Are you wondering how much it costs to run a fan? A 120W fan will typically consume about £0.029 per hour based on the current standard electricity tariff in the UK (24.86p/kWh). This makes fans one of the most cost-effective ways to cool your space compared to other household appliances, like air conditioning units.

When summer temperatures rise, finding an efficient cooling solution is essential to keep your home comfortable and avoid stuffy conditions. In this article, we’ll explore the actual costs of running different types of fans, providing you with valuable insights on how to reduce energy use while keeping your bills in check.

Continue reading to discover practical tips on maximising your fan’s efficiency, learn about the various sizes and types of fans available, and understand how to choose the best option for your needs. A cool room not only enhances comfort but also promotes better health and well-being.

 

How much does it cost to run a fan?

The cost of running a fan depends on the following factors:

● Fan wattage

● Cost of electricity

● Cubic Feet per Minute (CFM)

● Size of the fan

● Fan design

 

Fan wattage

Knowing the fan's wattage will help you calculate how much electricity it will use to cool a room. Fans with smaller wattages of around 40w use less electricity to cool a room. Bigger fans with a wattage of say 120w use more electricity to cool a room. However, a large fan would often have a higher RPM and CFM (mentioned later) to make them more energy efficient. 

Cost of electricity

The price of electricity in your area will determine how much it costs to run your fan. Please note, an updated ‘Electricity Cost Calculator’ is available at the end of this article to help you determine your costs based on the latest tariffs. The price of electricity varies by region and is subject to change should the government or local power company choose to do so.

Cubic feet per minute (CFM)

CFM, or cubic feet per minute, is the amount of air volume the fan can move in a minute. Fans with a higher CFM rating are more efficient at moving cubic volumes of air faster. This also translates to a higher CFM fan moving more air per watt compared to fans with lower CFM. Higher CFM translates to more efficiency per watt used.

Size of fan

The size of the fan will impact its efficiency in circulating cold air in a room. Fans typically range from 12 inches to 56 inches in diameter. Another way to measure fan size is by considering the speed of the blades, measured in RPM or rotations per minute. Generally, the bigger the fan, the higher its rotations per minute, which means the faster it moves cold air in a room. For large spaces or professional use, you may want to consider 20-inch fans or larger ones, and for home use, 16-inch fans are recommended.

 

A fan with bigger blades and higher rotations per minute will take less time cooling a room and, hence, will use less electricity.

 

Fan Design

Modern fans now have extra features to improve efficiency and power consumption. Today you can get a 3-in-1 fan that functions as a floor fan, or a desk fan and is detachable to work as a wall-mounted fan. A 3-in-1 can be a big advantage if you do not want to buy multiple fans for your desk or rooms.

 

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Cost of running a desk fan

Desk fans are the smallest of fans in the market. They can be small enough to serve one person or may carry a bigger wattage to serve a big room. Besides using them on your desk, desk fans can be applied in the kitchen, office, gym, or garage too.

 

How much would it cost to run a desk fan?

 

It depends on the wattage of the product and how much you pay for electricity in your area. A typical desk fan would have a wattage between 1w and 40w. Larger versions may have a wattage of between 6w and 120w.

 

With that in mind, a 40w desk fan will consume £0.01 of electricity in an hour.

 

40w/1000w = 0.04 kWh

0.04kWh x 0.248 = £0.01

 

Here is a table showing how much power a low-wattage desk fan will consume in an hour through to a month.

 

Time/£	Hour	Day	Week	Month
Desk/ Wall Fan (40w)	£0.01	£0.24	£1.67	£6.68

 

 

Cost of running a floor fan

A 120w fan will consume £0.029 of electricity in an hour.

 

120w/1000w = 0.12kWh

0.12kWh x 0.34 = £0.029

 

Here's how much you would spend from an hour to a month using a 120w floor fan.

 

Time/£	Hour	Day	Week	Month
Floor Fan (120w)	£0.029	£0.72	£5.01	£20.05

 

 

 

How much does a tower fan cost to run UK?

