How Much Electricity Does An Air Purifier Use? (Solved!)

I’m willing to pay any reasonable price for quality air purifiers. The best air purifiers protect us from free-flowing atmospheric contaminations, leading to fewer doctor visits. That makes them well worth the price.

However, I’ve noticed over the years that no one pays attention to how much electricity an air purifier uses. If your electric bill is anything like mine, it’s done nothing but get more expensive over the years.

That’s why you should always pay attention to how much electricity the air purifier will use.

So, much does it cost to run the average air purifier? Below I’ve compiled a guide on air purifier electricity usage to explain just that.

Electricity Usage of Air Purifiers Explained

An average air purifier uses around 50W of electricity on average for its operation. According to reports by Energy Star, a typical air purifier turned on for the entire day uses approximately 458 kWh/year.

That’s decently high for air purifiers since my big refrigerator consumes lower energy per year. Comparing it to other appliances, my new LCD TV runs at 91.5 W, and a typical incandescent bulb at 60 W.

That’s why I recommend using energy-efficient air purifiers. It will help save electricity and reduce your expensive electricity bill.

The standard measurement unit is the kilowatt (kW) when you talk about measuring electricity. 1 kW translates to 1000 watts, and when you consume electricity, it is billed as per kilowatt-hour (kWh).

To calculate how much electricity air purifiers use, you only need to divide the air purifier’s wattage by 1000. Then multiply the time (in hours) of the appliance’s usage.

If you have a 50-watt air purifier and use it for an hour a day, you will have to divide the air purifier’s wattage by 1000 first.

50 W/1000 = 0.05 kW

This calculation shows that you used around 0.05 kW of electricity to keep your air purifier running. If you keep using it for one hour every day for an entire month, you only must multiply kW usage per hour by thirty days.

0.05 × 30 = 1.5 kW

The entire electricity cost will be based on the electricity rates in your county or locality. You must multiply the monthly electrical consumption of your air purifier by your area’s electricity rates.

However, keep in mind that the electricity rates vary depending on generation price, operational costs, and government taxes.

With all that said, questions like how much electricity does a Honeywell air purifier use or how much electricity does an Alen air purifier use are sure to graze your mind as you search for an air purifier for your house.

Here is a table to help you understand the energy consumption of your new air purifier.

Hopefully, the table answered some of your questions about energy-efficient air purifiers, like “how much electricity does the IQAir HealthPro Plus air purifier use per day” or, “how much electricity does a Xiaomi air purifier use?”

Keep in mind that the above measurements are an average of energy consumption, and they depend on various factors discussed below.

Calculating Air Purifier Energy Costs

I use an easy three-step process to calculate the energy costs of my air purifiers.

To start calculating electricity costs, calculate the total consumption of wattage per day. If your unit consumes 70 watts per hour, then the 12-hour power consumption would be:

70 watts × 12 hours = 840 watts

Then convert it to the electricity measurement (kilowatt).

840 watts / 1000 = 0.840 kilowatts

You can then continue calculating your monthly usage by multiplying it accordingly:

0.840 kWh × 30 = 25.2 kWh/month

Finally, use the local electricity rates to multiply the figures, and there you have it:

25.2 kWh × 0.15 = 3.78 USD per month

Using this calculation as a baseline, you will be paying around $3 to $8 monthly with twelve hours of daily operation, which is hardly a spike in the electricity bill.

Here is the complete formula I used for the example we used above:

Cost per month = W × 12 hours / 1000 (kilowatts) × 30 (days) × 0.15 (electric rates)

To calculate the yearly costs, simply multiply the monthly cost by 12.

Cost per year = monthly cost × 12

Factors Affecting Air Purifier Electricity Usage

Not all air purifiers are created equal in terms of power and functionality. Some units boast high wattage ratings allowing them to clean larger rooms effectively while also offering advanced features like multi-stage filtration or remote control.

