These residential cooling figures cover the measurement periods and populations identified in the available source material. Estimates, surveys and forecasts retain their reported scope.
Key Residential Cooling Statistics
The main findings are:
- Air-conditioning equipment was used by 88% of U.S. households in 2020.
- Air-conditioning use reached 93% of households in the U.S. South in 2020 (U.S. Census South region).
- Florida had air-conditioning equipment in 96% of primary occupied homes in 2020, including 7.72 million housing units (Florida, United States).
- Air conditioning accounted for 19% of U.S. residential electricity consumption in 2020, equal to about 254 billion kWh (United States residential sector).
- The 2015 RECS counted 102.8 million U.S. homes using air-conditioning equipment and 15.4 million not using it.
- Air conditioners and electric fans accounted for nearly 20% of electricity used in buildings worldwide in 2018.
- India had air conditioners in fewer than 20% of households in 2024.
- The share of U.S. homes using air conditioning rose from 57% in 1980 to about 89% in 2020 (1980-2020).
- Air-conditioning use reached 92% of households in the U.S. Midwest in 2020 (U.S. Census Midwest region).
- Texas had air-conditioning equipment in 95% of primary occupied homes in 2020, including 9.74 million housing units (Texas, United States).
- U.S. home air-conditioning costs averaged $265 per household in 2015, equal to 12% of total home energy expenditures.
- In 2015, 76.1 million U.S. homes used central air-conditioning equipment and 32.1 million used individual units.
- Air conditioners and electric fans accounted for about 10% of global electricity consumption in 2018 (World).
- Cooling contributed an estimated 60 GW to India’s total electricity peak load in 2024.
- The share of U.S. homes with central air conditioning increased from 27% in 1980 to 67% in 2020 (1980-2020).
Contents
- Key Residential Cooling Statistics
- U.S. residential cooling adoption and scale
- How residential cooling varies by region and housing type
- State-level residential air-conditioning coverage
- Residential cooling electricity use and household costs
- Residential cooling equipment, age and controls
- Global household cooling access and long-term demand
- Cooling growth, peak demand and efficiency outlook
U.S. residential cooling adoption and scale
- Air-conditioning equipment was used by 88% of U.S. households in 2020. (Nearly 90% of U.S. households used air conditioning in 2020)
- The share of U.S. homes using air conditioning rose from 57% in 1980 to about 89% in 2020 (1980-2020). (Electricity use in homes)
- The share of U.S. homes with central air conditioning increased from 27% in 1980 to 67% in 2020 (1980-2020). (Electricity use in homes)
- The 2020 EIA state table estimated 109.51 million U.S. primary occupied homes used air-conditioning equipment. (Highlights for air conditioning in U.S. homes by state, 2020)
- The 2020 EIA state table estimated 83.16 million U.S. homes used central air-conditioning equipment. (Highlights for air conditioning in U.S. homes by state, 2020)
- The 2020 EIA state table estimated 32.42 million U.S. homes used individual air-conditioning units. (Highlights for air conditioning in U.S. homes by state, 2020)
- Ceiling fans were present in 72% of U.S. homes in 2020, or about 89.45 million primary occupied homes. (Highlights for air conditioning in U.S. homes by state, 2020)
2020 RECS estimate for occupied primary households.
EIA comparison across RECS years; definitions and survey methods can differ over time.
EIA historical series.
Primary occupied housing units only; rounded table values.
Central equipment includes central heat pumps and may be main or secondary equipment.
Individual equipment includes mini-splits, window or wall units, and portable units; categories can overlap.
Fan ownership/use measure is separate from air-conditioning use.
How residential cooling varies by region and housing type
- Air-conditioning use reached 93% of households in the U.S. South in 2020 (U.S. Census South region). (Nearly 90% of U.S. households used air conditioning in 2020)
- Air-conditioning use reached 92% of households in the U.S. Midwest in 2020 (U.S. Census Midwest region). (Nearly 90% of U.S. households used air conditioning in 2020)
- Air-conditioning use was 73% of households in the U.S. West in 2020 (U.S. Census West region). (Nearly 90% of U.S. households used air conditioning in 2020)
- Residential air-conditioning use was 49% in the Pacific Coast marine climate area in 2020 (U.S. marine climate region along the Pacific Coast). (Nearly 90% of U.S. households used air conditioning in 2020)
- Air-conditioning use was 83% in U.S. homes built before 1950 and 93% in homes built from 2010 through 2020. (Nearly 90% of U.S. households used air conditioning in 2020)
- In the marine climate region, air-conditioning use was 39% for homes built before 1950 and 66% for homes built from 2010 through 2020 (U.S. marine climate region). (Nearly 90% of U.S. households used air conditioning in 2020)
- Air-conditioning use was 80% in apartments in 2-to-4-unit buildings and 85% in apartments in buildings with five or more units in 2020. (Nearly 90% of U.S. households used air conditioning in 2020)
- Air-conditioning use was 90% in U.S. single-family detached homes in 2020. (Nearly 90% of U.S. households used air conditioning in 2020)
RECS regional estimate.
