How much does a dehumidifier cost to run?
About 53p a run on a standard tariff, or around £110 a year at 4 times a week. Less at the right time on a time-of-use tariff.
Today's cost where you live
Loading today's prices needs JavaScript. Open the tool instead.
A compressor dehumidifier uses around 200 to 300 watts, so an eight-hour run uses about two units. It's often used to dry washing indoors, where it's cheaper than a tumble dryer and much better for damp than drying clothes in a cold room.
How we work it out
A typical dehumidifier uses about 2kWh for 250w for 8 hours, taking around 8 hours. Electricity on a standard variable tariff costs about 26p a unit across Great Britain at the moment (it varies a little by region), so one run comes to about 53p. Your own model may use more or less: the energy label, or a plug-in energy monitor, will tell you.
If you're on a tariff where the price changes through the day, such as Agile Octopus, Economy 7 or an electric car tariff, the same run can cost much less at the right time. The Cheap Watts tool finds that time for you on your own tariff.
How to spend less
- Close the door and windows of the room it's in, so it dries the room and not the whole house.
- Use the laundry setting, if it has one, and put it near the airer.
- Set the humidity target to around 50 to 55%. Lower than that costs more for little benefit.
Worth a look
- Smart plug with energy monitoring (Amazon, opens in a new tab)
Measure what your own appliance really uses per run, instead of the typical figure.
Affiliate links: if you buy through them, Cheap Watts earns a small commission at no extra cost to you. They don't change the results above.