Electric baseboard heater vs. wall heater: running cost
A wall heater is cheaper to run: about $164 a year versus $246 for an electric baseboard heater at typical use and 17.99¢/kWh, a $82 difference.
| Electric baseboard heater | Wall heater | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical watts | 1,500 W | 1,500 W |
| Watt range | 500–2,500 W | 500–4,000 W |
| Typical use | 12 hours a day for 5 months a year | 8 hours a day for 5 months a year |
| Energy per year | 1,370 kWh | 913 kWh |
| Cost per hour | 13¢ | 13¢ |
| Cost per day | $1.62 | $1.08 |
| Cost per month | $49.28 | $32.85 |
| Cost per year | $246 | $164 |
| Per year in Hawaii (43.51¢) | $596 | $397 |
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What drives the difference
- Electric baseboard heater: Baseboard heaters draw about 250 W per foot of length. Figures are per heater; a whole house heated with baseboards typically has 6-12 of them and uses 6,000-15,000 kWh a winter.
- Wall heater: Fan-forced in-wall heaters (Cadet, Broan, Marley) are resistance heaters typically sized 1,000-2,000 W at 120 or 240 V. Duty cycle reflects thermostat cycling in a closed room.
Ways to cut either cost
Heats the same room using about a third to half the electricity.
See options on AmazonPrevents bathroom wall heaters from being left on for hours.
See options on AmazonDelivers 2-3 times more heat per kWh than resistance baseboards, cutting heating cost 50-65%.
See options on AmazonWe may earn a commission from qualifying purchases. It never changes the numbers we show. Disclosure.
Frequently asked questions
Which costs more to run, an electric baseboard heater or a wall heater?
At typical use and the U.S. average rate (17.99¢/kWh), an electric baseboard heater costs about $246 a year versus $164 for a wall heater. That's $82 more, or 1.5× as much.
How many watts do electric baseboard heater and wall heater use?
An electric baseboard heater typically draws 1,500 W (range 500–2,500 W). A wall heater draws 1,500 W (range 500–4,000 W). Watts alone don't decide cost. Hours of use, cycling and standby matter just as much.
Rates: EIA, 12 months ending 2026-07. Methodology.