How much does a dehumidifier cost to run in North Carolina?
$42 a month while in use, May to September
- A day of use
- $1.39
- An hour of running
- $0.12
- A year (season only)
- $212.44
785 W, 12 hours a day of running time, 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 | $0.12 | $3.52 | $17.70 |
| 2 hours a day | $0.23 | $7.04 | $35.41 |
| 4 hours a day | $0.46 | $14.08 | $70.81 |
| 8 hours a day | $0.93 | $28.16 | $141.63 |
| 12 hours a day typical | $1.39 | $42.23 | $212.44 |
| 24 hours a day | $2.78 | $84.47 | $424.88 |
A typical model draws about 785 W (Virginia Cooperative Extension).
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
- Set the humidistat to the highest humidity you are comfortable with rather than the lowest setting; it will run far less.
- Keep doors and windows of the room closed while it runs.
- Clean the filter and coils so it removes water faster per hour of running.
- Cut its running time by two hours a day. Saves about $7.04 a month in season.
Questions
How much does it cost to run a dehumidifier per hour?
About $0.12 an hour in North Carolina. A dehumidifier at 785 W uses 0.785 kWh per hour, and at North Carolina’s average of 14.7¢ per kWh that comes to $0.12.
How much does a dehumidifier add to your electric bill?
Used 12 hours a day of running time, May to September, about $42.23 a month while it is in use in North Carolina, or $212.44 a year across the May to September season.
How much does it cost to run a dehumidifier 24 hours a day?
Running nonstop, a dehumidifier would use 18.8 kWh a day and cost $2.78 a day, or $84.47 over an average month in North Carolina.
How many watts does a dehumidifier use?
A typical model draws about 785 W (Virginia Cooperative Extension). Check the label on yours: cost scales directly with watts, so a 20% lower wattage means a 20% lower bill.
Why does a dehumidifier 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.