Cost to run

How much does a humidifier cost to run?

Humidifier cost splits sharply by type: ultrasonic and evaporative cool-mist units sip electricity, while warm-mist models boil water with a heating element that multiplies the draw.

Content reviewed 2026-07-15 · Rates published 2026-09-24 · methodology appliance-energy-1.0.0 · data vintage 2026-07-ytd

Using the evaporative all day assumptions below, electricity costs about $0.08 per day of use and $2.43 for 30 days of use at the Texas average rate. Adjust the calculator for your equipment and schedule.

Example costs using the Texas state-average rate

These are generated examples for a consistent location. Enter your own ZIP and usage below for a more relevant state-average estimate.

Scenario	Assumption	kWh/month	Cost/day of use	Monthly range	Cost at 365 days/year
Ultrasonic overnight	9 hours a night in a bedroom 25 W × 9 h/day × 0.9 duty × 30 days × 1 unit(s)	6.08	$0.03	$0.65–$1.44	$11.87
Evaporative all day	14 hours a day in dry winter air 45 W × 14 h/day × 0.8 duty × 30 days × 1 unit(s)	15.12	$0.08	$1.61–$3.59	$29.54
Warm mist overnight	9 hours a night boiling water for steam 260 W × 9 h/day × 0.9 duty × 30 days × 1 unit(s)	63.18	$0.34	$6.72–$15.00	$123.45

Wattage, runtime and duty cycle below are illustrative assumptions, not measurements of a particular model. Annual figures assume use on all 365 days; monthly figures use each scenario's stated number of days.

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.B. Data vintage 2026-07-ytd. State-average pricing is not your exact utility tariff.

Calculate your own usage

Your inputs

ZIP code

Used to pick your state’s average electricity rate. We don’t need your street address.

ApplianceHow manyHours used per day (optional)

Leave blank to use a typical default for this appliance.

Rated watts (from the appliance label)Duty cycle (0–1; share of time drawing full power)Days per month

Your estimate — a range, confidence level, and the sources behind it — will appear here.

Type matters more than size

Ultrasonic units vibrate water into mist and evaporative units blow air through a wet wick, both needing only fan-scale power. Warm-mist and steam vaporizers heat water electrically, so their wattage sits an order of magnitude higher for similar room coverage.

Winter dryness sets the schedule

Heated indoor air in cold months can drop below comfortable humidity, so many households run humidifiers ten or more hours daily through winter. The humidistat, room size, and how leaky the home is decide the effective duty cycle you should enter.

Maintenance and scope caveats

This page prices electricity only: filters, wicks, descaling, and distilled water are separate costs. Whole-home furnace-mounted humidifiers piggyback on the blower and follow different arithmetic, and no humidifier setting is evaluated here for health suitability.

Frequently asked questions

Are warm-mist humidifiers expensive to run?

Relative to cool-mist types, yes: boiling water takes roughly ten times the power of misting it ultrasonically. The warm-mist scenario above shows the difference at the reference rate.

Does a humidifier help lower heating costs?

Moister air can feel slightly warmer at the same temperature, letting some people nudge the thermostat down. The effect is modest and varies by person and home.

Should the humidifier run around the clock?

Most units cycle against a humidistat target, so continuous power-on does not mean continuous consumption. Very leaky or large spaces may keep the duty cycle high.

Related appliance cost guides

Compare all published appliances · Electricity rates in your state · Read the methodology · Review the data sources · How we check these guides