DOE Building America climate-region classification.
RECS groups homes by initial construction period.
RECS estimate; construction-period comparison within one climate region.
RECS housing-type categories.
RECS housing-type estimate.
State-level residential air-conditioning coverage
- Florida had air-conditioning equipment in 96% of primary occupied homes in 2020, including 7.72 million housing units (Florida, United States). (Highlights for air conditioning in U.S. homes by state, 2020)
- Texas had air-conditioning equipment in 95% of primary occupied homes in 2020, including 9.74 million housing units (Texas, United States). (Highlights for air conditioning in U.S. homes by state, 2020)
- Illinois had air-conditioning equipment in 96% of primary occupied homes in 2020, including 4.70 million housing units (Illinois, United States). (Highlights for air conditioning in U.S. homes by state, 2020)
- Alaska had air-conditioning equipment in 7% of primary occupied homes in 2020, or about 0.02 million housing units (Alaska, United States). (Highlights for air conditioning in U.S. homes by state, 2020)
- Washington had air-conditioning equipment in 53% of primary occupied homes in 2020, including 1.54 million housing units (Washington, United States). (Highlights for air conditioning in U.S. homes by state, 2020)
- California had air-conditioning equipment in 72% of primary occupied homes in 2020, including 9.54 million housing units (California, United States). (Highlights for air conditioning in U.S. homes by state, 2020)
- Massachusetts had air-conditioning equipment in 87% of primary occupied homes in 2020, with 58% using individual units (Massachusetts, United States). (Highlights for air conditioning in U.S. homes by state, 2020)
- New York had air-conditioning equipment in 88% of primary occupied homes in 2020, with 61% using individual units (New York, United States). (Highlights for air conditioning in U.S. homes by state, 2020)
RECS state estimate; rounded counts.
RECS state estimate; central-equipment percentage was withheld for high relative error.
RECS state estimate; equipment categories may overlap.
Residential cooling electricity use and household costs
- Air conditioning accounted for 19% of U.S. residential electricity consumption in 2020, equal to about 254 billion kWh (United States residential sector). (How much electricity is used for air conditioning in the United States?)
- U.S. home air-conditioning costs averaged $265 per household in 2015, equal to 12% of total home energy expenditures. (Air conditioning accounts for about 12% of U.S. home energy expenditures)
- Average residential air-conditioning cost was $525 in the U.S. hot-humid climate region in 2015. (Air conditioning accounts for about 12% of U.S. home energy expenditures)
- Average residential air-conditioning cost was about $60 in the U.S. temperate marine climate region in 2015. (Air conditioning accounts for about 12% of U.S. home energy expenditures)
- The average U.S. household spent $1,856 on home energy bills in 2015. (Air conditioning accounts for about 12% of U.S. home energy expenditures)
- Air conditioning represented 17% of U.S. household electricity expenditures in 2015. (Air conditioning accounts for about 12% of U.S. home energy expenditures)
- In the hot-humid U.S. climate region, 94% of households used air conditioning and cooling represented 27% of home energy expenditures in 2015 (U.S. hot-humid climate region). (Air conditioning accounts for about 12% of U.S. home energy expenditures)
- In the U.S. marine climate region, nearly half of households did not use air conditioning and cooling represented 2% of home energy expenditures in 2015. (Air conditioning accounts for about 12% of U.S. home energy expenditures)
- Homes using central air-conditioning systems spent an average of $299 on cooling in 2015, compared with $156 for homes using individual units. (Air conditioning accounts for about 12% of U.S. home energy expenditures)
- Cooling cost per square foot averaged $0.15 for central systems and $0.31 for individual units in 2015. (Air conditioning accounts for about 12% of U.S. home energy expenditures)
- U.S. homes using evaporative coolers, dehumidifiers and ceiling fans spent averages of $161, $128 and $36 respectively to operate them in 2015. (Air conditioning accounts for about 12% of U.S. home energy expenditures)
- Homes with central air conditioning spent an estimated $16 per year to circulate cooled air through air handlers in 2015. (Air conditioning accounts for about 12% of U.S. home energy expenditures)
EIA RECS estimate of household electricity consumption.
Nominal 2015 dollars; RECS average among homes in scope.
Nominal 2015 dollars; DOE Building America climate region.
Nominal 2015 dollars; all home energy uses, not cooling alone.
Nominal expenditure estimate from 2015 RECS.
