How much does it cost to run a humidifier? (2026 price cap)

Typical rating and how we worked this out

This page uses a typical rating of 35W for a humidifier; published figures for this appliance range from 25W to 40W. A humidifier typically draws 25–40W on an ultrasonic mist setting, making it one of the cheapest appliances in the home to run even used for several hours a day. 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:

East Midlands is cheapest at £19.44 a year; Merseyside and Northern Wales is most expensive at £21.35 a year — a gap of £1.92 for identical use.

How a humidifier compares with similar appliances

Ranked by typical annual cost in garden & other, GB average:

• humidifier — £20.17 a year (this page)
• e-bike battery charge — £20.53 a year
• hair dryer — £25.62 a year
• WiFi security camera — £13.83 a year
• treadmill — £28.82 a year
• electric lawnmower — £10.95 a year

Three practical ways to cut the cost

1. Run on the lowest mist setting that keeps humidity in the comfortable 40–60% range
2. Use a humidistat-equipped model that switches off automatically once target humidity is reached
3. Clean the tank and filter regularly — mineral buildup makes some models work harder

FAQs

How much does it cost to run a humidifier for an hour?

0.9p at the GB-average rate (26.32p/kWh, 35W). One typical use — 6 hours a day — costs closer to 5.5p.

How much does a humidifier cost to run per year?

Around £20.17 a year at the GB-average rate, assuming 6 hours a day — about 39p a week.

Which UK region is cheapest to run a humidifier in?

East Midlands, at £19.44 a year, against £21.35 in Merseyside and Northern Wales — £1.92 apart for identical use, purely from the regional rate.

Does the exact wattage of my humidifier change the cost much?

Yes — ratings range 25W–40W, so the top of that range costs about 1.6x the bottom. This page uses 35W; 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

• Daftlogic — power consumption of typical household appliances — 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.