Fan speeds vs energy consumption? ?

Does it save any electricity to run ceiling fans, box fans, dehumidifiers, etc on a lower speed?


  14 answers
  • Peggy L Burnette Peggy L Burnette on Jun 13, 2020

    Hi this is Peggy, hope this helps you with speeds of fan vs energy consumption.

    Does a fan running at high speed consume more electricity ...

    www.quora.com › Does-a-fan-running-at-high-speed-con...


    Oct 20, 2017 - Hence capacitor type regulators paved the way for least power consumption while regulating . Thus electric fan consumes more power when operating at higher speeds as they draw more current from the supply. We know that P=VI× p.f. Hence more current means more power is consumed.

  • 17335038 17335038 on Jun 13, 2020

    Keep in mind that turning on any appliance or item that runs on electricity takes more energy to initially 'fire it up' than continually running it, up to a certain length of time.


    This fact of physics disproves the belief that it saves energy to turn on lights only when you are in a room even in heavily used areas of the home. To switch lights off again when exiting the room, only to have another member of the household switch the lights back on again when they enter the room (think bathroom, kitchen, laundry room, etc.) takes more electricity.


    If you are anticipating turning the particular fan off and on frequently during a certain time period, then yes, keeping the fan running on low setting will consume less energy overall during the same time period.

  • Yes it does, a fan uses more powder the faster it goes.

  • Mogie Mogie on Jun 13, 2020

    The higher the temp on the thermostat the more energy it takes so the same thing applies to fans. Somewhat also depends on the efficiency of the particular unit you are referring to also.

    Older units can take more electricity then new more energy efficient ones.

    Any unit will use more energy the more it is turned up.

  • Vimarhonor Vimarhonor on Jun 13, 2020

    Hello, Yes it does, your suspicion is correct.

  • From what I've read, yes.

  • William William on Jun 13, 2020

    Of course. The higher the speed the the more amperage is needed to run. Thus the higher the cost.

  • P P on Jun 13, 2020

    Don't know about speeds on fans, but do know they only cool whoever is in front of them so turn them off if no one is in the room!

  • Sharon Sharon on Jun 13, 2020

    I always run mine at night with the fan blowing the cool night are into the house, Then close the blinds and curtains and windows when I get up..... keeps it cool until evening.

  • Cynthia H Cynthia H on Jun 13, 2020

    Check the energy usage listed in the owner's manual. I only run them when I am in the room, because unless you're pulling in cooler air through through a window or exhausting air, there is no benefit to circulating the air when no one is there. Good luck and stay!

  • Maura White Maura White on Jun 14, 2020

    I agree with william - if the fans need to fun faster, then yes, you are pulling more electricity to run them.

  • Redcatcec Redcatcec on Jul 19, 2023

    Yes, the higher the speed, the more power (electricity) will be used.

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Jul 21, 2023

    If you were running at a low speed would you feel more tired or less tired than if you were running at a fast speed. I think you would use more energy the faster you ran don't you?