How much does it cost to run a 5-ton central air conditioner?

Data checked October 2026

Short answer

A 5-ton central air conditioner draws about 4.2 kW and costs $0.76 an hour running — about $572 over a 750-hour U.S.-average cooling year at 18.19¢/kWh.

Power = capacity ÷ efficiency: 60,000 BTU/h ÷ SEER2 14.3 = 4,196 W.
DOE rates room air conditioners on 750 full-load hours a year; spread by U.S. cooling degree days that peaks in July at about 6.4 hours a day — $151.11 that month.
On a 95°F afternoon a typical system (EER2 11.49) draws more: about 5.2 kW, or $0.95 an hour.
In a hot state the same unit runs far more: Texas has 2.2× the U.S. cooling degree days, Florida 2.8×. Pick your state in the calculator.

Adjust it to your exact job

Your air conditioner

Type

Size

1 ton = 12,000 BTU/h. It's in the outdoor unit's model number: 24 = 2 ton, 36 = 3 ton, 48 = 4 ton.

Efficiency (SEER2)

Exact SEER2

New split systems sold for the U.S. must be at least SEER2 13.4. SEER2 is on the EnergyGuide label or AHRI certificate.

How much it runs

Run time

750 full-load hours a year: DOE's 750-hour national basis × 1,216 cooling degree days in the U.S. ÷ 1,216 U.S.

Electricity rate

Where you live

Price per kWh

EIA's state average: total residential revenue ÷ kWh sold, so delivery and fixed monthly charges are spread over every kWh.

5-ton central AC in July

$151.11a month

$572 a year (3,147 kWh) · $0.76 per hour running

At 18.19¢/kWh — U.S. average, Jan–Aug 2026 (EIA).

Per hour running: $0.764.2 kW average draw
Busiest month (Jul): 6.4 hfull-load hours a day
Per year: $572750 full-load hours
Capacity: 60,000BTU/hSEER2 14.3

Estimated monthly cost in the U.S.

Same use, other efficiency

Yearly cost by efficiency rating
Efficiency	Per year	vs yours
SEER2 13.4 (min · North)	$611	+$38.45
SEER2 14.3 (min · South)	$572	—
SEER2 15.2 (ENERGY STAR)	$539	−$33.89
SEER2 17 (ES average)	$482	−$90.91

On a 95°F afternoon

SEER2 is a season average. At the hottest hours a typical 5-ton system (EER2 11.49) draws about 5.2 kW — $0.95 an hour.

How to cut it

Raise the thermostat a few degrees and run a ceiling fan instead — an ENERGY STAR fan uses about 35 W on high.
Change the filter and keep the outdoor coil clear of leaves and grass so the system moves heat as rated.
Close blinds on sun-facing windows in the afternoon, when cooling hours peak.

Energy budget

3,147 kWh 5-ton central AC — cooling season electricity750 full-load hours at 18.19¢/kWh$572

Estimated total$572

Did this answer your question?

Compare

Every size at 18.19¢/kWh and 750 full-load hours a year

Size	Efficiency	Watts	Per hour	Per year
1.5 ton	SEER2 14.3	1,259	$0.23	$172
2 ton	SEER2 14.3	1,678	$0.31	$229
2.5 ton	SEER2 14.3	2,098	$0.38	$286
3 ton	SEER2 14.3	2,517	$0.46	$343
3.5 ton	SEER2 14.3	2,937	$0.53	$401
4 ton	SEER2 14.3	3,357	$0.61	$458
5 ton	SEER2 14.3	4,196	$0.76	$572

How this was worked out

60,000 BTU/h ÷ 14.3 = 4,196 W = 4.196 kW. × 18.19¢ = $0.76 per running hour. × 750 hours = $572 a year.

Prices are EIA's U.S. average residential price for Jan–Aug 2026. Efficiency figures are ENERGY STAR certified averages (window units) or the federal minimum shown.

The full method, material data and tips are on the main air conditioner cost calculator page.

