Budgeting: Fan running cost: how much it costs to run a fan all night

What is the fan running cost?

Very low. Most household fans use a small amount of electricity, far less than a kettle, a heater or an air conditioner. Running a fan all night, every night, adds very little to your energy bill. In a worked example, a pedestal fan running for eight hours a night costs about 4 for a whole month, or a little over 0.10 a night.

The exact cost depends on the fan's power rating, the speed setting and your electricity price. Smaller desk fans use the least, while bigger tower and pedestal fans use a bit more. Fans with energy-efficient motors can use even less.

Fans work by moving air over your skin, which helps sweat evaporate and makes you feel cooler. They don't lower the temperature of the room, which is why they cost so little: they're not trying to cool the air itself.

That makes fans one of the best value appliances in a hot summer. A fan bought once can keep you comfortable for many summers, and even running it every night costs less than a single takeaway coffee a month in the worked example. For households trying to keep bills down, using fans instead of air conditioning on all but the hottest days is one of the easiest savings to make.

Fans can also help in winter. Some ceiling fans have a reverse setting that pushes warm air down from the ceiling, which helps rooms with high ceilings feel warmer without turning up the heating.

What does a month of fan use cost?

Here's a worked example of running a fan eight hours a night for a month, in round numbers that work in any currency:

To work out your own cost, check the power rating on the fan, usually shown on a label, and the unit price on your electricity bill. How to save money on your electric bill explains how to do the sum.

How does a fan compare with air conditioning?

Air conditioning cools the air in a room, which takes far more energy. A portable air conditioner can cost many times more to run than a fan for the same hours. For most people in most summers, a fan is enough on all but the hottest days, and it costs a fraction of the price. Fans are also much cheaper to buy.

How do you get the most from a fan?

Point it at you

Fans cool people, not rooms, so aim it where you're sitting or sleeping.

Switch it off when you leave

Since a fan doesn't cool the room, leaving it on in an empty room wastes electricity, even if only a little.

Use it with open windows at night

Placing a fan near an open window in the evening draws cooler air in. Close windows and blinds during the day to keep heat out.

Try the cold water trick

Putting a bowl of ice or cold water in front of a fan can make the air feel cooler for a while, at almost no cost.

Use the right speed

Lower speeds use less electricity and are quieter for sleeping. Many people find a gentle breeze all night is more comfortable than a strong one for a short time.

Which fan should you buy?

Desk fans suit small spaces and use the least power, and a small one on a bedside table is often all you need at night. Pedestal fans move more air and can be adjusted in height. Tower fans take up less floor space and often have timers and remote controls. Ceiling fans suit rooms used often, though they need fitting. A fan with a timer can switch off after you fall asleep, saving a little more. Prices are low compared with air conditioning, and a good fan lasts many summers. Work out the cost per use: a fan used every summer night for years costs almost nothing per use.

Plan for summer bills

Even small costs add up when several appliances run in hot weather. The summer budget covers planning for summer spending, from energy to days out.

How do you track energy costs in Wealtie?

Add energy bills as recurring transactions, so they log themselves on their date. Keep them in their own expense category and compare summer and winter bills to see how your energy use changes through the year.