AC Electricity Cost Calculator
Enter your AC specs to estimate monthly running cost. A 1.5-ton inverter AC running 8 hours daily costs approximately Rs. 8,000-12,000/month. Use unit cost calculator to find your actual per-unit rate.
AC Running Cost Estimator
AC Running Cost Comparison — Inverter vs Non-Inverter
| AC Type & Size | Watts (avg) | Units/Day (8hrs) | Monthly Cost @Rs.35 | Inverter Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Ton Non-Inverter | 1,200W | 9.6 | ~Rs. 10,080 | — |
| 1 Ton Inverter | 720W | 5.8 | ~Rs. 6,048 | 40% |
| 1.5 Ton Non-Inverter | 1,800W | 14.4 | ~Rs. 15,120 | — |
| 1.5 Ton Inverter | 1,080W | 8.6 | ~Rs. 9,072 | 40% |
| 2 Ton Non-Inverter | 2,400W | 19.2 | ~Rs. 20,160 | — |
| 2 Ton Inverter | 1,440W | 11.5 | ~Rs. 12,096 | 40% |
How This Calculation Works
Air conditioning is the single largest electricity consumer in Pakistani homes — a 1.5 ton AC running 8 hours daily uses 250-430 units per month, which can double or triple your electricity bill in summer. The choice between inverter and non-inverter AC has a massive cost impact: inverter models use 30-40% less electricity for the same cooling.
Calculate your full bill: electricity bill calculator. Consider solar: solar savings calculator. Understand slabs: electricity slab system.
Why inverter ACs save money: Non-inverter ACs run at full power and cycle on/off. Inverter ACs adjust compressor speed to match the cooling need — running at 40-60% power most of the time. The startup surge of non-inverter cycling wastes energy; inverter smooth operation eliminates this waste.
AC Running Cost by Scenario — Summer Season
Bedroom at night (8 PM - 8 AM): 1.5-ton inverter AC at 26°C for 12 hours = ~13 units/night. Monthly: ~390 units = Rs. 13,650 at Rs. 35/unit. This single AC adds Rs. 13,000+ to your summer bill — often the difference between a 200-unit (protected) and 600-unit (non-protected) bill.
Living room during the day (10 AM - 6 PM): 2-ton inverter AC at 24°C for 8 hours = ~15 units/day. Monthly: ~450 units = Rs. 15,750. Two ACs running this pattern pushes a household into the 700+ unit slab where rates are Rs. 45+/unit.
Cost-saving strategies: Every degree higher on the thermostat saves 6-8% energy. Setting 26°C instead of 22°C reduces consumption by 25-30%. Using ceiling fans alongside AC (allowing higher thermostat setting) saves Rs. 3,000-5,000/month. Pre-cooling the room and using timer mode during sleep further reduces runtime.
Annual AC Cost Across a Typical Lahore Summer
Lahore's cooling season runs approximately 6 months (April-September). A household running two 1.5-ton inverter ACs for 8 hours daily during this period uses approximately 3,000-3,600 additional units — costing Rs. 105,000-180,000 in those 6 months alone. This is often the single largest household expense after rent/mortgage. Planning for this seasonal spike — through solar panels, higher-efficiency ACs, or simply adjusting thermostat settings — can save Rs. 30,000-60,000 annually. Many families find that a 5 kW solar system eliminates the summer electricity spike entirely, paying for itself through AC season savings alone within 4-5 years.
Estimates only. Calculator results are approximate based on current standard rates and formulas. Actual amounts may vary due to regulatory changes, provider-specific charges, and individual circumstances. Verify with official sources for exact figures.
AC Cost Calculator — Cooling Expense Questions
Non-inverter: 14-15 units/day (8 hours). Inverter: 8-9 units/day (8 hours). The inverter saves 5-6 units daily — Rs. 175-210/day at Rs. 35/unit — which adds up to Rs. 5,000-6,000/month.
For inverter ACs, running continuously at a higher thermostat (25-26°C) is more efficient than cycling on/off. The compressor reaches steady-state efficiency and uses less energy than repeated startups. Set the timer for your sleeping hours instead of manually cycling.