How much does it cost to run central air conditioning (heat pump in cooling mode)?
The same central air conditioner costs $841 a year in Hawaii (40.40 ¢ per kWh) and $246 in North Dakota (11.82 ¢), a gap of $595 or 3.4 times. Model range at 17.23 ¢: $275.95 to $387.40 a year (55,876 listed).
Map
- $246 to $275
- $275 to $309
- $309 to $335
- $335 to $474
- $474 to $841
Darker = costlier to run central air conditioner. Click a state for its hub.
Your numbers
All 51 states
| 1 | Hawaii | 40.40 | $841.10 | $647.03 | $908.36 | 87.6 ¢ | 1,308 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | California | 31.35 | $652.68 | $502.09 | $704.88 | 68.0 ¢ | 372 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 30.41 | $633.11 | $487.03 | $683.74 | 65.9 ¢ | 777 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | 29.48 | $613.75 | $472.14 | $662.83 | 63.9 ¢ | 792 |
| 5 | Connecticut | 29.31 | $610.21 | $469.42 | $659.01 | 63.6 ¢ | 508 |
| 6 | Maine | 27.69 | $576.49 | $443.47 | $622.59 | 60.1 ¢ | 294 |
| 7 | New York | 26.39 | $549.42 | $422.65 | $593.36 | 57.2 ¢ | 439 |
| 8 | Alaska | 26.11 | $543.59 | $418.17 | $587.06 | 56.6 ¢ | 765 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | 24.53 | $510.70 | $392.86 | $551.54 | 53.2 ¢ | 258 |
| 10 | Vermont | 22.79 | $474.47 | $365.00 | $512.42 | 49.4 ¢ | 41 |
| 11 | New Jersey | 22.48 | $468.02 | $360.03 | $505.45 | 48.8 ¢ | 442 |
| 12 | District of Columbia | 21.92 | $456.36 | $351.06 | $492.85 | 47.5 ¢ | 372 |
| 13 | Michigan | 20.03 | $417.01 | $320.79 | $450.36 | 43.4 ¢ | 749 |
| 14 | Maryland | 19.53 | $406.60 | $312.78 | $439.12 | 42.4 ¢ | 491 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | 19.29 | $401.60 | $308.94 | $433.72 | 41.8 ¢ | 610 |
| 16 | Wisconsin | 18.08 | $376.41 | $289.56 | $406.51 | 39.2 ¢ | 1,093 |
| 17 | Illinois | 17.67 | $367.88 | $283.00 | $397.30 | 38.3 ¢ | 446 |
| 18 | Delaware | 17.15 | $357.05 | $274.67 | $385.60 | 37.2 ¢ | 664 |
| 19 | Ohio | 16.90 | $351.85 | $270.66 | $379.98 | 36.7 ¢ | 1,005 |
| 20 | Alabama | 16.09 | $334.98 | $257.69 | $361.77 | 34.9 ¢ | 671 |
| 21 | Indiana | 15.96 | $332.28 | $255.61 | $358.85 | 34.6 ¢ | 1,376 |
| 22 | Minnesota | 15.83 | $329.57 | $253.53 | $355.93 | 34.3 ¢ | 706 |
| 23 | Colorado | 15.69 | $326.65 | $251.28 | $352.78 | 34.0 ¢ | 1,025 |
| 24 | Oregon | 15.46 | $321.87 | $247.60 | $347.61 | 33.5 ¢ | 344 |
| 25 | Texas | 15.40 | $320.62 | $246.64 | $346.26 | 33.4 ¢ | 726 |
| 26 | West Virginia | 15.39 | $320.41 | $246.48 | $346.03 | 33.4 ¢ | 1,846 |
| 27 | Virginia | 15.28 | $318.12 | $244.72 | $343.56 | 33.1 ¢ | 507 |
| 28 | Arizona | 15.26 | $317.70 | $244.40 | $343.11 | 33.1 ¢ | 649 |
| 29 | Florida | 15.21 | $316.66 | $243.60 | $341.98 | 33.0 ¢ | 743 |
| 30 | South Carolina | 15.12 | $314.79 | $242.16 | $339.96 | 32.8 ¢ | 526 |
| 31 | New Mexico | 14.85 | $309.17 | $237.83 | $333.89 | 32.2 ¢ | 727 |
| 32 | Georgia | 14.74 | $306.88 | $236.07 | $331.42 | 32.0 ¢ | 674 |
| 33 | Kansas | 14.44 | $300.63 | $231.27 | $324.67 | 31.3 ¢ | 688 |
| 34 | Mississippi | 14.03 | $292.09 | $224.70 | $315.45 | 30.4 ¢ | 780 |
| 35 | North Carolina | 14.00 | $291.47 | $224.22 | $314.78 | 30.4 ¢ | 589 |
| 36 | Iowa | 13.62 | $283.56 | $218.13 | $306.23 | 29.5 ¢ | 595 |
