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What it costs to run a window AC in every state

Last updated · Prices: U.S. EIA, August 2026

How these numbers are madeReport an error

The same 8,000 BTU unit costs up to $75.49 a month in Hawaii and $20.35 in Nevada. Pick your state and unit to see your own number, worked out from August 2026 electricity prices published by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Cost per hour at the U.S. average rate

  • A 5,000 BTU unit costs about 7.6¢ an hour
  • An 8,000 BTU unit costs about 12.1¢ an hour
  • A 10,000 BTU unit costs about 15.1¢ an hour
  • A 12,000 BTU unit costs about 18.2¢ an hour

At 18.16¢ per kWh (August 2026) and a CEER of 12, for each hour the compressor runs. The calculator below uses your state's rate.

An 8,000 BTU unit, 8 hours a day in the U.S. on average, costs up to

$29.06 a month

About 667 watts, 160 kWh over 30 days at 18.16¢ per kWh. That assumes the compressor runs every one of those hours. A properly sized unit cycles off once the room is cool, so your bill will usually be lower.

Monthly cost of a 8,000 BTU unit, every state

8 hours a day, CEER 12, 30 days, at each state's average August 2026 residential rate. Change the inputs above and this list follows.

StatePrice per kWhMonthly cost
Hawaii47.18¢
$75.49
Maine32.11¢
$51.38
Massachusetts30.48¢
$48.77
California29.75¢
$47.60
Alaska29.41¢
$47.06
New York28.65¢
$45.84
Rhode Island28.18¢
$45.09
New Hampshire27.64¢
$44.22
District of Columbia25.98¢
$41.57
New Jersey24.61¢
$39.38
Connecticut24.51¢
$39.22
Vermont23.84¢
$38.14
Michigan22.99¢
$36.78
Pennsylvania21.77¢
$34.83
Maryland21.40¢
$34.24
Wisconsin19.41¢
$31.06
Ohio19.38¢
$31.01
Illinois19.32¢
$30.91
Delaware18.70¢
$29.92
Virginia17.64¢
$28.22
Minnesota17.20¢
$27.52
Colorado17.17¢
$27.47
Iowa17.06¢
$27.30
Indiana17.02¢
$27.23
New Mexico16.51¢
$26.42
Alabama16.33¢
$26.13
West Virginia16.31¢
$26.10
Missouri16.02¢
$25.63
Oregon15.92¢
$25.47
Texas15.91¢
$25.46
Georgia15.90¢
$25.44
South Carolina15.76¢
$25.22
Montana15.57¢
$24.91
Kansas15.47¢
$24.75
South Dakota15.15¢
$24.24
Arizona15.05¢
$24.08
Florida14.99¢
$23.98
North Carolina14.95¢
$23.92
Oklahoma14.82¢
$23.71
Washington14.63¢
$23.41
Mississippi14.43¢
$23.09
Wyoming14.43¢
$23.09
Arkansas14.37¢
$22.99
Kentucky13.80¢
$22.08
Nebraska13.54¢
$21.66
Tennessee13.42¢
$21.47
Idaho13.37¢
$21.39
North Dakota13.31¢
$21.30
Utah13.31¢
$21.30
Louisiana12.87¢
$20.59
Nevada12.72¢
$20.35

How the numbers are worked out

  1. Power draw: capacity in BTU divided by CEER gives watts.
  2. Energy: watts times hours a day times 30 days, divided by 1,000, gives kWh.
  3. Cost: kWh times your state's average residential price.

Prices are each state's average residential rate for August 2026, the height of cooling season. Your own rate depends on your utility and plan, so if you know it, compare it with your state's figure in the list. The cost is a ceiling because it assumes the compressor never cycles off.

Ways to bring the number down

Buy the right size first: an oversized unit short-cycles and an undersized one never stops. The AC size calculator gives you the capacity for your room. After that, a clean filter and clean coils keep the unit running at its rated efficiency. See how to change an AC filter, how to clean condenser coils, and what temperature to set your thermostat.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to run a window AC for a month?
At the August 2026 U.S. average residential rate of 18.16¢ per kWh, an 8,000 BTU unit with a CEER of 12 running 8 hours a day costs up to $29.06 over 30 days. Your local rate, the unit's efficiency and how long the compressor actually runs change that figure.
How much does it cost to run a window AC per hour?
About 12.1¢ an hour for an 8,000 BTU unit with a CEER of 12, at the August 2026 U.S. average residential rate of 18.16¢ per kWh. A 5,000 BTU unit costs about 7.6¢ and a 12,000 BTU unit about 18.2¢. That is for each hour the compressor is running; your state's rate moves it up or down.
Which state is the most expensive to run an air conditioner in?
Hawaii, at 47.18¢ per kWh in August 2026. The same 8,000 BTU unit costs up to $75.49 a month there, against $20.35 in Nevada, the cheapest at 12.72¢.
How do I work out how many watts my AC uses?
Divide the cooling capacity in BTU by the CEER printed on the yellow EnergyGuide label. An 8,000 BTU unit with a CEER of 12 draws about 667 watts while the compressor runs.
What is CEER?
Combined Energy Efficiency Ratio: the BTU of cooling a room air conditioner delivers per watt-hour of electricity, including standby power. Higher is cheaper to run. ENERGY STAR certified room units are rated between 11.7 and 14.7, depending on their type and size.

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Sources

You're welcome to cite or link this page. Prices are EIA's August 2026 figures. Free to reuse under CC BY 4.0: credit Askento with a link. Download the data (CSV) or see all our datasets.