Tower fans are a great choice for large rooms or when you want to cool a room with lots of people in it. As big as they are, tower fans do not consume that much energy, with the biggest tower fan on the market consuming as little as 45w or as much as 60w.

 

Similar to desk fans, tower fans can also be used for personal use or for cooling a large room. Personal tower fans are also called low-wattage tower fans, with a wattage range between 1w and 44w. A high-wattage tower fan, used for cooling large spaces, has a power rating of between 61w and 110w.

 

You can use our electricity cost calculator at the end of this article to find out exactly how much you are spending on your tower fan.

 

How much does a ceiling fan cost to run?

Are you looking for the cost of running a ceiling fan UK? When it gets too hot, especially at night, we leave our ceiling fans running all night for optimal room cooling. How much it will cost you to use a ceiling fan for an hour, day, week, or month depends on the wattage of the ceiling fan.

 

Ceiling fans can be small, medium, or large depending on their usage.

Small ceiling fans are ideal for small spaces like attics, sheds, small bedrooms, small offices, caravans, or small boats.

Medium ceiling fans are ideal for rooms that are at most 400 square feet, like large bedrooms, kitchens, and living rooms.

Larger fans are ideal for larger spaces in either commercial or industrial settings.

 

How much will it cost to run a small, medium, or large ceiling fan? A 16-inch fan can be considered a small ceiling fan and can use on average about 40w to 47w of power. Medium fans pack more punch and can use between 65w and 80 watts of power. Larger industrial ceiling fans can use up to 120 watts of power.

 

Let’s do this easy calculation.

 

In our electricity cost calculator at the end of this article;

1. Add the wattage of your device.

2. Include time in use.

3. Confirm if it’s in minutes or hours.
4. Press the "Calculate" button.

5. Voilà! Now you know the cost of your fan!

  

5 energy saving tips for minimising fan costs in 2025

An electric fan is a simple and cost-effective way to keep any room properly ventilated. Fortunately, it is possible to reduce the cost of running a fan further with the right energy-saving tips. Here are 5 energy-saving tips that will see your fan cost and overall energy bills go lower.

1. Consider where you place the fan

Whether it is a ceiling fan, a floor fan, an oscillating fan, or a standing fan, where you place it makes a lot of difference in its efficiency. When installing a ceiling fan, ensure the blades are about 7 to 9 feet from the floor and about 10 inches away from the ceiling. This gives the fan enough clearance to circulate air properly.

 

Ensure floor fans are placed strategically where there is enough airflow from all sides. Do not place a desk fan behind piles of paperwork or books to ensure airflow is not blocked.

2. Clean the blades

Over time, fans tend to accumulate dirt on the blades, reducing the efficiency of the fan. Clean the blades every month to remove dust and debris. Wiping the fan every week can reduce the workload required for monthly cleaning.

 

 

3. Reduce fan speed

Having the fan on high speed helps cool a room faster. When the room is cool enough, set the fan speed to medium or low to save energy while maintaining optimal room temperature. Some fans also have an inbuilt timer to let you set when the fan comes on and when it goes off. This feature comes in handy if you do not want to leave the fan running all day or all night.

4. Switch off the fan

Fans do consume energy even when on standby. For instance, a low-wattage ceiling fan can consume 3.6 w while running and 1.1w while on standby. Switch off the fan when you are not using it to conserve energy. It will make a significant difference to your monthly bill.

5. Choose the right fan size

Choosing the right size of fan can help reduce energy usage while cooling a room. Small rooms or spaces would benefit from small fans measuring 16W or below. Do not use a large floor fan to cool a tiny room because it will use more energy than necessary.

 

 

Conclusion

We hope this article answers your question about how much a fan costs to run. The cost of running a fan varies whether you are using a desk fan, ceiling fan, or floor fan. When shopping for fans, consider the fan size, wattage, CFM, and additional features like variable fan speeds. This will ensure that you get the right fan for your room size and reduce energy consumption while at it.

 

Have you found ways to save on fan costs? Share your tips below!