Heating & Cooling · Midwest
Cost to run a dehumidifier in South Dakota
At South Dakota’s average residential rate of 15.73¢ per kWh, a dehumidifier drawing 500W for 12 hours a day costs about $17.24 a month. Change the numbers below to match how you actually use yours.
The cooling season in South Dakota is short. A dehumidifier will earn its running cost over a few weeks rather than a few months, which makes the per-day figure a more useful number here than the annual one.
Quick answer
Based on 500W at a 60% duty cycle (this equipment cycles on and off rather than drawing full power continuously) and 15.73¢/kWh, the South Dakota average for May 2026.
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— per year
Why the cost differs in South Dakota
South Dakota has the 21st cheapest residential electricity of the 51 US states and territories we track, at 15.73¢ per kWh against a national average of 18.44¢. That is -14.7% compared with the national figure. South Dakota combines Missouri River hydroelectric generation with growing wind capacity, holding rates well below average across a small, dispersed population. Retail service is regulated. Winters are severe and long, so heating is the dominant seasonal load, and the cheap rate makes electric heating more viable here than in most of the country.
For this appliance specifically, the difference works out to a saving of $35.61 a year against what the same dehumidifier would cost at the national average rate. Run the identical appliance in Hawaii and it would cost $683 a year; in Idaho it would cost $162. That spread of $521 is entirely down to location.
That is about 13% of a typical South Dakota household's annual electricity bill from this one appliance, which is enough to be worth optimising.
South Dakota sits below the national average, so this dehumidifier costs slightly less to run here than it would for a typical US household. How you use it will move the number far more than where you live.
Retail service in South Dakota is regulated, so most households pay a tariff set through state rate cases rather than a shopped rate. The state average is a reasonable proxy, though your utility's specific tariff still varies.
| Location | Rate | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota this page | 15.73¢ | $17.24 | $207 |
| US average | 18.44¢ | $20.21 | $242 |
| Idaho cheapest state | 12.35¢ | $13.53 | $162 |
| Hawaii most expensive | 52.00¢ | $56.98 | $683 |
South Dakota electricity rate trend
Rates in South Dakota have moved from 14.22¢ to 15.73¢ per kWh over the last twelve months of published data. Nationally, residential rates rose about 6.2% year over year.
2025-06 to 2026-05 · cents per kWh
About running a dehumidifier
Dehumidifiers run longest in exactly the humid weather when they are most needed, so real-world cost is usually higher than people expect. They also add heat to the room, slightly increasing cooling load.
What actually changes the cost
- Nameplate wattage is not running cost. This dehumidifier draws about 500W when active, but cycles roughly 60% of the time it is switched on, so effective consumption is near 300W.
- Models vary widely, from about 300W to 800W. Check the nameplate on your own unit rather than assuming an average, because the spread is more than 2x.
- Insulation and air sealing reduce runtime, which lowers cost more reliably than adjusting the thermostat by a degree.
- Because this runs continuously, small wattage differences between models compound into large annual differences.
- If your utility offers time-of-use pricing, shifting this load off-peak can cut its cost substantially without using any less energy.
How we worked this out
The arithmetic is simple and we would rather show it than hide it. Divide watts by 1,000 to get kilowatts, multiply by hours of use and by the duty cycle to get kilowatt-hours, then multiply by your rate:
500W ÷ 1000 × 12h × 60% = 3.600 kWh/day × 15.73¢ = $0.566 per day
One honest caveat: South Dakota’s figure is a state average published by the EIA. Your own utility’s tariff, any time-of-use pricing, fixed monthly service charges and local taxes all shift the real number. Put your actual per-kWh rate into the calculator above for a figure that reflects your bill.
Questions about dehumidifier running costs
How many watts does a dehumidifier use?
A typical dehumidifier draws about 500 watts while running, with most models falling between 300W and 800W. Check the nameplate label or manual for your specific unit - the range is wide enough that averages can mislead.
How much electricity does a dehumidifier use per day?
At around 12 hours of use a day and a 60% duty cycle, that works out to roughly 3.6 kWh per day, or about 108 kWh a month. Your actual figure depends on your usage and model.
Why does the cost differ so much between states?
Residential electricity rates across the US range from about 12.35 cents per kWh in North Dakota to 46.62 cents in Hawaii - nearly a fourfold difference. The same dehumidifier, used identically, therefore costs almost four times as much to run in the most expensive state as in the cheapest.
Is it cheaper to run a dehumidifier at night?
Only if you are on a time-of-use or variable tariff. On a flat rate, the time of day makes no difference to cost. If you are on time-of-use pricing, off-peak hours are typically materially cheaper, and shifting this load can reduce its cost without reducing usage.