How much does a dehumidifier cost to run?

It depends on its power rating (often 200 to 700 watts), how long it runs, and your power price. Run for a few hours a day over winter, a typical dehumidifier might cost a few dollars a week, which adds up across the colder months.

Is a dehumidifier cheaper than heating?

A dehumidifier uses far less power than most heaters, and a drier home is easier and cheaper to heat. Running one to control damp can reduce both heating costs and the health problems that come with a damp home.

How can I reduce the cost?

Use the humidistat so it only runs when needed, run it in a closed room, and fix the sources of moisture (ventilation, drying washing outside). A more efficient model also uses less power for the same result.

Dehumidifier Running Cost Calculator

This New Zealand calculator works out what running a dehumidifier costs, per day and per year, from its power rating, the hours it runs and your electricity price. Keeping a home dry over winter has real value, but the power cost adds up across the colder months. You enter the figures, and the tool shows the daily, weekly and seasonal cost so you can budget and compare models.

Power rating (watts)

Hours per day

Power price (per kWh)

Months used per year

cost over the season you run it

Per day$0

Per week$0

Assumes it runs at full power for the hours entered; using the humidistat means it cycles off and costs less. A drier home is cheaper to heat and healthier. Estimate only.

How it works

The calculator converts the power rating to kilowatts, multiplies by the hours run per day and your power price for the daily cost, then scales it to a week and across the months you use it. Most dehumidifiers cycle on and off via a humidistat, so real cost is usually a bit lower than the full-power figure, but this gives a solid upper estimate for budgeting.

Worked example

A 350 watt dehumidifier run 6 hours a day at 28 cents uses about 2.1 kWh, around $0.59 a day or $4.10 a week. Over a 5-month damp season that is roughly $88, less if the humidistat cycles it off.

Related calculators

Appliance Running Cost Calculator: any appliance.
Clothes Dryer Cost Calculator: dryer cost.
Heat Pump Savings Calculator: heating savings.
Electricity Cost Calculator: power costs.

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