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AC Running Cost Calculator

Estimate air conditioner running cost per hour, per night, per week, per active month, and per cooling season. Enter input watts, run time, duty cycle, and electricity price for a practical schedule-based estimate.

AC power and running schedule

Estimate AC running cost per hour, per run, per week, per month, and per cooling season.

Use input watts from the label, spec sheet, smart plug, or AC Electricity Cost Calculator.

Common AC input power

100% estimates maximum cost; 50-70% is often better for cycling AC use.

Common run lengths

Common compressor run time

Use your local electricity price from your bill.

This changes labels only; no exchange conversion is applied.

Example electricity prices

Weekly and season schedule

Estimated cost per hour

$0.13per hour

1200 W at 60% compressor run time costs about $0.13 per hour, $1.04 per 8-hour run, and $31.45 per active month.

8-hour run cost
$1.04
Weekly cost
$7.26
Active month cost
$31.45
Cooling season cost
$116
Energy per hour
0.720 kWh
Energy per run
5.76 kWh
Average running power
720 W
Cost level
Lower hourly cost

How to use the AC Running Cost Calculator

Enter the air conditioner input power in watts, then set how long the AC runs, how many days per week you use it, and how many weeks your cooling season lasts. The calculator turns that schedule into cost per hour, per run, per week, per active month, and per season.

Use the compressor run time field to avoid overestimating cost. A 100% duty cycle means the AC uses full rated power the whole time. A lower duty cycle models cycling behavior or inverter modulation.

If you do not know the input watts, use the AC Electricity Cost Calculator first. If you are choosing a unit size, start with the AC BTU Calculator.

AC running cost formula

average running watts = input watts x duty cycle %
cost per hour = average running watts / 1000 x electricity price per kWh
cost per run = cost per hour x run length hours
weekly cost = cost per run x days per week
season cost = weekly cost x cooling season weeks

This page focuses on schedule-based running cost. It assumes one run per selected day, which works well for common searches such as AC cost per hour, AC cost per night, and air conditioner monthly running cost.

Assumptions and methodology

This calculator uses direct input watts and a use schedule. It is intended for planning questions such as how much it costs to run an AC for one hour, overnight, every day for a month, or through a cooling season.

  • Input watts should come from a label, specification sheet, smart plug, energy meter, or the AC Electricity Cost Calculator.
  • Duty cycle adjusts rated watts into average running watts.
  • Active month cost uses an average 52 weeks / 12 months conversion from weekly cost.
  • Season cost multiplies weekly cost by the cooling season length you enter.

Example calculations

1,200 W AC running overnight

A 1200 W air conditioner at 60% compressor run time averages 720 W while running. At $0.18/kWh, that costs about $0.13 per hour.

An 8-hour overnight run costs about $1.04. At 100% duty cycle, the same overnight run would cost about $1.73, which is a useful upper-bound estimate.

AC running cost chart

This chart assumes 8 hours per run, 7 days per week, 16season weeks, 60% duty cycle, and $0.18/kWh electricity.

Estimated AC running cost by input wattage
Input powerPer hourPer 8h runActive monthSeason
500 W$0.05$0.43$13.10$48.38
800 W$0.09$0.69$20.97$77.41
1000 W$0.11$0.86$26.21$96.77
1200 W$0.13$1.04$31.45$116
1500 W$0.16$1.30$39.31$145
2000 W$0.22$1.73$52.42$194
3000 W$0.32$2.59$78.62$290

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FAQ

How much does it cost to run an AC per hour?

Using the default example of 1200 W, 60% compressor run time, and $0.18/kWh, this AC Running Cost Calculator estimates about $0.13 per hour.

How much does it cost to run an air conditioner overnight?

With the same default inputs, an 8-hour overnight run costs about $1.04. Use 100% duty cycle for a maximum-cost estimate or a lower duty cycle for cycling use.

How do I calculate AC running cost?

Convert average running watts to kilowatts, multiply by hours of use, then multiply by electricity price per kWh. Average running watts equals rated input watts multiplied by compressor run time percentage.

What is compressor run time or duty cycle?

Duty cycle is the share of time the compressor is effectively using rated power. A non-inverter AC may cycle on and off, while an inverter AC may reduce output. In both cases, a lower duty cycle reduces average running cost.

Why is this different from the AC Electricity Cost Calculator?

This page focuses on cost per hour, per run, per week, per active month, and per season. The AC Electricity Cost Calculator is better when you need to estimate input watts from BTU and EER or SEER.

Why is my real AC running cost different?

Real cost can change with outdoor temperature, humidity, thermostat setting, room insulation, AC maintenance, inverter behavior, electricity pricing, and whether the listed wattage is rated, maximum, or measured power.