See what it actually costs to run your AC, heat pump, or furnace — by system size, efficiency, and real usage.
A typical 3-ton, 16 SEER central AC run 8 hours a day for a 120-day cooling season costs roughly $250-$450 in electricity, depending on your local utility rate. Use the calculator above for a number based on your own system and rates.
Yes. SEER measures cooling output per unit of electricity, so a higher SEER rating means less electricity used for the same cooling output, which lowers your operating cost.
This calculator estimates seasonal cost for a whole system based on its efficiency rating (SEER/AFUE). Our HVAC Energy Cost calculator estimates cost for any device directly from its wattage.
Regular maintenance, sealing ductwork, upgrading to a higher-efficiency system, and using a programmable thermostat can all meaningfully reduce operating cost.
This calculator provides a rough estimate based on common industry pricing rules of thumb. Actual costs vary by climate, insulation, thermostat settings, and utility rate structure. Consult your utility bill and a licensed HVAC contractor for a precise figure.