How much does it cost to run a dehumidifier?

A dehumidifier certified by ENERGY STAR costs about $19 to $521 a year to run at the US average residential electricity rate of $0.1856/kWh, based on 519 models we track. The class median is $64/yr. The cheapest to run is the Ukoke UDH0125 at about $19/yr, while the priciest models in the class run closer to $521/yr. Running cost in this class is driven mostly by pints-per-day water removal capacity and compressor efficiency, covered in detail below.

What it costs

Across the 519 ENERGY STAR certified dehumidifier models we track, annual running cost ranges from $19/yr to $521/yr, with a class median of $64/yr, all computed at the US average residential rate of $0.1856/kWh. That is a spread of $502 a year between the cheapest and priciest model we track, which over a typical decade-long appliance life is $5020 of difference before the purchase price even enters the math.

What drives the running cost

A dehumidifier's running cost is a function of how much water it needs to pull from the air, and how efficiently its compressor does that:

• Water removal capacity (pints/day). A dehumidifier rated to remove more pints per day is built for a larger space or a more humid room, and generally draws more power to do it.
• Integrated Energy Factor (IEF). This federal efficiency figure measures how many liters of water the unit removes per kilowatt-hour; a higher IEF means less energy per pint of moisture removed for a given capacity.
• Compressor cycling and humidistat accuracy. A unit with a more precise humidistat cycles the compressor off once the target humidity is reached, rather than running continuously.
• Room size and humidity load. A dehumidifier working in a persistently damp basement or against outside air infiltration will run far more hours per day than the same unit in a smaller, better-sealed room, even though that is about the room, not the appliance's rated efficiency.

How to lower it

• Set a realistic target humidity (most guidance suggests around 45 to 50 percent) rather than the driest setting, since the last few percentage points cost disproportionately more energy to remove.
• Keep doors and windows to the space closed while it runs, so it is not continuously dehumidifying incoming outside air.
• Clean or replace the air filter regularly; a clogged filter restricts airflow and makes the compressor work harder for the same result.
• Empty or plumb the water reservoir to a drain so the unit does not shut off and restart repeatedly waiting to be emptied, which adds extra compressor cycling.

The cheapest dehumidifier to run

These are the five cheapest dehumidifier models to run among the ones we track, ranked by estimated dollars per year. See the full leaderboard for all 150 ranked.

Calculate your own

These figures assume the US average electricity rate. If your local rate is higher or lower, or you want to check a specific model's real annual kWh, use the running-cost calculator to swap in your own rate and see the yearly cost update live.