| 37 | Wyoming | 13.37 | $278.35 | $214.13 | $300.61 | 29.0 ¢ | 1,719 |
| 38 | South Dakota | 13.32 | $277.31 | $213.33 | $299.49 | 28.9 ¢ | 315 |
| 39 | Missouri | 13.30 | $276.90 | $213.01 | $299.04 | 28.8 ¢ | 1,364 |
| 40 | Nevada | 13.26 | $276.06 | $212.37 | $298.14 | 28.8 ¢ | 607 |
| 41 | Tennessee | 13.22 | $275.23 | $211.73 | $297.24 | 28.7 ¢ | 621 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | 13.21 | $275.02 | $211.57 | $297.02 | 28.6 ¢ | 611 |
| 43 | Washington | 13.17 | $274.19 | $210.93 | $296.12 | 28.6 ¢ | 250 |
| 44 | Kentucky | 13.13 | $273.36 | $210.28 | $295.22 | 28.5 ¢ | 1,638 |
| 45 | Utah | 13.02 | $271.07 | $208.52 | $292.74 | 28.2 ¢ | 1,334 |
| 46 | Montana | 12.99 | $270.44 | $208.04 | $292.07 | 28.2 ¢ | 997 |
| 47 | Arkansas | 12.87 | $267.94 | $206.12 | $289.37 | 27.9 ¢ | 938 |
| 48 | Louisiana | 12.52 | $260.66 | $200.52 | $281.50 | 27.2 ¢ | 719 |
| 49 | Nebraska | 12.05 | $250.87 | $192.99 | $270.93 | 26.1 ¢ | 961 |
| 50 | Idaho | 11.83 | $246.29 | $189.46 | $265.99 | 25.7 ¢ | 296 |
| 51 | North Dakota | 11.82 | $246.08 | $189.30 | $265.76 | 25.6 ¢ | 1,217 |
2,082 kWh a year times each state's 2025 home price (55876 3-ton heat pump systems, ENERGY STAR data as of 2 Oct 2026).
CSVPay less
- Model spread: 10th percentile 1,602 kWh, 90th 2,248; the 647 kWh gap is $111.45 a year at 17.23 ¢ and $261.33 at 40.40 ¢ (Hawaii).
- One hour less a day over 120 days at 2169 W: 260 kWh, $44.84 at 17.23 ¢, $105.14 in Hawaii.
- Location: 3.4 times between Hawaii ($841.10) and North Dakota ($246.08); 100% of utilities in Hawaii list a time-of-use rate (EIA-861).
Where the kWh comes from
3-ton class (34,000 to 38,000 Btu per hour) ENERGY STAR heat pump systems in cooling mode: running watts = capacity divided by SEER2; the hours and days are our scenario. Median 2,082 kWh, 10th to 90th percentile 1,602 to 2,248, range 1,602 to 2,248, 55,876 3-ton heat pump systems; running power 2169 W (1668 to 2342). Certified models only. Method: appliance hub.
Sources
| Source | Retrieved |
|---|---|
| ENERGY STAR Certified products | 2 Oct 2026 |
| EIA retail sales | 26 Oct 2026 |
| EPA eGRID2023 | 2 Oct 2026 |
| DOE formula | 2 Oct 2026 |
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Questions
Cost to run central air conditioning (heat pump in cooling mode) for a year?
$358.72 at 17.23 ¢ and 2,082 kWh; $246.08 in North Dakota to $841.10 in Hawaii.
Most expensive state for central air conditioning (heat pump in cooling mode)?
Hawaii: $841.10 at 40.40 ¢.
Cheapest state for central air conditioning (heat pump in cooling mode)?
North Dakota: $246.08 at 11.82 ¢.
kWh used by central air conditioning (heat pump in cooling mode)?
Median 2,082; 10th to 90th percentile 1,602 to 2,248; 55,876 3-ton heat pump systems.
Does the model matter for central air conditioning (heat pump in cooling mode)?
Yes: 90th against 10th percentile is $111.45 a year at the U.S. price.
CO2 from central air conditioning (heat pump in cooling mode)?
725 kg a year at 0.348 kg per kWh (U.S.).
Why would my central air conditioner bill differ?
Median 2,082 kWh is for new certified models; 17.23 ¢ is an average.
Fixed charges in the central air conditioner cost?
Not included.
Where do the central air conditioner hours come from?
Scenario: 8 h a day, 120 days.