KEY POINTS
- Portable fans will typically consume between nine to 100 watts (W) per hour, depending on the type of portable fan, speed setting, usage duration and power rating.
- Generally, a pedestal, tower, or desk fan can cost between $4.23 and $46.57 to run annually, depending on its speed settings, wattage, and electricity plan.
- Tower fans have the highest running cost, while desk fans have the lowest.
On this page:
How much electricity does a portable fan use?
There are three types of portable fans: pedestal, tower and desk fans. How much electricity they consume varies between 9 – 100 watts (W). In kilowatt hours, that translates into 0.009kWh – 0.1kWh.
In reality, how much energy is used to run a portable fan boils down to the factors below:
- Type of portable fan: Desk fans generally consume the least amount of energy, with tower fans being the most energy-inefficient due to their powerful motors.
- Your fan’s settings: Faster settings, such as high or medium, typically draw upon more energy to help keep you cool.
- Usage duration: Leaving your fan spinning constantly increases your overall power consumption.
- Power rating: A power rating indicates how much energy an appliance consumes to function. A higher power rating equates to a more power-hungry fan.
In turn, how much you’re paying your energy provider to run your portable fan is affected by your electricity plan’s tariff type and usage rates:
- Tariff type: A tariff refers to how you’re charged for your electricity use. A single rate tariff charges you a flat rate regardless of the time of day, and a time of use tariff charges higher rates during peak periods and competitive rates during off-peak hours.
- Usage rates: Usage charge is the price charged by your provider for every unit of electricity (kWh) used. This varies from plan to plan, retailer to retailer and state to state.
- Usage habits: If you’re on a time of use tariff, when and how you use your fan during peak or off-peak hours can either save or add more to your final power bill.
How much does it cost to run a pedestal fan?
According to Canstar Blue data, a pedestal fan will typically cost between 1.12c and 2.23c per hour to run, or around $16.35 to $32.56 per year.
Pedestal fan running costs
← Mobile/tablet users, scroll sideways to view full table →
| Setting | Power (W) | Hourly Running Cost (c) | Annual Running Cost ($) |
|---|---|---|---|
| High | 70W | 2.2 | 32.51 |
| Medium | 55W | 1.8 | 25.55 |
| Low | 35W | 1.1 | 16.26 |
Source: www.canstar.com.au – 28/07/25. Calculations assume a single-rate energy usage rate of 31.9c/kWh. Annual calculations assume fan is used 4 hours per day, 365 days per year.
The cost of using a pedestal fan will depend on the speed setting of your fan as well as its wattage. Running costs will also vary based on the rate you pay for electricity.
Pedestal fan power outputs vary considerably across different models. Most residential pedestal fans will have a maximum output (measured in watts) of 35W to 75W, but larger commercial pedestal fans may have outputs up to 300W.
Modern ceiling fans generally consume less electricity than pedestal fans. That’s because while ceiling fans are larger, pedestal fans oscillate and must spin at a faster rate to create airflow.
While ceiling fans might save you a small portion in electricity, pedestal fans are a lot cheaper to purchase and don’t require professional installation.
How much does it cost to run a tower fan?
According to Canstar Blue data, a standard tower fan uses around 100W of electricity, which can cost up to 3.19c per hour to run, depending on your circumstances and settings used.
Tower fan running costs
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| Setting | Power (W) | Hourly Running Cost (c) | Annual Running Cost ($) |
|---|---|---|---|
| High | 100W | 3.2 | 46.45 |
| Medium | 82W | 2.6 | 38.09 |
| Low | 54W | 1.7 | 25.08 |
Source: www.canstar.com.au – 28/07/25. Calculations assume a single-rate energy usage rate of 31.9c/kWh. Annual calculations assume fan is used 4 hours per day, 365 days per year.
Where pedestal fans blow air in a focused circular area, tower fans use several small, vertically aligned fans to create a column of air flow. This means a tower fan usually consumes more electricity than a pedestal fan.
Compare cheap electricity plans
Regardless of which portable fan you choose, you’re not going to be saving as much if you aren’t on a competitive energy plan. Here are some of the best energy plans in each state on Canstar Blue’s database.
Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the Ausgrid network in Sydney but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 3900kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.
Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the Citipower network in Melbourne but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4000kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.
Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the Energex network in Brisbane but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4600kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.
Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the SA Power network in Adelaide but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4000kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.
How much does it cost to run a desk fan?
According to Canstar Blue data, a desk fan will cost less than one cent per hour to run with the annual cost coming in between $4.23 and $14.02, depending on how it’s used.
Desk fan running costs
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| Setting | Power (W) | Hourly Running Cost (c) | Annual Running Cost ($) |
|---|---|---|---|
| High | 30W | 1 | 13.93 |
| Medium | 18W | 0.6 | 8.36 |
| Low | 9W | 0.3 | 4.18 |
Source: www.canstar.com.au – 28/07/25. Calculations assume a single-rate energy usage rate of 31.9c/kWh. Annual calculations assume fan is used 4 hours per day, 365 days per year.
Desk fans are small and are ideal for cooling a single person. As a desk fan is designed to sit close to you, it has a much lower max power output of around 25W to 35W.
Desk fans are commonly the cheapest type of fan to operate, but are not suitable for cooling entire rooms. That means it doesn’t serve as a viable alternative to tower, pedestal or ceiling fans.
If you’re in the market for a larger model, check out some of Canstar Blue’s best-rated ceiling fans.
Original reporting by Jared Mullane
Image Source: Alliance Images/Shutterstock.com
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