How Much Electricity Does A Window AC Unit Use?
Typical window ac unit: 900 W for 8 h a day7.2 kWh/day · $40.65/month
A 10,000 BTU window air conditioner draws about 800–1,000 W while cooling. Change the numbers below for your own window ac unit and electricity rate.
W
h
¢/kWh
Default rate: US average residential rate of 18.56¢/kWh (EIA, March 2026, via Jouleio). Your bill shows your own rate per kWh.
Result–
Window AC Unit running cost by hours
| Hours a day | kWh a month | Cost a month | Cost a year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 27.4 | $5.08 | $60.97 |
| 2 | 54.8 | $10.16 | $121.94 |
| 4 | 109.5 | $20.33 | $243.88 |
| 6 | 164.3 | $30.49 | $365.82 |
| 8 | 219 | $40.65 | $487.76 |
| 12 | 328.5 | $60.98 | $731.64 |
| 24 | 657.1 | $121.95 | $1,463.27 |
At the US average residential rate of 18.56¢/kWh (EIA, March 2026, via Jouleio).
Other appliances
Questions
How much does it cost to run a window ac unit?
About $40.65 a month for 8 hours a day at 900 W and 18.56¢ per kWh.
How can I measure the real usage?
A plug-in energy meter shows the actual kWh an appliance uses over a few days, which is more accurate than the label rating.