How this calculator works
The calculator turns your aircon’s power input into energy and cost. The duty cycle lets you account for the compressor not drawing full power all the time:
Average power (W) = power input (W) × duty cycle (%)
kWh per day = average power ÷ 1,000 × hours per day
kWh per month = kWh per day × days per month
Monthly cost = kWh per month × rate (₱/kWh)Worked example
Example (estimate). Suppose the label shows a rated power input of 900 W, and the aircon runs 8 hours a night for 30 nights at ₱15.06/kWh.
- At a 100% duty cycle: 0.9 kW × 8 h × 30 = 216 kWh → about ₱3,252.96 a month.
- If the compressor effectively draws that power 60% of the time: 129.6 kWh → about ₱1,951.78 a month.
The 900 W figure is only an illustration — real units vary widely. Enter your own unit’s value.
Horsepower is not wattage
Aircons in the Philippines are sold by “horsepower” (0.5 HP, 1 HP, 1.5 HP, 2 HP…). In this market, HP describes a cooling-capacity class. It is not a conversion of electrical input — one mechanical horsepower is about 746 W, but a “1 HP” aircon does not necessarily draw 746 W. What you pay for is the electrical power input, which depends on the unit’s efficiency.
Look for these on the unit’s energy label, rating plate or specification sheet:
- Rated cooling capacity (usually in kJ/h) — how much heat it removes.
- Rated power input (W) — what to enter in this calculator.
- CSPF (cooling seasonal performance factor) — a higher number means more cooling per kWh. The Department of Energy’s energy label also shows a star rating.
The DOE’s 2021 labelling guidelines estimate the label’s monthly kWh using 9 hours a day for 30 days and an adjustment factor of 0.8 for fixed-speed (non-inverter) units and 0.5 for variable-speed (inverter) units. That is a standard test basis for comparing models, not a prediction for your home — which is why this calculator lets you set your own hours and duty cycle.
Why real consumption varies
- Inverter units slow the compressor down once the room is cool, so their draw changes minute to minute.
- Non-inverter units switch the compressor fully on and off; the share of time it’s on depends on heat load.
- Heat load — room size, sun exposure, insulation, windows, number of people and outdoor temperature all matter.
- Thermostat setting — a lower setpoint means longer compressor running.
- Maintenance — dirty filters and coils make the unit work harder.
The most reliable number comes from measuring: plug a window-type unit into a suitably rated plug-in energy meter, or check a smart plug or sub-meter for split types (have a licensed electrician install anything hard-wired). Read more in how much electricity an aircon uses.
Your electricity rate
The calculator starts with an example rate of ₱15.06 per kWh. That is Meralco’s announced overall rate for a typical household using 200 kWh a month in October 2026 (₱15.0615/kWh), as reported by The Philippine Star on 14 October 2026.
Limitations
- A single average power and duty cycle stand in for behaviour that changes with weather and settings.
- One flat rate is applied to every kWh; real bills include charges that don’t scale exactly with kWh.
- The aircon type you choose is a label for your comparison only; it does not change the maths. We don’t assume efficiency figures for you.