How Much Electricity Does Air Conditioning Use?
How much electricity an air conditioner uses is set by its electrical input power (kW) and how long it runs: kWh = input power × hours. A small split system might use a few kWh a day; a large ducted system running for hours can use many times that. The reliable way to know is to use your own unit's power rating — the calculator does exactly that.
Split vs ducted energy use
Split systems condition one room; ducted systems condition much more of the home, so they draw more power and typically use more energy per hour. These illustrative examples are computed with the same tested formula as our calculator (labelled assumptions, not market claims):
- Small split system: 0.7 kW input, 6 hours/day → about 4.2 kWh/day and 1,529 kWh across a year of that use (≈ A$458.64 at 30 c/kWh).
- Large ducted system: 3.5 kW input, 8 hours/day → about 28 kWh/day and 10,192 kWh across a year of that use (≈ A$3,057.60 at 30 c/kWh).
What drives consumption
- Input power (kW) — the biggest lever; read it from the compliance plate.
- Runtime hours and thermostat setting.
- Home size, insulation and how many zones/rooms you condition.
- Outdoor conditions and inverter behaviour (units modulate, so full-power hours are rare).
Estimate your own usage
Enter your unit's input power and hours into the running cost calculator to see daily, monthly-equivalent and annual kWh and cost. For a whole-home picture across appliances, use the electricity usage calculator.
Why we don't quote a single number