Here are the factors that affect your room air purifier power consumption:

Energy Rating

Energy ratings for air purifiers estimate how much energy an air purifier will use. An energy rating measures the energy efficiency of the air purifier and is typically given in watts or kilowatts. The higher the energy rating, the more energy the room air purifier will consume.

I always consider the energy rating to ensure I choose an energy-efficient model that still meets my needs. An energy-efficient air purifier will help you save money on your electricity bills and reduce your environmental impact by using less energy.

Filter Used

The air filter in air purifiers can affect how much energy the unit uses. This is because the filter in an average air purifier plays a crucial role in the air purification process, and different filters have varying levels of air resistance.

Filters in air purifiers are designed to capture pollutants and particles in the air as it passes through the filter. Some filters, such as a HEPA filter, have a very fine mesh of fibers that can capture even the tiniest particles, but this dense material creates more resistance to airflow.

As a result, the fan in the air purifier needs to work harder to push air through the HEPA filter, leading to higher energy consumption.

On the other hand, filters with lower levels of air resistance, like pre-filters or activated carbon filters, require less energy to push air through them. This is because they are designed to capture larger particles and pollutants, which do not create as much resistance to airflow.

Fan Size

Fan size can also impact your air purifier’s energy usage. Generally, a larger fan requires more energy to run than a smaller one. However, the efficiency of the fan motor can also affect the energy usage of the air purifier.

A larger fan moves more air through the unit, improving its effectiveness. However, larger fans require more energy to operate. A smaller fan uses less energy but may not be as effective at cleaning the air.

A more efficient fan motor will use less energy while still providing adequate airflow. On the other hand, a less efficient fan motor will require more energy to provide the same amount of airflow.

Room Coverage Area

The room coverage area can affect how much energy air purifiers use in a few ways. An air purifier’s size and motor capacity are usually designed to accommodate a specific room size. If you use a small air purifier in a large room, it will need to work harder and consume more energy to clean the air effectively. A larger air purifier in a small room may run less efficiently and waste energy.

How To Save Money When Using An Air Purifier?

Searching for Energy-Star-rated models is a great starting point to save money using air purifiers. Energy-Star-rated air purifiers are designed to use less energy while providing effective air purification.

Looking for the power usage in the air purifier’s specifications can also give you a better idea of how much energy it will consume.

I love auto mode and sleep modes on purifiers. These modes can help manage power consumption by adjusting the fan speed or shutting off the unit when the air quality meets a desired level. Eco-mode is another excellent feature that turns off the motor fan while not in use and can also help save energy.

An appropriately sized purifier for your room will also help save money. Room air cleaners that are too small will have to work harder to clean the air, resulting in higher energy consumption. Keeping windows closed while the air purifier is on can also help reduce energy usage by blocking external pollutants.

Replacing filters when they wear out can also increase filtration efficiency and help maintain the air purifier’s performance.

People Also Ask (FAQ)

Should I leave the air purifier on all day?

You should leave the air purifier running all day. There are no apparent disadvantages to keeping the unit running the whole day, and when you run an air purifier all day, it will help you reduce pollutants in the home.

Will running an air purifier with windows open impact performance?

Running an air purifier with windows open will impact performance. If you run an air purifier with windows open, it will still work, but it won’t work with the same efficiency with sealed rooms.

Are certain brands cheaper to run than others?

Yes, certain brands are cheaper to run than others. The quality of air filters is a major factor. The more expensive your air filters are, the more efficient they will be.

Conclusion

If there’s one thing I’ve noticed over the years, it’s that not all air purifiers are created. Some work excellently while taking up little energy. However, others have subpar performance while racking up your energy bill.

Spending a little more money upfront on an energy-efficient air purifier is always a worthwhile investment.

Hopefully, my guide helps you understand the energy consumption of air purifiers. Remember, multiple factors are in play when it comes to air purifier electricity consumption, and they should all be considered.