AC Cost Per Hour
in India (2026)
Calculate and compare hourly electricity cost of 1 ton, 1.5 ton, and 2 ton ACs. City-wise data, star rating comparison, and free dataset download.
AC Cost Per Hour in India (2026)
At national average rate of ₹6.8/unit · 5-star inverter AC
How to read this: These are average estimates for a 5-star inverter AC at India's national average electricity rate (₹6.8/unit). Your actual cost depends on your state's tariff, AC brand, room insulation, and outdoor temperature. Use the calculator below for your exact cost.
Calculate Your AC Cost Per Hour
Adjust tonnage, star rating, and electricity rate to get your exact hourly cost.
Your AC Details
AC Cost Per Hour — All Tonnages
5-star inverter AC · Costs in ₹/hour across different electricity rates
| AC Type | Units/hr | ₹5/unit | ₹6/unit | ₹6.8/unit ★ | ₹7.5/unit | ₹8.5/unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1T 1 Ton AC 5-Star Inverter | 0.7 kWh | ₹3.5 | ₹4.2 | ₹4.8 | ₹5.3 | ₹5.9 |
1.5T 1.5 Ton AC 5-Star Inverter | 1.05 kWh | ₹5.3 | ₹6.3 | ₹7.1 | ₹7.9 | ₹8.9 |
2T 2 Ton AC 5-Star Inverter | 1.4 kWh | ₹7 | ₹8.4 | ₹9.5 | ₹10.5 | ₹11.9 |
3-Star vs 5-Star Hourly Cost Comparison
At national average rate of ₹6.8/unit
| AC Type | 3-Star/hr | 5-Star/hr | Savings/hr | Monthly Savings (8h) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Ton AC | ₹6.8 | ₹4.8 | ₹2 | ₹480 |
| 1.5 Ton AC | ₹10.2 | ₹7.1 | ₹3.1 | ₹744 |
| 2 Ton AC | ₹13.6 | ₹9.5 | ₹4.1 | ₹984 |
Cost by Usage Duration
1.5 Ton 5-Star AC · ₹6.8/unit (national average)
All Tonnages × All Usage Hours
| Usage | 1 Ton | 1.5 Ton | 2 Ton |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1h/day | ₹143/mo | ₹214/mo | ₹286/mo |
| 4h/day | ₹571/mo | ₹857/mo | ₹1,142/mo |
| 8h/day | ₹1,142/mo | ₹1,714/mo | ₹2,285/mo |
| 12h/day | ₹1,714/mo | ₹2,570/mo | ₹3,427/mo |
| 16h/day | ₹2,285/mo | ₹3,427/mo | ₹4,570/mo |
| 24h/day | ₹3,427/mo | ₹5,141/mo | ₹6,854/mo |
5-star inverter AC · ₹6.8/unit · 30 days/month
AC Cost Per Hour by City
1.5 Ton 5-Star Inverter AC · 8 hours/day usage
City Cost Comparison Summary
| City | Rate | ₹/Hour | ₹/Day (8h) | ₹/Month | ₹/Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delhi | ₹7 | ₹7.4 | ₹58.8 | ₹1,764 | ₹21,462 |
| Mumbai | ₹8.5 | ₹8.9 | ₹71.4 | ₹2,142 | ₹26,061 |
| Kolkata | ₹7.8 | ₹8.2 | ₹65.5 | ₹1,966 | ₹23,915 |
| Bangalore | ₹7.3 | ₹7.7 | ₹61.3 | ₹1,840 | ₹22,382 |
| Chennai | ₹6.5 | ₹6.8 | ₹54.6 | ₹1,638 | ₹19,929 |
| Hyderabad | ₹7 | ₹7.4 | ₹58.8 | ₹1,764 | ₹21,462 |
Cost Visualized
Monthly cost trends across usage hours and tonnage
Monthly Cost vs Daily Usage Hours
5-star inverter AC · ₹6.8/unit
3-Star vs 5-Star Monthly Cost by Tonnage
8 hours/day · ₹6.8/unit
How AC Hourly Cost is Calculated
A step-by-step breakdown of the formula behind every AC electricity cost estimate.
AC Wattage (kW)
Every AC has a rated wattage. A 1.5T 5-star inverter AC draws about 1,050W (1.05 kW) at full load. The BEE star rating determines efficiency — a 5-star AC uses 30% less power than a 3-star model of the same tonnage.
Units Consumed Per Hour
1 unit of electricity = 1 kWh (kilowatt-hour). If your AC draws 1.05 kW and runs for 1 hour, it consumes 1.05 units. This is the number that appears on your electricity meter.
Electricity Rate (₹/unit)
Your state's electricity board charges a fixed rate per unit consumed. This varies from ₹3.8/unit (J&K) to ₹8.5/unit (Maharashtra). Most Indian states charge ₹5–8/unit for residential consumers.
Inverter vs Fixed Speed
An inverter AC doesn't always run at full wattage. It modulates speed based on cooling demand. On average, an inverter AC runs at 60–70% of rated wattage, making it 30–50% cheaper per hour than a fixed-speed AC.
The Master Formula
How Much Can You Save?
1.5 Ton AC · 8 hours/day · ₹6.8/unit
Star Rating vs Hourly Cost
Inverter vs Non-Inverter
Calculate Your Exact Savings
Enter your current AC details and see exactly how much you'd save by upgrading to a 5-star inverter model.
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AC Hourly Cost Dataset (CSV)
Complete dataset: all tonnages, star ratings, electricity rates, and city-wise costs. Ready for Excel or Google Sheets.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about AC cost per hour in India.
At the national average electricity rate of ₹6.8/unit: 1 Ton 5-star AC costs ₹4.8/hour, 1.5 Ton 5-star AC costs ₹7.1/hour, and 2 Ton 5-star AC costs ₹9.5/hour. With a 3-star AC, costs are 30–40% higher: ₹6.8, ₹10.2, and ₹13.6/hour respectively.
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Standard usage cost breakdown for 8-hour daily AC usage.
Heavy usage cost analysis for 12-hour daily AC operation.
State-wise electricity rates and AC cost data for all 24 states.
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