How much does it cost to run a dehumidifier 12 hours a day?

Data checked October 2026

Short answer

A 50-pint portable dehumidifier draws about 488 W and costs $32.40 a month if the compressor runs 12 hours a day, at the U.S. average of 18.19¢/kWh — $8.10–$24.30 with a humidistat cycling it.

Power = pints × 0.4732 L ÷ IEF ÷ 24 h: 50 × 0.4732 ÷ 2.02 ÷ 24 = 488 W (11.7 kWh a day nonstop).
The capacity is on today's DOE test (65°F); a box from before mid-2019 shows a higher number for the same machine.
At the federal minimum IEF for this size (1.6) it would draw 616 W instead — $8.51 a month more nonstop.
The same use costs $22.20 a month in North Dakota and $82.67 in Hawaii.
For reference, ENERGY STAR's average portable unit over 30 pints is rated at 460 kWh a year on DOE's test hours — $83.67 a year.

Adjust it to your exact job

Your dehumidifier

Type

Capacity

Exact capacity

pints/day

Capacity on the box is rated by

Since June 2019 DOE tests at 65°F instead of 80°F, so the same machine is rated lower: an old 50-pint ≈ a new 30-pint.

How it runs

Compressor on

Set to a humidistat (about 50% RH) the compressor cycles off once the air is dry; how often depends on how damp the space is.

Hours plugged in a day

Months a year

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.

50-pint portable dehumidifier costs

$32.40a month

488 W while the compressor runs · $389 for 12 months

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

Per hour running: $0.090.488 kW
Per day: $1.075.9 kWh
Water removed: 6.3gal/dayrated 50 pints at 65°F test
Efficiency: 2.02L/kWhENERGY STAR average

With a humidistat

If the compressor runs a quarter to three-quarters of the time, expect $8.10–$24.30 a month.

Cost by period
Period	kWh	Cost
Per hour plugged in	0.488	$0.09
Per day	5.86	$1.07
Per month	178.1	$32.40
Per 12-month year	2,138	$389

Other sizes, same use

Monthly cost by capacity
Capacity	Watts	Per month
20 pints	205	$13.64
30 pints	308	$20.45
35 pints	342	$22.68
50 pints	488	$32.40

How to cut it

Set the humidistat to about 50% rather than continuous — dry air below that buys nothing.
Run a hose to a floor drain so the unit never stops on a full bucket.
Close basement windows and seal the rim joist; every pint of outside moisture you keep out is one the machine doesn't remove.
A bigger unit at higher IEF can cost less to run than a small one running nonstop.

Energy budget

178 kWh 50-pint portable dehumidifier — electricity per month12 h/day, compressor 100% · 18.19¢/kWh$32.40

Estimated total$32.40

Did this answer your question?

Compare

50-pint dehumidifier by how often the compressor runs (12 h plugged in a day)

Compressor on	kWh a day	Per day	Per month	Per year
100%	5.9	$1.07	$32.40	$389
75%	4.4	$0.80	$24.30	$292
50%	2.9	$0.53	$16.20	$194
25%	1.5	$0.27	$8.10	$97.21

How this was worked out

IEF (Integrated Energy Factor) is liters of water removed per kWh on the DOE test, so watts at rated capacity = liters per day ÷ IEF ÷ 24. With a humidistat the compressor stops once the air is dry enough, so real use depends on how damp the space is.

Prices: EIA U.S. average for Jan–Aug 2026. Efficiency: ENERGY STAR certified averages and 10 CFR 430.32 minimums.

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

Similar jobs

Other sizes people check

Sources

Data behind this answer

ENERGY STAR certified dehumidifiers (dataset) and capacity-rating guide — portable >30 pints: 44.4 pints/day, IEF 2.02, 460 kWh/yr; 2019 test at 65°F re-rated capacities · 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
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
P3 International Kill A Watt P4400 — plug-in meter up to 15 A / 1,875 VA for measuring real kWh · 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 50-pint portable dehumidifier draws about 488 W and costs $32.40 a month if the compressor runs 12 hours a day, at the U.S. average of 18.19¢/kWh — $8.10–$24.30 with a humidistat cycling it.

Power = pints × 0.4732 L ÷ IEF ÷ 24 h: 50 × 0.4732 ÷ 2.02 ÷ 24 = 488 W (11.7 kWh a day nonstop).

The capacity is on today's DOE test (65°F); a box from before mid-2019 shows a higher number for the same machine.

At the federal minimum IEF for this size (1.6) it would draw 616 W instead — $8.51 a month more nonstop.

The same use costs $22.20 a month in North Dakota and $82.67 in Hawaii.

For reference, ENERGY STAR's average portable unit over 30 pints is rated at 460 kWh a year on DOE's test hours — $83.67 a year.

Adjust it to your exact job

Your dehumidifier

Type

Capacity

Exact capacity

pints/day

Capacity on the box is rated by

Since June 2019 DOE tests at 65°F instead of 80°F, so the same machine is rated lower: an old 50-pint ≈ a new 30-pint.

How it runs

Compressor on

Set to a humidistat (about 50% RH) the compressor cycles off once the air is dry; how often depends on how damp the space is.

Hours plugged in a day

Months a year

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.

50-pint portable dehumidifier costs

$32.40a month

488 W while the compressor runs · $389 for 12 months

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

Per hour running: $0.090.488 kW
Per day: $1.075.9 kWh
Water removed: 6.3gal/dayrated 50 pints at 65°F test
Efficiency: 2.02L/kWhENERGY STAR average

With a humidistat

If the compressor runs a quarter to three-quarters of the time, expect $8.10–$24.30 a month.

Cost by period
Period	kWh	Cost
Per hour plugged in	0.488	$0.09
Per day	5.86	$1.07
Per month	178.1	$32.40
Per 12-month year	2,138	$389

Other sizes, same use

Monthly cost by capacity
Capacity	Watts	Per month
20 pints	205	$13.64
30 pints	308	$20.45
35 pints	342	$22.68
50 pints	488	$32.40

How to cut it

Set the humidistat to about 50% rather than continuous — dry air below that buys nothing.
Run a hose to a floor drain so the unit never stops on a full bucket.
Close basement windows and seal the rim joist; every pint of outside moisture you keep out is one the machine doesn't remove.
A bigger unit at higher IEF can cost less to run than a small one running nonstop.

Energy budget

178 kWh 50-pint portable dehumidifier — electricity per month12 h/day, compressor 100% · 18.19¢/kWh$32.40

Estimated total$32.40

Compressor on

kWh a day

Per day

Per month

Per year

100%

5.9

$1.07

$32.40

$389

75%

4.4

$0.80

$24.30

$292

50%

2.9

$0.53

$16.20

$194

25%

1.5

$0.27

$8.10

$97.21

How this was worked out

Prices: EIA U.S. average for Jan–Aug 2026. Efficiency: ENERGY STAR certified averages and 10 CFR 430.32 minimums.

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