ceiling fan add to your electric bill?
Used 8 hours a day, May to September, about $4.42 a month while it is in use in Montana, or $22.24 a year across the May to September season.
How much does it cost to run a ceiling fan 24 hours a day?
Running nonstop, a ceiling fan would use 2.88 kWh a day and cost $0.44 a day, or $13.26 over an average month in Montana.
How many watts does a ceiling fan use?
Models range from 65 W to 175 W (Virginia Cooperative Extension). We use 120 W, the middle of that range. Check the label on yours: cost scales directly with watts, so a 20% lower wattage means a 20% lower bill.
Why does a ceiling fan cost more or less to run in Montana than elsewhere?
Montana’s residential rate is the 16th cheapest of 51 states and DC, 3.2¢ below the US average of 18.3¢ (−17%). Montana’s rate is up 0.3¢ from June 2025 (14.8¢, +2.2%). The appliance uses the same energy everywhere; only the price per kWh changes.
Sources
- Virginia Cooperative Extension: Estimating appliance and home electronic energy use (reproduces U.S. Department of Energy sample wattages)
- Penn State EGEE 102: Typical range of power consumption (wattage)
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A: average price of electricity to ultimate customers, residential, June 2026 Figures transcribed from republications of this table on September 26, 2026; pending direct verification from the EIA API.
- Carrier page: June 2026 residential average price, citing EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A
Usage assumptions (hours a day, season) are ours and listed on the methodology page. Found an error? Tell us.