Portable air conditioner: electricity cost calculator
Quick answer: a typical portable air conditioner costs about $49/month while in use at the U.S. average electricity price (18.44¢/kWh) across a 4-month season (about $198/year). Your number depends on wattage, runtime and your state — calculate it below.
Single-hose portable units draw 800–1,500 W and lose part of their cooling by exhausting conditioned room air outdoors, so they run longer than a window unit of the same BTU rating.
8.80 kWh/day used · 268 kWh/month in use · 1071 kWh/year at 18.44¢ per kWh (4 months of use per year)
Low, typical and heavy use
Monthly cost while in use, at the U.S. average price of 18.44¢/kWh.
| Scenario | Watts | Hours/day | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light use | 800 W | 4.8 h | $21.55 |
| Typical | 1,100 W | 8.0 h | $49.39 |
| Heavy use | 1,500 W | 12.0 h | $101.03 |
Common questions
Portable vs window AC — which costs less to run?
A window unit of the same rated capacity typically cools the same room on 20–40% less energy, because a portable unit's exhaust hose pulls already-cooled air out of the room.
Cost in every state
Monthly cost of a typical portable air conditioner (1,100 W, 8h/day) at each state's average residential price, May 2026.
| State | Avg price | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.77¢ | $44.92 |
| Alaska | 28.23¢ | $75.61 |
| Arizona | 15.23¢ | $40.79 |
| Arkansas | 14.36¢ | $38.46 |
| California | 33.25¢ | $89.06 |
| Colorado | 16.16¢ | $43.28 |
| Connecticut | 27.37¢ | $73.31 |
| Delaware | 19.38¢ | $51.91 |
| District of Columbia | 25.40¢ | $68.03 |
| Florida | 15.17¢ | $40.63 |
| Georgia | 15.84¢ | $42.43 |
| Hawaii | 52.00¢ | $139.28 |
| Idaho | 12.35¢ | $33.08 |
| Illinois | 23.85¢ | $63.88 |
| Indiana | 18.15¢ | $48.61 |
| Iowa | 14.14¢ | $37.87 |
| Kansas | 15.13¢ | $40.53 |
| Kentucky | 14.98¢ | $40.12 |
| Louisiana | 14.15¢ | $37.90 |
| Maine | 28.63¢ | $76.69 |
| Maryland | 21.77¢ | $58.31 |
| Massachusetts | 28.82¢ | $77.19 |
| Michigan | 22.01¢ | $58.95 |
| Minnesota | 16.95¢ | $45.40 |
| Mississippi | 16.16¢ | $43.28 |
| Missouri | 13.68¢ | $36.64 |
| Montana | 14.67¢ | $39.29 |
| Nebraska | 13.59¢ | $36.40 |
| Nevada | 13.60¢ | $36.43 |
| New Hampshire | 27.33¢ | $73.20 |
| New Jersey | 23.27¢ | $62.33 |
| New Mexico | 14.12¢ | $37.82 |
| New York | 29.93¢ | $80.17 |
| North Carolina | 15.09¢ | $40.42 |
| North Dakota | 13.61¢ | $36.45 |
| Ohio | 19.52¢ | $52.28 |
| Oklahoma | 13.38¢ | $35.84 |
| Oregon | 16.27¢ | $43.58 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.55¢ | $57.72 |
| Rhode Island | 29.46¢ | $78.91 |
| South Carolina | 16.18¢ | $43.34 |
| South Dakota | 15.73¢ | $42.13 |
| Tennessee | 14.47¢ | $38.76 |
| Texas | 16.44¢ | $44.03 |
| Utah | 12.96¢ | $34.71 |
| Vermont | 24.89¢ | $66.67 |
| Virginia | 17.61¢ | $47.17 |
| Washington | 14.95¢ | $40.04 |
| West Virginia | 16.80¢ | $45.00 |
| Wisconsin | 19.74¢ | $52.87 |
| Wyoming | 14.80¢ | $39.64 |
Related calculators
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Space heater 1,500 watts adds up faster than most people expect.
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Electric baseboard heater Simple, silent, and one of the priciest ways to heat.
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Methodology & sources
Cost = watts ÷ 1,000 × hours × price per kWh. Electricity prices are average residential prices by state from the EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A (May 2026). EIA averages include delivery charges and taxes but are not any specific utility tariff — for an exact figure, use the rate from your own bill. Wattage presets reflect common product ranges; check your appliance's nameplate or a plug-in power meter for its true draw.
Last verified: July 30, 2026. Prices refresh automatically each month when EIA publishes new data.