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What room air conditioners cost to run each year

The median ENERGY STAR certified room air conditioner uses 531.9 kWh a year on the standard federal test basis that ENERGY STAR reports. At the US average home electricity price that is $96 a year. The 577 certified models range from 260.4 to 2096.3 kWh.

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    The starting kWh is the median for ENERGY STAR certified models in that category. Not certified? Use the kWh on the yellow EnergyGuide label.

    Yearly cost by type

    Median model of each type, at 18.04 cents per kWh. Number of certified models in brackets.

    Straddles Window (197)$90
    Straddles Windowsill (34)$99
    Does Not Straddle Window or Windowsill (346)$101

    The 25 lowest energy models

    VissaniVAW05V1KWTDoes Not Straddle Window or Windowsill5000260.4$47
    BLACK+DECKERBDM05CDoes Not Straddle Window or Windowsill5000260.4$47
    Brothers102372Does Not Straddle Window or Windowsill5000260.4$47
    FrigidaireFHWC055TF1Does Not Straddle Window or Windowsill5000260.4$47
    FrigidaireFHWC056TF1Does Not Straddle Window or Windowsill5000260.4$47
    MideaMAW05R1KWT-BDoes Not Straddle Window or Windowsill5000260.4$47
    MideaMAW05R1VWBL-TDoes Not Straddle Window or Windowsill5000260.4$47
    MideaMAW05R1VWWT-TDoes Not Straddle Window or Windowsill5000260.4$47
    MideaMAW05S1KWT-ADoes Not Straddle Window or Windowsill5000260.4$47
    MideaMWEUWA-05CRFN8-BCN4Does Not Straddle Window or Windowsill5000260.4$47
    Perfect aire1PACV5000Does Not Straddle Window or Windowsill5000260.4$47
    TCLW5WC72Straddles Window5000273.7$49
    TCLW5WC72-BStraddles Window5000273.7$49
    TCLW5WC72MStraddles Window5000273.7$49
    TCLW5WC72M-BStraddles Window5000273.7$49
    TCLT05WV9MStraddles Window5000273.7$49
    TCLT05WV9MBStraddles Window5000273.7$49
    TCLT05WV9RStraddles Window5000273.7$49
    TCLT05WV9RBStraddles Window5000273.7$49
    MideaMAW06S1KWT-ADoes Not Straddle Window or Windowsill6000281.3$51
    MideaMAW06V1KYWT-SDoes Not Straddle Window or Windowsill6000281.3$51
    WhirlpoolWHAW050EXStraddles Window5000286.3$52
    LGLW6023IVSMDoes Not Straddle Window or Windowsill6000290.3$52
    MideaMAW06U1QWTStraddles Window6000298$54
    MideaMAW06V1QWBL-TStraddles Windowsill6000298$54

    Small models use the least energy, so compare within the size you need. Use the search above to find any certified model.

    A typical room air conditioner in each state

    North Dakota$66
    Nebraska$68
    Idaho$68
    Louisiana$69
    Utah$71
    Nevada$72
    Arkansas$72
    Tennessee$72
    Oklahoma$73
    Kentucky$74
    Montana$74
    Missouri$74
    Wyoming$75
    Iowa$76
    Washington$76
    South Dakota$76
    North Carolina$79
    Mississippi$79
    Kansas$80
    Georgia$81
    New Mexico$81
    Arizona$82
    Florida$82
    Oregon$83
    West Virginia$83
    South Carolina$84
    Texas$85
    Minnesota$87
    Alabama$87
    Colorado$88
    Virginia$89
    Indiana$90
    Delaware$96
    Ohio$98
    Wisconsin$100
    Illinois$101
    Pennsylvania$111
    Maryland$113
    Michigan$113
    New Jersey$126
    Vermont$127
    District of Columbia$130
    Alaska$143
    New Hampshire$143
    Connecticut$146
    New York$152
    Rhode Island$157
    Maine$157
    Massachusetts$162
    California$172
    Hawaii$235

    Sources

    1. ENERGY STAR Certified Room Air Conditioners, US EPA, ENERGY STAR, checked 1 November 2026
    2. Form EIA-861M, monthly electric power sales and revenue by state (residential), US Energy Information Administration, checked 1 November 2026

    Model list as published by ENERGY STAR, checked 1 November 2026. Electricity prices are the average residential price for September 2025 to August 2026.