Two related RECS estimates for the same climate region.
Marine-region description is approximate in the source text.
Nominal 2015 dollars; averages differ partly because central-system homes were often larger.
Nominal 2015 dollars; EIA notes different typical home sizes.
Nominal 2015 dollars; averages apply to homes using each device and devices can supplement AC.
Nominal 2015 dollars; air-handler circulation is separate from AC end-use consumption.
Residential cooling equipment, age and controls
- The 2015 RECS counted 102.8 million U.S. homes using air-conditioning equipment and 15.4 million not using it. (Table HC7.4 Air conditioning in U.S. homes by number of household members, 2015)
- In 2015, 76.1 million U.S. homes used central air-conditioning equipment and 32.1 million used individual units. (Table HC7.4 Air conditioning in U.S. homes by number of household members, 2015)
- Among U.S. homes using individual air-conditioning units in 2015, 15.9 million used one unit, 9.6 million used two, and 6.6 million used three or more. (Table HC7.4 Air conditioning in U.S. homes by number of household members, 2015)
- In 2015, 8.3 million U.S. homes had central air-conditioning equipment less than two years old, while 22.4 million had equipment five to nine years old. (Table HC7.4 Air conditioning in U.S. homes by number of household members, 2015)
- A programmable thermostat controlled central air conditioning in 47.9 million U.S. homes in 2015. (Table HC7.4 Air conditioning in U.S. homes by number of household members, 2015)
- In 2015, 34.0 million U.S. homes with central air conditioning set one temperature and left it there most of the time. (Table HC7.4 Air conditioning in U.S. homes by number of household members, 2015)
- In 2015, 19.6 million U.S. homes with central air conditioning manually adjusted temperature at night or when no one was home. (Table HC7.4 Air conditioning in U.S. homes by number of household members, 2015)
RECS table counts housing units; equipment categories can overlap.
More than one equipment type may apply.
RECS categories; counts are rounded and refer to individual-unit users.
Age refers to central equipment among homes with that equipment; rounded counts.
RECS thermostat-control category.
Self-reported control behavior in RECS.
Global household cooling access and long-term demand
- Air conditioners and electric fans accounted for nearly 20% of electricity used in buildings worldwide in 2018. (The Future of Cooling)
- Air conditioners and electric fans accounted for about 10% of global electricity consumption in 2018 (World). (The Future of Cooling)
- Only 8% of the 2.8 billion people living in the world’s hottest regions possessed an air conditioner in the IEA’s 2018 assessment. (The Future of Cooling)
- Air-conditioner ownership exceeded 90% of households in the United States and Australia in the IEA’s cross-country comparison (2018). (The Future of Cooling)
- Air-conditioner ownership remained under 10% of households in India and Indonesia in the IEA comparison (2018). (The Future of Cooling)
- Without stronger efficiency action, global space-cooling energy demand could exceed 3 times the baseline by 2050 (2050 forecast; World). (The Future of Cooling)
IEA global estimate combines air conditioners and electric fans.
IEA estimate combines air conditioners and electric fans.
IEA defines the population as people in the hottest regions; this is not a global household ownership rate.
Cross-country comparison uses IEA selected-country data; the source presents ownership as exceeding 90%.
IEA cross-country comparison; household access varies by source and year.
IEA stated-policy/reference-style outlook; not an observed trend.
Cooling growth, peak demand and efficiency outlook
- India had air conditioners in fewer than 20% of households in 2024. (Demand – Electricity 2025)
- Cooling contributed an estimated 60 GW to India’s total electricity peak load in 2024. (Demand – Electricity 2025)
- India sold a record 14 million air-conditioning units in 2024, 27% more than the 11 million sold in 2023 (2023-2024). (Demand – Electricity 2025)
- IEA expects cooling equipment to contribute one-third of India’s peak electricity load by 2030, potentially reaching 140 GW (2030 forecast). (Demand – Electricity 2025)
- For each additional 1°C in India’s daily average temperature, daily peak electricity demand increased by more than 7 GW in 2024. (Demand – Electricity 2025)
- India’s space-cooling electricity consumption increased 21% between 2019 and 2022, and space cooling represented nearly 10% of electricity demand in the IEA’s 2023 assessment (2019-2022 and 2023 assessment). (Can efficient cooling help manage fast rising electricity demand in India and achieve thermal comfort for all?)
IEA country estimate; household ownership is not the same as access to all cooling technologies.
IEA estimate of cooling contribution to peak load.
Sales are market shipments, not household installations or ownership.
IEA forecast under its stated outlook; not a measured outcome.
IEA temperature-demand relationship estimated from national electricity data.
IEA combines a period change with a contemporaneous share estimate; the sources cited by IEA include external datasets.