Do dehumidifiers use a lot of electricity? Real UK running costs
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A dehumidifier often runs for hours every day in winter, so it is fair to ask what it adds to your electricity bill. The answer is usually less than people fear, as long as you pick the right type and use the humidistat.
Cost per hour, day and month
We use 25p per kWh, close to the current UK price cap.
| Power | Per hour | 8 hours a day | Per month (8 h/day) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 150 W | 3.8p | 30p | £9 |
| 250 W | 6.3p | 50p | £15 |
| 400 W | 10p | 80p | £24 |
| 650 W | 16p | £1.30 | £39 |
These assume the machine runs flat out. With a humidistat it cycles off once the room is dry, so real costs are often half of this or less.
Compared with other appliances
- A compressor dehumidifier uses roughly the same power as a large TV or a fridge-freezer working hard.
- One hour of a 2 kW electric heater costs about the same as eight to ten hours of a compressor dehumidifier.
- One load in a vented tumble dryer costs about the same as 20 hours of a 200 W dehumidifier.
Five ways to pay less
- Use the humidistat. Set 50 to 55% and let it switch itself off.
- Pick the right type. Compressor for heated rooms, desiccant for cold ones. See which type suits you.
- Close the door of the room it is drying.
- Clean the filter every couple of weeks so air flows freely.
- Run it off-peak if you are on a time-of-use tariff.
Where to buy (prices change often, so check the current price):
Want to check your own machine? A plug-in energy monitor between the socket and the dehumidifier shows the exact watts and kWh used, so you can work out your real cost.