# Aircon Electricity Cost Calculator: Cost per Hour, Night and Month

What an aircon costs to run in Singapore per hour, night and month, by BTU or kW, NEA tick rating and inverter type, at SP's Oct to Dec 2026 tariff.

Interactive tool: https://lookup.sg/tools/aircon-electricity-cost-calculator

## How this works
Cooling capacity in BTU/h is converted to kW (1 kW = 3,412 BTU/h) and divided by the unit's efficiency (COP) to get the electrical input at full load. Under NEA's Energy Label, a 5-tick single-split aircon has a weighted COP (inverter) or full-load COP (non-inverter) of at least 5.50, and a 4-tick unit at least 4.86. An older unit is assumed to have a COP of 3.0.

Aircons rarely run at full power all night, so the full-load input is multiplied by an average load: an assumed 50% for an inverter that has cooled the room and 70% for a non-inverter cycling on and off. You can change it, or enter the rated input power in kW from the spec sheet instead.

Cost = average kW × hours × SP Group's regulated tariff of 31.16 cents per kWh including GST (28.59 cents before GST) for 1 October to 31 December 2026. To size an aircon for a room in the first place, use the aircon BTU calculator.

## FAQs
### How much does it cost to run aircon overnight in Singapore?
About S$0.80 for 8 hours with one 12,000 BTU 5-tick inverter unit, at 31.16 cents per kWh and an assumed 50% average load. That is about S$23.91 a month if used every night. A 4-tick unit costs about S$0.90 a night, and an older COP 3.0 unit about S$1.46.

### How much does aircon cost per hour?
About 10 cents an hour for a 12,000 BTU 5-tick inverter unit at an assumed 50% average load (0.32 kW), and about 8 cents for a 9,000 BTU unit, at the October to December 2026 tariff.

### Do 5-tick aircons really save money?
Yes, compared with older units. At the same use (12,000 BTU, 8 hours a night), a 5-tick unit at COP 5.50 costs about S$23.91 a month against S$43.84 for an older unit at COP 3.0, about S$239 a year less.

### Is inverter or non-inverter aircon cheaper to run?
Inverters are usually cheaper because they slow the compressor down instead of switching it on and off. With the assumed loads here (50% vs 70%), a 12,000 BTU 4-tick inverter costs about S$0.90 a night against about S$1.26 for a 4-tick non-inverter.

## Sources
- [SP Group: Tariff information (Oct to Dec 2026)](https://www.spgroup.com.sg/our-services/utilities/tariff-information)
- [NEA: Energy Label tick ratings for air-conditioners](https://www.nea.gov.sg/our-services/climate-change-energy-efficiency/energy-efficiency/household-sector/tick-rating)
- [NEA: Minimum Energy Performance Standards (weighted COP)](https://www.nea.gov.sg/our-services/climate-change-energy-efficiency/energy-efficiency/household-sector/minimum-energy-performance-standards)

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Source: Lookup (https://lookup.sg) · Data as of October 2026 · Listings compiled from Singapore government open data (data.gov.sg), OneMap and Overture Maps places. Free listings never show contact details; contact details appear only on Lookup Verified listings.