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Time-Based Cost · India 2026 · BEE Accurate

AC Cost Per Day in India
Daily AC electricity cost for every usage pattern

A 1.5T 5-star AC running 8h/day costs ₹41/day. Running 14h/day in summer costs ₹72/day. Here's the complete daily cost breakdown.

Time-Based Cost
India 2026
BEE Accurate
1T–2T
All Tonnages
Covered
3★–5★
Star Ratings
Compared
₹5.8–₹8.5
State Rates
All tariffs
2026
BEE Latest
Current ratings
Reviewed by Cooling Insights Team · Energy Efficiency Researcher
Last updated: May 2026
BEE 2026 ISEER Data, DISCOM State Tariffs

A 1.5T 5-star AC running 8h/day costs ₹41/day. Running 14h/day in summer costs ₹72/day. Here's the complete daily cost breakdown.

AC Cost Per Day in India — Complete Guide

A 1.5T 5-star AC running 8h/day costs ₹41/day. Running 14h/day in summer costs ₹72/day. Here's the complete daily cost breakdown. Understanding your AC's electricity cost is the first step to controlling your monthly electricity bill. India has over 120 million AC units installed, with the average household spending ₹8,000–18,000 per year on AC electricity depending on their climate zone, usage hours, and AC star rating.

The formula for calculating AC electricity cost is straightforward: multiply the AC's wattage (in kilowatts) by the number of hours used per day, then by the electricity rate in your state. For a 1.5-ton 5-star inverter AC running 8 hours a day at ₹7 per unit, the monthly cost works out to approximately ₹1,235. The same AC at 14 hours per day (typical for peak summer in Delhi or Ahmedabad) costs ₹2,161 per month.

Star rating makes a dramatic difference. A 5-star inverter AC consumes roughly 57% less electricity than a 1-star fixed-speed AC of the same tonnage. Moving from 3-star to 5-star saves approximately ₹707 per month for a 1.5-ton unit at 8 hours per day. Over a 5-year period, that saving amounts to ₹21,000–42,000 — far exceeding the price premium of a 5-star model.

State electricity tariffs also significantly affect your AC bill. Maharashtra charges ₹8.5 per unit while Odisha charges just ₹5.8 per unit. This 46% rate difference means the same 1.5-ton 5-star AC costs ₹1,500/month in Mumbai versus ₹1,025/month in Bhubaneswar. Knowing your state tariff helps you calculate your exact cost from the data below.

₹5.14

1.5T 5★ Per Hour

₹1,235

1.5T 5★ Per Month

₹706/mo

5★ vs 3★ Saving

₹5.8/unit

Cheapest State

  • Set your AC to 24–26°C instead of 18°C — each degree above 18°C saves 6–8% on your electricity bill.
  • Use a ceiling fan alongside your AC — it allows a 2°C higher setpoint with the same comfort, saving 12–16% more.
  • Service your AC every 3 months — dirty filters increase power consumption by 10–15%.
  • Use sleep mode at night — it gradually raises the temperature by 1°C per hour, saving 15–20% on overnight usage.
  • Upgrade from 3-star to 5-star if you use AC more than 6 hours per day — the payback period is typically under 2 years.

Use our free AC bill calculator, AC power consumption calculator and air conditioner electricity cost calculator to instantly find out your exact electricity cost — no signup required.

Interactive Calculator

Hours/day:
Tonnage₹/Hour₹/Day (8h)₹/Month₹/Year (6mo)
Star Rating →5★ / 3★5★ / 3★5★ / 3★5★ / 3★
0.8T2.74/4.3122.0/34.5659/1,0354k/6k
1.0T3.43/5.3927.4/43.1823/1,2945k/8k
1.2T4.12/6.4732.9/51.7988/1,5526k/9k
1.5TPopular5.14/8.0941.2/64.71,235/1,9407k/12k
1.8T6.17/9.7049.4/77.61,482/2,3289k/14k
2.0T6.86/10.7854.9/86.21,646/2,58710k/16k
Green = 5★ Inverter · Red = 3★ Non-Inverter · Delhi7/unit · 8h/day

Monthly Cost by Tonnage — 5★ vs 3★ vs 1★

Monthly Cost vs Usage Hours — 1.5T 5★ vs 3★

Monthly Cost by State — 1.5T 5★, 8h/day

State-Wise AC Electricity Cost in India (2026)

The same 1.5 ton 5-star inverter AC running 8 hours/day costs very differently depending on your state's electricity tariff.

