APPLIANCE COMPARISON · OCT–DEC 2026

Air conditioner vs electric fan: which costs less to run?

At 26.32p per kWh, an electric fan costs about 0.6p per hour and a portable air conditioner about 26p per hour at full power, so the air conditioner costs 42 times as much.

Last updated 11 October 2026GB average price-cap rate, October–December 2026, Direct Debit, 0% VAT

AIR CONDITIONER

26pper hour at 1,005 W

ELECTRIC FAN · CHEAPER

0.6pper hour at 24 W

DIFFERENCE

26pper hour at 26.32p per kWh

Side by side

**Air conditioner and electric fan running costs**Typical figures at 26.32p per kWh (GB average price-cap rate, October–December 2026, Direct Debit, 0% VAT). Running costs exclude the standing charge.
Measure	Air conditioner	Electric fan
Rated power	1,005 W	24 W
Cost per hour at full power	26p	0.6p
One typical use	1 day, 4 hours	1 day, 8 hours
Cost per use	£1.06 (4.02 kWh)	5.1p (0.19 kWh)
Assumed use a week	7 days	7 days
Cost a year at that use	£386	£18

Usage assumptions: Air conditioner: Four hours a day at full cooling power on hot days.Electric fan: Eight hours a day on the highest speed.These are illustrations, not measured averages.

What the difference means for keeping cool

A fan only moves air, which helps you feel cooler without lowering the room temperature. A portable air conditioner cools the room, at roughly forty times a fan’s power on the models we cite.

The yearly figures above use different hours for each appliance, so compare the hourly cost for the same length of use.

Work out your own costs

Each appliance page has a calculator: enter your own wattage or energy label figure, how long you use it, and your region or unit rate.

Air conditioner calculator Electric fan calculator

Unit rates vary by region: this period they run from 25.36p per kWh in East Midlands to 27.86p in Merseyside and Northern Wales. Electricity prices per kWh →

Questions

Is a portable air conditioner cheaper to run than an electric fan?

No, per hour at full power. At 26.32p per kWh, an electric fan costs about 0.6p per hour and a portable air conditioner about 26p per hour at full power, so the air conditioner costs 42 times as much. A fan only moves air, which helps you feel cooler without lowering the room temperature. A portable air conditioner cools the room, at roughly forty times a fan’s power on the models we cite.

How much do they cost a year?

At the usage each page assumes, about £386 a year for a portable air conditioner and £18 for an electric fan (October–December 2026 GB average rate). For a portable air conditioner: four hours a day at full cooling power on hot days. For an electric fan: eight hours a day on the highest speed.

Does where I live change which is cheaper?

No. Both run on electricity, so a higher or lower unit rate changes both costs in the same proportion. The cheaper appliance stays cheaper; only the pence change. Your region, tariff and how long you run each appliance change the actual amounts.

About these figures

Running cost is energy used × unit rate. Costs at full power assume the appliance draws its full rating the whole time; thermostats and programmes often switch elements on and off, so real use can be lower. Power ratings and energy label figures are examples from the sources below, not a measured UK average.

More comparisons

Sources

MeacoCool MC Series Pro 9000 BTU portable air conditioner ↗Cooling power consumption 1,005 W.
MeacoFan 1056 air circulator ↗8–24 W; 0.7 W standby.
Ofgem: energy price cap unit rates and standing charges ↗GB average electricity unit rate and VAT basis, October–December 2026.

Last updated 11 October 2026. Figures are dated benchmarks taken from the sources above. How we use sources →