How much does it cost to run a dehumidifier? (2026 price cap)
At the GB-average Ofgem price cap for 1 October to 31 December 2026, a dehumidifier rated at 300W costs 7.9p an hour to run and around £173 a year assuming 6 hours a day.
Per hour
7.9p
Per typical use
47p
Per day
47p
Per week
£3.33
Per year
£173
Typical rating and how we worked this out
This page uses a typical rating of 300W for a dehumidifier; published figures for this appliance range from 150W to 750W. Compressor (refrigerant) dehumidifiers are more efficient in warmer rooms, while desiccant models draw more power but work better in colder spaces like an unheated garage; this page uses a mid-range compressor-type figure. The running cost follows the same formula used across this site: watts ÷ 1,000 × hours × unit rate. Typical use is modelled as 6 hours a day, which is how the per-day, per-week and per-year figures above were calculated — see the cost-to-run calculator to change the wattage, hours or region yourself.
Rate used: Ofgem price cap, 1 October to 31 December 2026, GB average electricity — 26.32p/kWh (excl. VAT, removed 1 Oct 2026–31 Mar 2027).
Cost by region
Same appliance, same use — ranked most to least expensive by region under the price cap:
| Region | Elec p/kWh | Cost per hour | Typical annual cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merseyside and Northern Wales | 27.86 | 8.4p | £183 |
| South Eastern England | 26.88 | 8.1p | £177 |
| Eastern England | 26.61 | 8.0p | £175 |
| London | 26.60 | 8.0p | £175 |
| South Western England | 26.58 | 8.0p | £175 |
| Southern Wales | 26.55 | 8.0p | £174 |
| North Western England | 26.49 | 7.9p | £174 |
| Southern England | 26.47 | 7.9p | £174 |
| Northern Scotland | 26.35 | 7.9p | £173 |
| Southern Scotland | 26.11 | 7.8p | £172 |
| West Midlands | 25.60 | 7.7p | £168 |
| Yorkshire | 25.60 | 7.7p | £168 |
| North Eastern England | 25.46 | 7.6p | £167 |
| East Midlands | 25.36 | 7.6p | £167 |
| Great Britain average | 26.32 | 7.9p | £173 |
East Midlands is cheapest at £167 a year; Merseyside and Northern Wales is most expensive at £183 a year — a gap of £16.43 for identical use.
How a dehumidifier compares with similar appliances
Ranked by typical annual cost in heating & cooling, GB average:
- dehumidifier — £173 a year (this page)
- electric shower (10.5kW) — £134 a year
- electric shower (9.5kW) — £122 a year
- halogen heater — £231 a year
- electric shower (8.5kW) — £109 a year
- heated airer — £88.38 a year
Three practical ways to cut the cost
- Run on the humidistat/auto setting rather than continuously
- Keep doors and windows closed while running — an open window lets in more moisture than the unit can remove
- Empty and clean the water tank and filter regularly — a clogged filter makes the compressor work harder
FAQs
- How much does it cost to run a dehumidifier for an hour?
- 7.9p at the GB-average rate (26.32p/kWh, 300W). One typical use — 6 hours a day — costs closer to 47p.
- How much does a dehumidifier cost to run per year?
- Around £173 a year at the GB-average rate, assuming 6 hours a day — about £3.33 a week.
- Which UK region is cheapest to run a dehumidifier in?
- East Midlands, at £167 a year, against £183 in Merseyside and Northern Wales — £16.43 apart for identical use, purely from the regional rate.
- Does the exact wattage of my dehumidifier change the cost much?
- Yes — ratings range 150W–750W, so the top of that range costs about 5.0x the bottom. This page uses 300W; check your own rating plate.
- Does the October 2026 price cap affect this figure?
- Yes — figures use the Ofgem cap for 1 October to 31 December 2026. Electricity excludes VAT (removed 1 Oct 2026–31 Mar 2027); gas includes 5%. See the price cap page for the full breakdown.
Sources
- Heatable — how much energy do household appliances use — wattage and usage figures for this appliance.
- Ofgem — Energy price cap unit rates and standing charges (regional tables, read 12 September 2026).
Related
- Cost-to-run calculator and full A–Z — check any appliance or enter a custom wattage.
- Energy price cap, 1 October to 31 December 2026 — every region, every payment method.
- Back-billing calculator — if a bill for this or any appliance looks like it covers too many months.
- Free bill audit — if your overall energy costs look high regardless of any one appliance.
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