Based on: 1.5T 5-star inverter AC · 8 hrs/day · 30 days · ~302 units/month

State / CityRate (per unit)Monthly Cost
Goa₹3.80/unit₹1,150
Himachal Pradesh₹4.20/unit₹1,270
Uttarakhand₹4.50/unit₹1,360
Odisha₹5.80/unit₹1,750
Assam₹6.00/unit₹1,812
Tamil Nadu₹6.50/unit₹1,963
Delhi₹7.00/unit₹2,114
Karnataka₹7.20/unit₹2,174
Kolkata (West Bengal)₹7.80/unit₹2,356
Andhra Pradesh₹9.50/unit₹2,869
Maharashtra₹9.80/unit₹2,960
Mumbai (BEST)₹11.50/unit₹3,473

Source: DISCOM tariff schedules 2025–26, BEE ISEER data. Costs vary by actual usage.

5 Proven Ways to Reduce Your AC Electricity Bill

  • Set temperature to 24–26°C: BEE's recommended range. Each degree below 24°C adds 6–8% to your bill. Running at 18°C costs 36–48% more.Save ₹400–700/month
  • Use inverter AC (5-star): 5-star inverter uses 57% less power than 1-star fixed-speed. Payback in 18–24 months for 8h/day users.Save ₹600–1,200/month
  • Clean filters every 3 months: Clogged filters force the AC to work harder, consuming 10–15% more electricity. Takes 5 minutes.Save ₹150–300/month
  • Use fan + AC together: A ceiling fan at 50W costs ₹42/month vs ₹1,235 for AC. Using both allows a 2°C higher AC setpoint, saving 12%.Save ₹150–250/month
  • Enable sleep/timer mode at night: Sleep mode gradually raises temperature 1°C/hour after you sleep. Saves 15–20% on 8-hour overnight usage.Save ₹200–400/month

Looking for the most energy-efficient 1.5 Ton AC?

We compared 50+ models across ISEER, star rating, and real electricity cost. See the top picks that save ₹7,000+ per year on your bill.

See Best Energy-Efficient 1.5T ACs 2026 →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the formula for calculating AC electricity cost?

Cost/Day = (Wattage ÷ 1000) × Hours/Day × Electricity Rate. 1.5T 5★, 8h: (735 ÷ 1000) × 8 × ₹7 = ₹41.16/day

How much does a 1.5 ton 5-star AC cost per month?

A 1.5T 5-star inverter AC running 8h/day costs ₹1,235/month at ₹7/unit in Delhi. Annual cost (6 months): ₹7,409.

How much does a 1 ton AC cost per month?

A 1T 5-star inverter AC running 8h/day costs ₹823/month. A 3-star non-inverter costs ₹1,294/month — 57% more.

How much does a 2 ton AC cost per month?

A 2T 5-star inverter AC running 8h/day costs ₹1,646/month. A 3-star non-inverter costs ₹2,587/month.

Which state has the cheapest AC electricity cost?

Odisha (₹5.8/unit) and Kerala (₹5.9/unit) have the cheapest electricity rates. Maharashtra (₹8.5/unit) is the most expensive. The same 1.5T 5-star AC costs ₹1,071/month in Odisha vs ₹1,500/month in Maharashtra — a 40% difference.

Does inverter AC really save electricity?

Yes — a 5-star inverter AC uses 57% less power than a 1-star non-inverter. Monthly saving is ₹700–1,200 for a 1.5T unit at 8h/day. The 5-star premium typically pays back in 12–24 months.

How many units of electricity does a 1.5 ton AC use per month?

A 1.5T 5-star inverter uses approximately 176 units/month at 8h/day. A 3-star non-inverter uses 277 units/month — 101 units more. At ₹7/unit, that extra 101 units costs ₹707/month.

1.5T 5★ Quick Reference

Per Hour₹5.14
Per Day (8h)₹41.2
Per Month₹1,235
Per Year (6mo)₹7,409
Units/Month176 kWh

Delhi · ₹7/unit · 8h/day

5★ vs 3★ Saving

0.8T376/mo
1.0T470/mo
1.2T564/mo
1.5T706/mo
1.8T847/mo
2.0T941/mo

8h/day · ₹7/unit