How is the running cost calculated?

Watts ÷ 1,000 × the electricity rate gives cost per hour; the yearly figure uses 8 h/day, 120 days a year at 35 W.

Does a higher star rating cut the cost?

Yes — efficiency ratings reduce the draw or energy per use, which scales the cost directly; the low–high wattage band spans efficient to inefficient models.

Why does the state matter?

Each state's usage rate differs, so the same hour costs $0.01–$0.01 depending on the state.

How much does it cost to run a ceiling fan? (2026–27)

Name: Ceiling fan running costs Australia 2026–27
Creator: Bright Force Electrical — ceiling fan running costs
License: https://brightforceelectrical.com.au/blog/how-much-do-ceiling-fans-cost-to-run

At typical draw · official state tariffs

$0.01–$0.01 per hour at 35 W

Typical household use — 8 h/day, 120 days a year at 35 W — runs $9–$14 a year depending on your state's tariff.

Wattage basis: Nameplate input ≈ running watts: DC fans ~19–58 W, AC fans up to 75 W+, high-speed 60–100 W.

Ceiling fan running cost by state at typical draw (2026–27 reference tariffs)
State	Tariff c/kWh	Per hour	Typical year
New South Wales	33.1c	$0.01	$11
Victoria	27.5c	$0.01	$9
Queensland	28.0c	$0.01	$9
South Australia	41.9c	$0.01	$14
Western Australia	33.3c	$0.01	$11
Tasmania	28.0c	$0.01	$9
Australian Capital Territory	37.0c	$0.01	$12
Northern Territory	31.7c	$0.01	$11

Appliance running-cost calculator

NSW

State

Power draw (watts)

Ceiling fan: 10–100 W typical range.

Hours per day

Days per year

Often 8+ h/day in summer; cheap enough to leave running.

$0.01 per hour · $11/year at your settings

Per day (8 h): $0.09
Per month: $2.82
Per year (120 days): $11.13

Tariff: 33.1c/kWh — AER Default Market Offer 2026–27 (DMO 8) for the Ausgrid network, effective 1 July 2026. Wattage basis: Bright Force Electrical — ceiling fan running costs. Full ceiling fan costs in NSW →

Cutting the cost

A fan cools people, not rooms, so switch it off when you leave. Set it to spin anticlockwise in summer to push air downward; that breeze lets you sit comfortably at a warmer air-conditioner set-point, which is where the real saving lives. Many models reverse for winter to draw warm air off the ceiling and mix it back into the room. It costs a fraction of what cooling does.

Frequently asked questions

How is the running cost calculated?: Watts ÷ 1,000 × your electricity rate = cost per hour. A ceiling fan drawing 35 W on a 33.1c/kWh tariff costs $0.01 an hour — the calculator above lets you change every input.
Does a higher star rating cut the cost?: Yes — the star rating compresses the power draw or energy per use, which scales this page's figures directly. The low–high band in the table (10–100 W) roughly spans efficient to inefficient models.
Why does the state matter?: The appliance draws the same power everywhere — but each state's reference usage rate differs, so the same hour of running costs $0.01 in the cheapest state and $0.01 in the dearest. Pick your state above for exact figures.

Sources — figures current as at 17 July 2026.

Costs use each state's representative-zone reference usage rate, effective 1 July 2026. Often 8+ h/day in summer; cheap enough to leave running.

How much does it cost to run a ceiling fan? (2026–27)

Appliance running-cost calculator

Cutting the cost

Frequently asked questions

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