The short answer
A DC fan uses much less power: EGLO says up to 70% less than an AC motor, and a Perth electrician's guide puts it at about a third of the power. DC fans are also quieter and usually come with a remote and six speeds, but cost more: $300 to $600 for a DC fan with a light and remote, against from $150 for an AC fan. Installation is the same job either way. Web X Electricians in Perth publishes $260 to $380 to fit a fan where a light is now, including GST but not the fan (checked 12 October 2026).
What's the difference between an AC and a DC fan?
Both run off the same 240-volt household power. The difference is the motor. An AC fan's motor runs directly on the power from the wiring. A DC fan has a small transformer that converts the power for a more efficient DC motor, according to the fan maker EGLO.
In practice that changes four things: how much power the fan draws, how quiet it is, how many speeds it has and how you control it.
Power use
EGLO says a DC motor uses up to 70% less energy than an AC motor. Web X Electricians' 2026 guide says DC fans use about a third of the power. Either way, neither type is expensive to run: the Australian Government's energy.gov.au puts fans at around 2 cents an hour.
Noise
DC fans are described by makers and electricians alike as near-silent. That matters most in bedrooms, where a fan runs for hours at low speed and an AC motor's hum is easier to notice.
Speeds
EGLO says DC fans generally have five or six speeds. Web X lists six speeds and a remote as standard on DC fans, which gives finer control on milder nights.
Controls
AC fans normally come with a wall control, and a remote is often an extra. DC fans usually come with a remote, and many can also be fitted with a wall controller.
Running costs on Synergy's prices
Synergy's Home Plan (A1) charges 33.2621 cents a unit (kWh) from 1 July 2026, including GST. By our arithmetic at that price, every 30 watts a fan draws for an hour costs about 1 cent. The difference between an AC and a DC fan on one night is small; over a Busselton summer with fans in several rooms running most nights, it adds up, which is why DC fans are worth considering in bedrooms that run all night.
energy.gov.au says fans make you feel about 3°C cooler, but they cool people, not rooms. Switch them off when you leave. A fan doesn't need to run in an empty room the way an air-conditioner sometimes does.
Check the label, not the motor type
Fans differ a lot in size and design, so compare the wattage on the box or spec sheet for the speeds you'll actually use, not just whether it's AC or DC.
What fans and installation cost
The fan and its installation are usually priced separately. If you've already bought fans, an electrician can usually fit them, so put the make and model in your request. See ceiling fan installation for what the job involves.
Published ceiling fan prices
| Fan | Published price | Who publishes it |
|---|---|---|
| AC ceiling fan | From $150 | Web X Electricians, Perth |
| DC ceiling fan with a light and remote | $300 – $600 | Web X Electricians, Perth |
Fan prices from Web X Electricians' 2026 guide (updated 26 September 2026, checked 12 October 2026), quoted as typical supply prices. Shop prices vary with brand, size and finish.
Published ceiling fan installation prices
| Job | Published price | Who publishes it |
|---|---|---|
| Replace an existing fan, like for like | $180 – $260 | Web X Electricians, Perth |
| Fan where a light fitting is now | $260 – $380 | Web X Electricians, Perth |
| Fan in a new position | $400 – $650 | Web X Electricians, Perth |
| Each extra fan in the same visit | $150 – $230 | Web X Electricians, Perth |
| Wall controller (add-on) | +$60 – $140 | Web X Electricians, Perth |
| Ceiling fan installation, per fan (low / typical / high) | $160 / $260 / $420 | What's The Damage?, Perth |
Prices as published, checked 12 October 2026. Both include GST and exclude the fan itself. Web X's guide was updated 26 September 2026; What's The Damage's Perth figures were updated October 2026. Busselton jobs can differ with travel and site conditions.
AC or DC makes little difference to the installation itself. What moves the price is whether there's already a fan or light at that spot, how easy the ceiling is to reach, raked or high ceilings, and how many fans are fitted in one visit.
Which type for which room?
Bedrooms
DC is usually the better pick. Quiet running and low speeds suit a fan that's on all night, and the remote stays by the bed. Web X's guide recommends DC for bedrooms.
Living areas
Either works. A large open-plan room needs a bigger blade span to move enough air, and a DC fan's extra speeds help on milder evenings. If you want a wall control near the door, check the DC fan can take one.
Alfrescos and patios
Outdoor areas need a fan rated for outdoor or damp locations, whichever motor it has. So close to Geographe Bay, salt air is hard on cheap fittings: look for sealed motors and stainless or coated hardware.
Holiday homes and rentals
A wall control can't go missing between guests or tenants the way a remote can, which makes AC fans with wall controls, or DC fans with a wired controller, a practical choice.
Before you buy a fan
- Measure the room. Bigger rooms need a bigger blade span
- Check the ceiling height. Low ceilings may need a close-mount fan for safe clearance under the blades
- Decide on a light. A fan with a light can replace the room's only ceiling light
- Choose remote or wall control, and check the fan supports the one you want
- Ask about the ceiling: a fan needs a solid fixing to the framing, not just the light's mounting
Connecting a fan to the fixed wiring is electrical work, and in WA only a licensed electrician can do it. Building and Energy says you should never replace fittings and switches yourself. If you're also replacing lights in the same rooms, group the jobs: see home electrical work.
Common questions
Are DC ceiling fans worth the extra cost?
In rooms where a fan runs for hours, often yes: they use much less power (up to 70% less, according to EGLO) and are quieter. In a room where the fan only runs occasionally, an AC fan's lower price may make more sense.
How much does it cost to install a ceiling fan in Busselton?
Web X Electricians in Perth publishes $260 to $380 to fit a fan where a light is now, $180 to $260 to replace an existing fan and $400 to $650 for a new position, all including GST but not the fan (checked 12 October 2026). Busselton prices can differ with travel. See ceiling fan installation.
Can I replace an AC fan with a DC fan?
Usually, yes. Both run on household power, so a licensed electrician can swap one for the other at the same point. If the old fan had a wall control, check whether the new DC fan can use a wall controller or whether you'll switch to its remote.
Is it cheaper to run a ceiling fan or the air-con?
A fan. energy.gov.au puts fans at around 2 cents an hour and says they make you feel about 3°C cooler. They don't cool the room, though, so they work best on people in the room, or alongside air-con set a few degrees warmer.
Do DC fans work with a wall switch?
Many DC fans can be fitted with a wall controller, and some come with one. Check the model before you buy if a wall control matters to you, and mention it when you ask for a quote.
Where this information comes from
The prices, rules and advice on this page come from these published pages, checked on 12 October 2026.
- EGLO: AC vs DC, what's the difference? · Ceiling fan and lighting manufacturer's explainer
- Web X Electricians Perth: the cost of ceiling fan installation · Perth electrician's 2026 price guide, updated 26 September 2026
- energy.gov.au: heating and cooling · Australian Government household energy advice
- Synergy: changes to your electricity prices from 1 July 2026 · WA household retailer, prices effective 1 July 2026 incl. GST (checked 5 October 2026)
- What's The Damage?: electrician cost in Perth · Cost guide site, Perth metro prices incl. GST, updated October 2026
- Building and Energy: having electrical work done · WA Government guide to licences and Electrical Safety Certificates
