Monthly air conditioning cost calculator
Hours a day, days a month and your tariff: the summer bill.
Your inputs
Your inputs are processed on your device and are not sent to a server.
Example loaded. You can change any value.
There is no figure yet: nothing is calculated until you ask for it.
- Enter your measurements.
- Check the units and the assumptions.
- Press Calculate, or load the example.
Rather see a worked case? Press “Load example” and change any value afterwards.
Next step
A better SEER changes that bill without changing your hours of use.
Where each number comes from Conversion constants are exact; densities and coverage rates come from cited sources; everything else is an assumption you can change. Methodology · Sources and updates
How to use it
- Enter the unit's electrical power.
- Set the hours of use per day and days per month.
- Type your price per kWh and choose the currency.
- The result gives the monthly cost plus the hourly and daily breakdown.
How it is calculated
The same sum as the hourly cost, extended to a month:
What makes the monthly view interesting is that hours of use matter as much as the unit's power. Cutting from 10 to 6 hours a day saves 40 %, more than you would save by replacing a mediocre unit with an excellent one.
This assumes running at constant power, the worst case. A well-sized inverter unit usually comes in below it.
Worked example
A 1,000 W unit, 8 hours a day, 30 days, at $0.17/kWh:
- Energy: 1 x 8 x 30 = 240 kWh
- Cost: 240 x 0.17 = $40.80
- Per day: $1.36; per hour: $0.17
Run it 4 hours instead of 8 and the bill drops to $20.40. Raise the thermostat a degree and it drops a little further.
Good to know
- One degree counts. Raising the setpoint reduces the load and with it the hours the compressor spends at full power.
- This is the upper bound. It assumes constant draw; an inverter modulates and usually costs less.
- Energy only. It excludes standing charges, taxes and fixed fees.
Frequently asked questions
How much does air conditioning add to my bill?
A 1,000 W unit used 8 hours a day for 30 days at $0.17/kWh adds about $41 a month. The figure moves a lot with the hours of use.
How much does AC cost per month in summer?
It depends on power, hours and your tariff. $25 to $70 a month is the usual range for a bedroom or living room with moderate use.
What saves more: fewer hours or a higher setpoint?
Cutting hours has a direct, proportional effect. Raising the setpoint reduces the load so the compressor works less; the two add up.
Does this apply to an inverter unit?
As an upper bound, yes. An inverter modulates and usually draws less than its rated power continuously.