How much does a dehumidifier cost to run in South Carolina?
$45 a month while in use, May to September
- A day of use
- $1.46
- An hour of running
- $0.12
- A year (season only)
- $224.12
785 W, 12 hours a day of running time, May to September, at South Carolina’s average rate of 15.6¢ 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 | $3.71 | $18.68 |
| 2 hours a day | $0.24 | $7.43 | $37.35 |
| 4 hours a day | $0.49 | $14.85 | $74.71 |
| 8 hours a day | $0.98 | $29.70 | $149.41 |
| 12 hours a day typical | $1.46 | $44.55 | $224.12 |
| 24 hours a day | $2.93 | $89.11 | $448.23 |
A typical model draws about 785 W (Virginia Cooperative Extension).
South Carolina compared with other states
South Carolina’s residential rate is the 21st cheapest of 51 states and DC, 2.8¢ below the US average of 18.3¢ (−15%). South Carolina’s rate is up 0.8¢ from June 2025 (14.8¢, +5.1%).
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 $7.43 a month in season.
Questions
How much does it cost to run a dehumidifier per hour?
About $0.12 an hour in South Carolina. A dehumidifier at 785 W uses 0.785 kWh per hour, and at South Carolina’s average of 15.6¢ 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 $44.55 a month while it is in use in South Carolina, or $224.12 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 $2.93 a day, or $89.11 over an average month in South 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 South Carolina than elsewhere?
South Carolina’s residential rate is the 21st cheapest of 51 states and DC, 2.8¢ below the US average of 18.3¢ (−15%). South Carolina’s rate is up 0.8¢ from June 2025 (14.8¢, +5.1%). 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.