Air conditioning running cost calculator
How much does air conditioning cost to run? Enter your unit's capacity, efficiency and usage to estimate the annual electricity cost, energy use and carbon — for the UK.
Estimates electrical consumption as delivered output ÷ seasonal efficiency (SEER/SCOP). Real usage varies with weather, thermostat settings and tariff.
Estimated annual cost
£176
719 kWh / year
What drives air-con running costs
The single biggest factor is efficiency. A modern inverter unit with a high SEER modulates its output to match demand, so it sips electricity compared with an older fixed-speed unit that runs full-blast then switches off. After efficiency comes how long you run it, the temperature you set, and your electricity tariff.
Frequently asked questions
How much does air conditioning cost to run in the UK?
It depends on the unit's efficiency (SEER for cooling, SCOP for heating), how many hours you run it and your electricity price. As a rough guide, running a 3.5 kW split for cooling a few hours a day over a UK summer typically costs tens of pounds — modern inverter units are far cheaper to run than older fixed-speed ones. Use the calculator above for your own figures.
What is SEER and SCOP?
SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) measures cooling efficiency across a season; SCOP (Seasonal Coefficient of Performance) measures heating efficiency in heat-pump mode. A SEER of 6.5 means the unit delivers 6.5 units of cooling per unit of electricity — the higher the number, the cheaper it is to run.
Is air conditioning cheaper than gas heating?
In heating mode a modern air-conditioner is a heat pump with a SCOP of around 4, meaning it delivers roughly four times more heat than the electricity it uses. Whether that beats gas depends on the electricity-to-gas price ratio at the time, but the efficiency is far higher than a direct electric heater.
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Vento puts SEER/SCOP running-cost estimates straight onto your branded quotes — a powerful way to justify a premium unit.
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