Fan vs air conditioner running costs
| Cooling | Cost an hour | A summer |
|---|---|---|
| DC ceiling fan, 30 W | 1c | $5 |
| Standard ceiling fan, 60 W | 2c | $11 |
| Small split system, 0.75 kW | 25c | $134 |
| Medium split system, 1.5 kW | 50c | $268 |
When a fan is enough, and when it is not
A fan is enough
- Warm but not extreme days
- Dry heat with a breeze
- Sleeping on mild nights
- Moving cool night air through the house
You need air conditioning
- Heatwaves where the room stays hot
- Humid days when sweat does not evaporate
- Babies, older people or anyone at risk in heat
Heat health comes first
In extreme heat, fans alone may not keep people safe, especially older people, babies and anyone with a medical condition. Do not avoid air conditioning in a heatwave to save money. If cost is a worry, talk to your retailer about hardship help.
Fans in winter
Many ceiling fans have a reverse or winter setting. Running the fan slowly in reverse pushes warm air from the ceiling back down into the room without creating a chilly breeze. The SA Government recommends it as a way to make heating more effective, and it costs only a few cents an hour.
Using both together
Running a ceiling fan with the air conditioner lets you set the thermostat a degree or two higher and feel the same. energy.gov.au says each degree adds 5% to 10% to the air conditioner's energy use, so a two degree change on a $268 summer of cooling saves far more than the fan costs to run.
For a full comparison of evaporative, split and ducted cooling, see our cheapest way to cool a home guide.
Questions about fans and air conditioning
A fan, by a wide margin. A 60 W ceiling fan costs about 2c an hour on the Ausgrid reference rate, while a medium 1.5 kW split system costs about 50c.
No. A fan moves air over your skin, making you feel cooler. energy.gov.au says it can feel about 3°C cooler, but the room temperature does not drop.
Yes. It lets you set the thermostat higher for the same comfort, and each degree saves roughly 5% to 10% of the air conditioner's energy.
A 50 W pedestal fan running for eight hours uses 0.4 kWh, roughly 13c on the Ausgrid reference rate.
No. Most ceiling and pedestal fans draw between about 30 W and 75 W, which is a small fraction of any air conditioner.
Sources
Every rate on this page comes from the regulator or the regulated retailer. Last checked October 2026. Prices include GST unless we say otherwise.