How Much Does a Swamp cooler (evaporative) Cost to Run? (2026 Calculator)
Typical setup: 400 W · 8 h/day · $0.180/kWh
Daily
$0.58
Monthly
$17.26
Yearly
$209.98
Quick rate
Daily cost
$0.58
Monthly cost
$17.26
+$0.00 vs typical
Yearly cost
$209.98
kWh / month
96.0 kWh
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ad-after-calculator Quick answer
A typical swamp cooler (evaporative) uses about 400 W and costs about $0.54/day or $16.13/month at the U.S. average rate of $0.17/kWh, assuming 8 hours of use per day. At the same rate, costs range from about $0.27/day (200 W) to $1.08/day (800 W).
State explorer
Quickly spot cheapest, highest, and near-average monthly costs.
Top 10 cheapest
Top 10 highest
- Hawaii $38.20
- Massachusetts $29.91
- Maine $29.50
- California $29.08
- Rhode Island $28.93
- New York $27.24
- Connecticut $27.17
- New Hampshire $25.27
- Alaska $24.50
- District of Columbia $22.77
Cost by state (monthly)
At typical 400 W and 8 h/day. Rates from our dataset (see methodology ). Open a state for a dedicated calculator page.
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ad-after-state-table Wattage range
| Level | Watts | Est. monthly @ avg rate |
|---|---|---|
| Low | 200 W | $8.63 |
| Typical | 400 W | $17.26 |
| High | 800 W | $34.52 |
Energy saving tips
- Seal air leaks and improve insulation to reduce run-time.
- Use thermostats or timers so the appliance only runs when needed.
- Combine this appliance with fans or shading to reduce demand.
FAQ
- Most swamp cooler (evaporative) units fall between 200 W and 800 W, with 400 W as a typical operating value for estimates.
- Our estimates use 400 W as the typical wattage, within a reported range of 200–800 W.
- At typical use (8 hours/day at 400 W), the estimate is about 3.20 kWh/day and 96.0 kWh/month at the U.S. average rate.
- With 8 hours/day and 400 W, this appliance uses about 3.20 kWh per day.
- At 8 hours/day, the monthly estimate is about 96.0 kWh per month.
- Per hour, the typical draw is about 0.400 kWh (at 400 W).
- At the U.S. average electricity rate of $0.17/kWh, the typical daily cost is about $0.54/day for 8 hours/day.
- At the U.S. average electricity rate of $0.17/kWh, the typical monthly cost is about $16.13/month at 8 hours/day.
- Running for one hour at 400 W costs about $0.07/hour (using 0.17 $/kWh as the U.S. average).
- With typical use (8 hours/day at 400 W), the estimate is about $0.54/day or $16.13/month at the U.S. average rate.
- The estimate is about 96.0 kWh per month, which corresponds to roughly $16.13/month at the U.S. average rate. Your real bill depends on your rate and runtime.
- Use energy-saving tips tailored to this appliance. For example: Seal air leaks and improve insulation to reduce run-time. — reducing kWh reduces the bill at your local rate.