Per hour, per month, per season — by system type, climate and SEER2 rating, at 2026 electricity prices. Plus the fixes that cut the bill without touching the thermostat.
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Enter the system’s electrical draw and your utility rate to calculate full-load and realistic cycling costs.
Instant result · no email requiredThe default 17¢/kWh is a rounded national planning figure. Your utility bill and system nameplate provide the useful local inputs.
At the 2026 US average of roughly 17¢/kWh. Full-load figures — real bills run lower because systems cycle and modulate once the house reaches temperature.
| System | Typical draw | Cost per hour | Heavy summer month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Window unit (one room) | ~0.9–1.3kW | $0.15–$0.22 | $25–$45 |
| Ductless mini-split (one zone) | ~0.6–1.0kW | $0.10–$0.17 | $20–$40 |
| Central AC, 3-ton, 14.3 SEER2 | ~2.5–3.0kW | $0.42–$0.51 | $100–$180 |
| Central AC, 3-ton, 17+ SEER2 | ~2.1–2.5kW | $0.36–$0.43 | $85–$150 |
| Central AC, 4-ton in a hot metro | ~3.3–4.0kW | $0.56–$0.68 | $200–$400 |
Your electric rate swings this more than any equipment choice: 11¢/kWh in parts of Texas vs 30¢+ in coastal California means the identical house pays nearly triple. Check your bill's per-kWh rate, then scale the table.
Fix the ducts before the unit. Leaky ductwork wastes 10–30% of every cooling dollar in attics and crawlspaces. A duct test costs little and often beats a SEER upgrade dollar-for-dollar.
Automate a setback. Let the house drift up 7–10°F while you're out; cool on return. Smart thermostats make this free money — typically 10%+ off the cooling bill.
Filters, monthly, in season. A clogged filter forces longer run times for less cooling. The cheapest efficiency upgrade that exists.
Right-size at replacement. Oversized units short-cycle — cold but clammy rooms and wasted power. Check what size AC you actually need before accepting a like-for-like swap.
Consider the heat pump at replacement time. Cooling performance is identical, but a heat pump can replace winter resistance heating at 2–4x the efficiency. Compare installed heat-pump cost, winter energy rates and current local incentives, then use our heat pump vs air conditioner guide.
A 12–15 year old system pairing a 10-SEER compressor with today's rates costs roughly double per cooling hour compared with a new 15+ SEER2 install. If that describes your summer bills — and repair quotes are arriving annually — replacement economics usually win. Installed prices by system and metro are in our AC installation cost guide.
A 3-ton central AC at 14.3 SEER2 draws roughly 2.5–3kW, which at the 2026 US average of about 17¢/kWh works out to $0.42–$0.51 per hour of full-load running. High-efficiency 17+ SEER2 systems and mini-splits run meaningfully cheaper; older 10-SEER units cost double.
A typical US home spends $70–$180 per month on cooling in summer. Mild climates with evening use sit at the bottom; Phoenix, Vegas and the Gulf Coast running near-continuously through July commonly land $200–$400. Your rate matters as much as your climate — the same house pays double in California (30¢+/kWh) what it pays in Texas.
Yes, proportionally: going from 14.3 to 17 SEER2 cuts cooling energy roughly 16%. Whether the equipment premium pays back depends on your season length — in Texas, Arizona or Florida it usually does within a few years; in a short northern cooling season, minimum-efficiency equipment is often the smarter buy. Run the math on your own usage, not the brochure's.
The usual suspects in order: an aging low-SEER unit, leaking ducts (10–30% loss is common), dirty filters, an oversized unit short-cycling, thermostat set to 68°F, and attic insulation from a previous decade. A duct test plus filter habit fixes more bills than a new unit does — but past 12–15 years old, replacement usually wins.
No — a home gains heat slower the closer it is to outdoor temperature, so letting it drift up while you're out and cooling on return uses less energy than holding 72°F all day. A programmable or smart thermostat automating a 7–10°F setback typically saves 10% or more on cooling.
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