How much does a ceiling fan cost to run in North Carolina?
$4.30 a month while in use, May to September
- A day of use
- $0.14
- An hour of running
- $0.02
- A year (season only)
- $21.65
120 W, 8 hours a day, May to September, at North Carolina’s average rate of 14.7¢ 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 | $0.54 | $2.71 |
| 2 hours a day | $0.04 | $1.08 | $5.41 |
| 4 hours a day | $0.07 | $2.15 | $10.83 |
| 8 hours a day typical | $0.14 | $4.30 | $21.65 |
| 24 hours a day | $0.42 | $12.91 | $64.95 |
Models range from 65 W to 175 W (Virginia Cooperative Extension). We use 120 W, the middle of that range.
North Carolina compared with other states
North Carolina’s residential rate is the 11th cheapest of 51 states and DC, 3.6¢ below the US average of 18.3¢ (−20%).
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 $2.15 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 $1.08 a month in season.
Questions
How much does it cost to run a ceiling fan per hour?
About $0.02 an hour in North Carolina. A ceiling fan at 120 W uses 0.120 kWh per hour, and at North Carolina’s average of 14.7¢ 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 $4.30 a month while it is in use in North Carolina, or $21.65 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 $0.42 a day, or $12.91 over an average month in North Carolina.
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 North Carolina than elsewhere?
North Carolina’s residential rate is the 11th cheapest of 51 states and DC, 3.6¢ below the US average of 18.3¢ (−20%). 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.