Ceiling Fan Running Costs

This graph shows how much it would cost to use each appliance for six hours a day for 30 days.

How Much Does a Ceiling Fan Cost to Run?

In comparison to either a 2500w or 3500w air conditioner, ceiling fan running costs are very low. Even high airflow fans don’t use much power, which means that the cost of running a ceiling fan is very cheap.

Working out the cost of running a ceiling fan

In Victoria, 2023, the standard ‘peak rate’ for energy is 28 cents per kilowatt hour. We used this price to calculate the running cost of ceiling fans vs split systems. As you can see, the difference is remarkable.

This graph shows how much it would cost to use each appliance for six hours a day for 30 days. Ceiling fan running costs are much cheaper.

Of course, ceiling fans and split systems do different jobs. A ceiling fan won’t give you the same effect as an air conditioner but they can still help reduce your energy bills. To take advantage of the low cost of running a ceiling fan, use it in conjunction with a split system.

The Best of Both Worlds…

Even the hottest Summers have a few days where you can get away with using ceiling fan instead of an air conditioner. You could save quite a bit of money by doing this. On very warm days, you can use ceiling fans together with your split system.

The lower you set your thermostat, the harder your air conditioner has to work. When you switch the ceiling fan on, you should be able to raise the temperature on the air conditioner by at least 1 or 2 degrees. Even a small adjustment like this reduces the amount of power you use, and cuts your electricity bill down too.

Another small change you can make is choosing an LED light. LEDs are exceptionally energy efficient compared to traditional light globes combining a cost effective Ceiling Fan with an LED light makes a lot of sense. Not only will you save money on cooling your home, you will cut your lighting expenses down too.

RUNNING COST CALCULATOR

Efficient Ceiling Fans

Fanco Horizon DC 64"

POWER CONSUMPTION

38.3W HIGH SPEED

AIRFLOW

17,636m3/hr - HIGH SPEED

In terms of power consumption vs airflow the Horizon is an exceptional performer. The fan offers incredibly high airflow whilst remaining low in the running costs department.

Urban 2 DC 52"

POWER CONSUMPTION

29.4W HIGH SPEED

AIRFLOW

13,560m3/hr - HIGH SPEED

A superb choice for a bedroom fan the Urban 2 is under 30w on high speed whilst providing high airflow. The Urban 2 uses a meager 2.3w on low speed.

Origin DC 56"

POWER CONSUMPTION

40W HIGH SPEED

AIRFLOW

13,446m3/hr - HIGH SPEED

Class leading performance with excellent looks! Perhaps most impressive is the fact the fan uses 2w on the low speed.

Efficient Fans with LED Lights

Urban 2 DC LED 52"

POWER CONSUMPTION

29.4 HIGH SPEED

AIRFLOW

13,560m3/hr - HIGH SPEED

LIGHT POWER CONSUMPTION

24W

LUMENS (BRIGHTNESS)

1800 LUMENS

Not only is the Urban 2 DC ceiling fan extremely energy efficient, it has an optional light to match it. This 24 watt LED shines bright with an output of 1800 lumens. It is also dimmable and features Colour Changing Technology

Vento Swish DC 48"

POWER CONSUMPTION

41W HIGH SPEED

AIRFLOW

8,665m3/hr - HIGH SPEED

LIGHT POWER CONSUMPTION

11W

LUMENS (BRIGHTNESS)

750 LUMENS

The Swish’s light switches between 8 colour temperatures and uses just 11 watts to produce 750 lumens. The light is also dimmable, making it one of the most functional lights available with a ceiling fan.

Infinity-i DC LED 48"

POWER CONSUMPTION

29.5W HIGH SPEED

AIRFLOW

9,040m3/hr - HIGH SPEED

LIGHT POWER CONSUMPTION

18W

LUMENS (BRIGHTNESS)

1400 LUMENS

With just 18 watts, the Infinity-i DC LED light creates 1400 lumens. The fan itself uses less than 30 watts of power on high speed, which keeps running costs nice and low.

Power Consumption in Context vs Other Household Appliances

  • DC CEILING FAN (40w)
  • AC CEILING FAN (60w)
  • LIGHT BULB (60w)
  • FRIDGE/FREEZER (300w)
  • DISHWASHER (1200w)
  • SPLIT SYSTEM (2500w)

Ceiling fans cost less to run than a lot of household appliances

It’s already clear that ceiling fans cost very little to run in comparison to split systems. But they also measure up  against other household appliances like fridges and dishwashers.

In this example, we’ve used a 2400 watt split system as a comparison, along with a fridge, dishwasher, an AC fan and a DC fan. To give you an idea, most AC powered ceiling fans use between 60-70 watts and DC fansconsume 30-40 watts.  The wattage between products can vary though so it’s a good idea to check the power consumption on individual products.

However, all DC ceiling fans are hard to beat in terms of energy efficiency. We’ve been saying that DC ceiling fans are energy efficient for years, but this graph really shows how far ahead of the pack they really are.

AC Ceiling Fans Vs DC Ceiling Fans

Even though DC ceiling fans are exceptionally energy efficient, AC ceiling fans aren’t too far behind. With power consumption similar to a lightbulb, ceiling fans with AC motors are also power (and money) savers!