How Much Does a Central Air Conditioner Cost to Run?
A typical Central Air Conditioner draws 3,500 watts when running and operates roughly 8 hours per day on average. That works out to 28.00 kWh per day, 350 kWh per month, and approximately 4,200 kWh per year. At the US-average residential rate of 16.4 cents per kWh (EIA April 2026), the Central Air Conditioner costs roughly $672 per year to operate. In cheap-power states like Idaho or Washington at 11 cents, it is closer to $504. In expensive states like California or Massachusetts at 30 cents, it climbs to $1050. In Hawaii at 41 cents per kWh, the annual cost is approximately $1730.