How Much Electricity Does A Box Fan Use | A Quick Solution

A regular 20-inch box fan uses between 50-100 watts of electricity per hour when operated at its highest speed setting. This equates to between 1.2 and 2.4 kilowatt-hours of electricity per day if used continuously for 24 hours.

In today’s world, when electricity has become a necessity, it is important to understand how much electricity is being consumed by various household appliances.

Knowing the energy usage of appliances can help you make informed decisions about your energy consumption and help you save money on electricity bills. That said, a box fan is a common device used for cooling purposes during hot weather. They are affordable, energy-efficient alternatives to air conditioners.

However, it is essential to know how much electricity a box fan uses to determine its energy efficiency and operating costs. This knowledge can help in comparing different models and choosing the right one for your home.

So, in this article, I’ll take a closer look at how much electricity a box fan uses. I’ll also offer some tips to minimize your energy consumption and enjoy a cool and breezy summer!

How Much Electricity Does A Box Fan Use?

A watt is a unit of measuring electricity consumption (economics). This unit of electrical power equals one ampere under the pressure of one volt. A small box fan will require a lower watt, while a bigger box fan will require more wattage. Consequently, the higher Watt appliance will consume more electricity as it needs more power to operate.

Before you use a box fan, you should know how much power it can consume. Typically, the average watts of a box fan is 73W at full speed. However, the box fan’s size can change the watts as well. With smaller box fans, the average is 27W, while a 20-inch box fan may consume as high as 86.5W at full speed as it is a bigger box fan.

Furthermore, the box fan speed will also determine the watts level, so a lower speed will consume lower watts of electricity. On average low speed will consume 47.3W of power, and at medium speed, it can go up to 59.5W. All of these will determine your electricity bill as well.

Other than the speed of a box fan, factors like setting and motor efficiency can also determine the watts consumption. For instance, AC motors are more powerful than DC motors and will consume more power as well.

Also, factors like auto setting are an important part of a box fan’s use as you can automatically turn it on and off when you are not using it. Check if the box fan comes with a remote control, as that can be helpful in turning it on and off as you leave the room.

Calculating The Cost Of Running Box Fans

A Watt is the unit of power required to run a specific appliance; against that, a Kilowatt-hour (kWh) measures how much electricity an appliance consumes per hour. You can calculate the kWh of a box fan by multiplying the power usage (Watt) by the amount of time used per hour and dividing that by 1000.

Once you know the kWh of the box fan, you can calculate how much electricity is consumed in a given time. With that, you can make an estimate of your electric bill and find ways to reduce the cost. Here is a step-by-step guide to determine how much it costs to run a box fan.

Step 1

If your typical box fan runs at 73W, and you run it for 8 hours per day, calculate the power consumption with the formula: watt x Hours/1000.

Step 2

You can calculate the kWh by multiplying 73 (Watt) by 8 (hrs) and then dividing it by 1000, giving you 0.58 kWh. A higher kWh will result in higher box fan electricity cost.

Step 3

Based on that calculation, you can then make an estimate of the cost of running a box fan according to local electricity prices.

Step 4

In order to make it easier, you can also install an automated electric meter along with the box fan, which can calculate all these automatically and give you the result.

Step 5

You can also input all these data into a computer and, using an online calculator, get all the required information.

Once you determine the per-hour consumption of your box fan, you can regulate the amount of time to keep the fan running at a reduced cost. So, follow these steps and know how much electric power your box fan consumes. Then you can take the necessary steps to reduce your electric bill and be more energy efficient.

Some Tips For Reducing Box Fan Electricity Usage

Now that you know how to calculate the cost of running a box fan, you should also know how to reduce the electricity usage of a box fan. It is the first step towards living a more energy-efficient life. As such, I have gathered some tips and information on how to achieve that.

1. Reduce The Speed

As already mentioned above, the speed of the fan will determine the amount of power it will consume. Therefore, if you want to reduce the electric energy consumption of a box fan, all you have to do is use the fan at the lowest speed settings. Only use high speed when it is unnaturally hot in the room. Remember to buy a box fan with a speed setting so you can manipulate speed from time to time.

If your room is small, you should not use a high-power motor with high-speed capacity as it will consume more energy. Also, see if the box fan comes with a remote to control it so that you can easily turn it on and off as you leave or enter the room.

2. Use Judiciously 

Another way to reduce the cost of running a box fan is by using it less and only when it is necessary. See the temperature of the room and use it only if the room is humid and warm. Also, remember to turn it off when you leave the room and are not in use. Along with that, you can use a timer to turn off your bedroom fan when you are about to sleep. This will prevent it from running all night long and reduce the cost.

3. Opt For Smaller Box Fans

You can also reduce the cost of a box if you use a more efficient type of box fan. To do that, you must check the CFM (cubic feet per minute), as it shows how much air a fan can move. A smaller fan may have lower CFM in comparison to bigger fans like a 20-inch box fan.

Thus, a smaller or an efficient box fan will distribute more air into the room without consuming a high amount of electricity.

4. Use Sustainable Energy

Besides the above tips, you can power your box fan with a solar panel for more efficient energy use. While that may not reduce the energy consumption of the box fan, it can reduce your overall cost as you do not have to pay for solar energy generated at home. Thus, you can have more freedom when you use the fan as well.

Solar panels, if used properly, can power most of the electrical appliances in your house. Therefore, it will drastically bring down your energy consumption and reduce the cost of electricity pricing. So make the change to sustainable energy and live an eco-friendly life contributing to keeping our planet safe.

5. Use The Night Rate Electricity Plan

There are some electricity providers that offer a reduced nighttime price of electricity. You can switch to these plans to reduce the cost of running box fans. You will also have more freedom to run your box fan longer during the night, with the average price of electricity being reduced. So check for electricity plans that offer lower prices at off-peak hours and reduce your power consumption.

Switch to these plans if your current electricity plan does not offer such night prices. It will be more efficient in the long run despite the hassle of changing plans.

6. Other Methods

Some other ways to reduce the running costs of a box fan is to utilize other natural cooling systems. For instance, you can keep the windows open in order to let cool air inside the room instead of increasing your power consumption with a box fan. The box fan model you choose will also determine the running cost, so energy-efficient box fans can help reduce electricity costs.

There is also the factor of size; compared to most fans, small fans will require less power and will cost less to run.

Final Words

Those were some ways to calculate the running cost of a box fan and how to reduce the cost of the electric bill. A box fan is one of the most efficient ways of cooling your room, besides appliances like ceiling fans or air conditioners.

Moreover, using a box fan is one way to reduce your carbon footprint, as it requires less energy in comparison to appliances like ceiling fans, tower fans, and air conditioners. You can further use “green” energy like solar panels to power the box fan in your home.

So, wait no longer and find out how much electricity a box fan uses so that you can be more efficient with your power consumption.