Similar jobs

Other sizes people check

Sources

Data behind this answer

EIA Electric Power Monthly, Tables 5.6.A & 5.6.B — residential price by state (August 2026) — latest month and Jan–Aug 2026 year-to-date average for every state; preliminary, refreshed monthly · checked October 2026
ENERGY STAR certified room air conditioners (dataset) — average CEER by size for window units; 750 hours/yr label basis · checked October 2026
ENERGY STAR certified central AC & heat pumps (dataset) — 3-ton split average SEER2 17.06 / EER2 11.49 / HSPF2 8.44; 12k mini-split SEER2 22.81 · checked October 2026
10 CFR 430.32 — federal energy conservation standards (eCFR) — room AC CEER minimums from 2026-05-26; SEER2 regions; dehumidifier IEF; water heater UEF · checked October 2026
NOAA Climate Prediction Center — population-weighted state degree days — monthly normal heating and cooling degree days by state (base 65°F) · checked October 2026
EIA-861M sales and revenue by state — 2025 average household use and bill per state (U.S. 878 kWh, $151.88 a month) · checked October 2026
EIA Electric Power Monthly technical notes — average price = revenue ÷ sales, including fixed customer charges, fuel adjustments and surcharges · checked October 2026

Short answer

A 5-ton central air conditioner draws about 4.2 kW and costs $0.76 an hour running — about $572 over a 750-hour U.S.-average cooling year at 18.19¢/kWh.

Power = capacity ÷ efficiency: 60,000 BTU/h ÷ SEER2 14.3 = 4,196 W.

DOE rates room air conditioners on 750 full-load hours a year; spread by U.S. cooling degree days that peaks in July at about 6.4 hours a day — $151.11 that month.

On a 95°F afternoon a typical system (EER2 11.49) draws more: about 5.2 kW, or $0.95 an hour.

In a hot state the same unit runs far more: Texas has 2.2× the U.S. cooling degree days, Florida 2.8×. Pick your state in the calculator.

Adjust it to your exact job

Your air conditioner

Type

Size

1 ton = 12,000 BTU/h. It's in the outdoor unit's model number: 24 = 2 ton, 36 = 3 ton, 48 = 4 ton.

Efficiency (SEER2)

Exact SEER2

New split systems sold for the U.S. must be at least SEER2 13.4. SEER2 is on the EnergyGuide label or AHRI certificate.

How much it runs

Run time

750 full-load hours a year: DOE's 750-hour national basis × 1,216 cooling degree days in the U.S. ÷ 1,216 U.S.

Electricity rate

Where you live

Price per kWh

EIA's state average: total residential revenue ÷ kWh sold, so delivery and fixed monthly charges are spread over every kWh.

5-ton central AC in July

$151.11a month

$572 a year (3,147 kWh) · $0.76 per hour running

At 18.19¢/kWh — U.S. average, Jan–Aug 2026 (EIA).

Per hour running: $0.764.2 kW average draw
Busiest month (Jul): 6.4 hfull-load hours a day
Per year: $572750 full-load hours
Capacity: 60,000BTU/hSEER2 14.3

Estimated monthly cost in the U.S.

Same use, other efficiency

Yearly cost by efficiency rating
Efficiency	Per year	vs yours
SEER2 13.4 (min · North)	$611	+$38.45
SEER2 14.3 (min · South)	$572	—
SEER2 15.2 (ENERGY STAR)	$539	−$33.89
SEER2 17 (ES average)	$482	−$90.91

On a 95°F afternoon

SEER2 is a season average. At the hottest hours a typical 5-ton system (EER2 11.49) draws about 5.2 kW — $0.95 an hour.

How to cut it

Raise the thermostat a few degrees and run a ceiling fan instead — an ENERGY STAR fan uses about 35 W on high.
Change the filter and keep the outdoor coil clear of leaves and grass so the system moves heat as rated.
Close blinds on sun-facing windows in the afternoon, when cooling hours peak.

Energy budget

3,147 kWh 5-ton central AC — cooling season electricity750 full-load hours at 18.19¢/kWh$572

Estimated total$572

Size

Efficiency

Watts

Per hour

Per year

1.5 ton

SEER2 14.3

1,259

$0.23

$172

2 ton

SEER2 14.3

1,678

$0.31

$229

2.5 ton

SEER2 14.3

2,098

$0.38

$286

3 ton

SEER2 14.3

2,517

$0.46

$343

3.5 ton

SEER2 14.3

2,937

$0.53

$401

4 ton

SEER2 14.3

3,357

$0.61

$458

5 ton

SEER2 14.3

4,196

$0.76

$572

How this was worked out

60,000 BTU/h ÷ 14.3 = 4,196 W = 4.196 kW. × 18.19¢ = $0.76 per running hour. × 750 hours = $572 a year.

Prices are EIA's U.S. average residential price for Jan–Aug 2026. Efficiency figures are ENERGY STAR certified averages (window units) or the federal minimum shown.

The full method, material data and tips are on the main air conditioner cost calculator page.