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How many watts does an RV air conditioner use?

An RV air conditioner draws 1,350–1,671 watts while running, which is 11.3–13.9 amps on a 120 V circuit.

RV air conditioner watts, amps and circuit

Typical power use of an RV air conditioner
Running watts1,350–1,671 W
Voltage120 V
Running amps11.3–13.9 A
Circuitstandard 120 V outlet

Also called: rv ac, camper ac, camper air conditioner, rooftop rv ac.

RV air conditioner watts by size and type

Running and starting watts of RV air conditioner types
Size or typeRunning watts, WVolts, VAmps, AStarting watts, W
RV air conditioner1,350–1,67112011.3–13.9—
13,500 BTU rooftop1,350–1,64712011.3–13.7—
15,000 BTU rooftop1,650–1,67112013.8–13.9—
01,0002,000Watts, WSize or typeRV air conditionerRV air conditioner, Running watts: 1,350–1,6711,350–1,67113,500 BTU rooftop13,500 BTU rooftop, Running watts: 1,350–1,6471,350–1,64715,000 BTU rooftop15,000 BTU rooftop, Running watts: 1,650–1,6711,650–1,67105001,0001,5002,000Watts, WSize or typeRV air conditionerRV air conditioner, Running watts: 1,350–1,6711,350–1,67113,500 BTU rooftop13,500 BTU rooftop, Running watts: 1,350–1,6471,350–1,64715,000 BTU rooftop15,000 BTU rooftop, Running watts: 1,650–1,6711,650–1,671
Watts of RV air conditioner types. The lighter part of a bar is the upper end of the typical range.

What size generator runs an RV air conditioner?

An RV air conditioner needs a generator that supplies at least 1,671 running watts. Starting an RV air conditioner takes a short surge of several times its running watts, and the surge is not listed here: size the generator from the locked-rotor amps (LRA) on the nameplate or the maker's generator guidance, not from the running watts.

How long a portable power station runs an RV air conditioner

Runtime of an RV air conditioner on a portable power station, at 85% inverter efficiency
Battery capacity, WhAt 1,671 W, hAt 1,350 W, h
5000.30.3
1,0000.50.6
2,00011.3
3,6001.82.3

A 500 Wh portable power station runs an RV air conditioner drawing 1,671 W for about 0.3 hours at 85% inverter efficiency. Runtime = capacity × 85% ÷ watts; the 85% efficiency is an assumption. The power station's AC output must be at least 1,671 W.

What it costs to run an RV air conditioner

Running an RV air conditioner at 1,511 W, the middle of its 1,350–1,671 W range, for one hour a day uses 551.5 kWh a year. That costs about $99 a year at $0.18 per kWh, the US average residential price for August 2026.

W
h
$/kWh

Your bill's total ÷ kWh used. 0.18 is the US residential average.

Result
$8.27 / month
Per day
$0.27
Per year
$99
Energy per day
1.51 kWh
Energy per month
46 kWh

How it is calculated

  1. kWh per day = 1,511 W × 1 h ÷ 1,000 = 1.511
  2. Per month = 1.511 kWh × 30.4 days × $0.18 = $8.27

What affects RV air conditioner power use

Most RV rooftop units are 13,500 or 15,000 BTU and run on 115 V from the RV panel. The rows are Coleman-Mach running watts at the standard test condition; in desert heat the same units are rated at 1,625 to 2,017 W. Coleman-Mach lists a locked-rotor current of 63 A for these compressors, the surge that is hard on a small generator or inverter.

How the amps are calculated

Amps = watts ÷ volts. For 1,671 W at 120 V that is 13.9 A. The 1,350–1,671 W range covers typical models; the nameplate on an RV air conditioner gives the exact figure.

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