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ENERGY · RUNNING COSTS

What a dehumidifier costs to run

On the price cap from 1 October to 31 December 2026, a 157 W dehumidifier at full power costs 4.1p an hour, in Great Britain on average and paying by Direct Debit. Put in your own model and region below.

What you know about it

The power consumption in watts on the rating label or in the specifications. Makers often quote it at set conditions (Meaco uses 20°C and 60% humidity), and desiccant models may give a figure for each fan speed.

Each time it runs

Every day is 7; once a fortnight is 0.5.

How you pay

An hour at full power

4.1p

At 26.32p a kWh: the cap's Great Britain average on Direct Debit, 1 October 2026 to 31 December 2026.

Each time
16.5p
A week
£1.16
A month
£5.03
A year
£60.34

The working

  1. 157 W for 4 hours uses 0.628 kWh at full power.
  2. 0.628 kWh × 26.32p a kWh (Great Britain average, Direct Debit, VAT included) = 16.5p each time.
  3. 7 times a week is £1.16; × 52.14 weeks = £60.34 a year, or £5.03 a month.

The standing charge (54.83p a day here) isn't in these figures: you pay it whatever you run. On Economy 7 or another time-of-use tariff, the cost depends on when it runs and your supplier's rates.

Real models

Ratings from each maker's or retailer's page. Great Britain average, Direct Debit.

ModelRatingAn hour
Meaco 12L Low Energy Dehumidifier and Air Purifier (compressor)157 W4.1p
MeacoDry Arete One 20L (compressor)216 W5.7p
Meaco DD8L Zambezi (desiccant), fan speed 1351 W9.2p
Meaco DD8L Zambezi (desiccant), fan speed 2656 W17.3p

Where you live

A 157 W dehumidifier at full power, on Direct Debit. The Great Britain average is 27.80p a kWh paying on receipt of a bill, and 25.52p on prepayment.

RegionA kWhAn hourA year
Great Britain average26.32p4.1p£60.34
Eastern England26.61p4.2p£61.00
East Midlands25.36p4p£58.12
London26.60p4.2p£60.96
Merseyside and North Wales27.86p4.4p£63.87
West Midlands25.60p4p£58.69
North East England25.46p4p£58.35
North West England26.49p4.2p£60.72
Southern England26.47p4.2p£60.67
South East England26.88p4.2p£61.61
South Wales26.55p4.2p£60.87
South West England26.58p4.2p£60.93
Yorkshire25.60p4p£58.69
South Scotland26.11p4.1p£59.84
North Scotland26.35p4.1p£60.39

A year is 4 hours a day, every day: my assumption, so put in your own use above.

What it uses

The power consumption in watts on the rating label or in the specifications. Makers often quote it at set conditions (Meaco uses 20°C and 60% humidity), and desiccant models may give a figure for each fan speed.

Does it always use this much? No, not with a humidistat set. Meaco says its compressor models switch to fan only once the room reaches the target humidity, sleep for 30 minutes, then wake and only dehumidify again if the humidity has risen. On desiccant models, fan speed 1 uses about half the power of speed 2. Meaco says one draws no more than 0.5 W once it has switched off at a 50 or 55% target.

Spending less

Questions

How much does a dehumidifier cost to run?

A 157 W dehumidifier at full power costs 4.1p an hour at the price cap's 26.32p a kWh (Great Britain average, Direct Debit, from 1 October to 31 December 2026). For 4 hours a day, every day, that's £60.34 a year. The calculator above takes your own model, use, region and how you pay.

Is a dehumidifier cheaper than a tumble dryer?

Usually not, according to Which?: if you have a tumble dryer, it is far more likely to be the cheaper way to dry clothes. A dehumidifier did almost halve drying time in its test.

Do dehumidifiers use a lot of electricity?

It depends on the type. Meaco's Arete One 20L compressor model uses 216 W at 20°C and 60% humidity, and Meaco says compressor machines always cost less to run than desiccant ones.

Compressor or desiccant for a cold room?

Desiccant. Meaco says a compressor unit below 15°C spends most of its time defrosting, while desiccant units work better below 10°C. Desiccants draw more power.

Sources

Other appliances

Compare energy tariffs to see what a year would cost you on each.