How do I work out what my own dehumidifier costs?

Multiply its power in kilowatts by the hours you use it and by your unit rate. A 1 kW appliance running for an hour uses 1 kWh, which costs 26p at the Great Britain average. Appliances with a thermostat use less than their rating over an hour.

Does it cost more in some parts of the country?

Slightly. The electricity unit rate under the cap runs from 25.36p a kWh in East Midlands to 27.86p in Merseyside and North Wales, so the same use costs about 10% more in the dearest region. Pick yours in the calculator.

Running costs

How much does it cost to run a dehumidifier?

About 6p an hour, at the price cap for 1 October 2026 to 31 December 2026. Used 8 hours a day, that’s about £166 a year.

A compressor dehumidifier, about 4p to 9p an hour at 26.35p a kWh in Meaco’s figures; its 20-litre Arete is rated at 216 W. Desiccant models use more, about 8p to 16p an hour.

Verified: 23 October 2026 from Ofgem price cap rates

Work out yours

Your electricity price

Average power while in use

watts

Hours each time

Times a week

An hour

5.7p

A week

£3.18

A month

£13.83

A year

£166

631 kWh a year. Unit rate only: the standing charge is paid whether or not anything is switched on.

A compressor dehumidifier uses about as much power as a large fridge while it runs, and it stops when the room reaches the humidity you set, so a dry room costs much less than the hours suggest. Desiccant dehumidifiers use more electricity but work better in cold rooms such as garages, and give off a little warmth.

Used with drying clothes indoors, a dehumidifier can stop condensation and mould, and it dries the washing faster too.

Ways to spend less

Set a target humidity of around 50% to 60% rather than running it continuously.
Close the door and windows of the room you are drying.
Use laundry mode with the clothes in a small room for the fastest drying.

Compared with

Appliance	Typical cost	A year, used as shown
Dehumidifier	6p an hour	£166 (8 hours a day)
Heated clothes airer	7p an hour	£58 (5 hours, 3 times a week)
Tumble dryer	£1.33 a load	£209 (3 loads a week)

At the Great Britain average electricity rate of 26.32p a kWh.

Common questions

How much does it cost to run a dehumidifier?: About 6p an hour, at the price cap for 1 October 2026 to 31 December 2026. Used 8 hours a day, that’s about £166 a year. A compressor dehumidifier, about 4p to 9p an hour at 26.35p a kWh in Meaco’s figures; its 20-litre Arete is rated at 216 W. Desiccant models use more, about 8p to 16p an hour.
How do I work out what my own dehumidifier costs?: Multiply its power in kilowatts by the hours you use it and by your unit rate. A 1 kW appliance running for an hour uses 1 kWh, which costs 26p at the Great Britain average. Appliances with a thermostat use less than their rating over an hour.
Does it cost more in some parts of the country?: Slightly. The electricity unit rate under the cap runs from 25.36p a kWh in East Midlands to 27.86p in Merseyside and North Wales, so the same use costs about 10% more in the dearest region. Pick yours in the calculator.

Other appliances

Add up several appliances in the electricity cost calculator, or see what your own home uses with the smart meter analyser.