Electric furnace vs. electric baseboard heater: running cost
An electric baseboard heater is cheaper to run: about $246 a year versus $1,971 for an electric furnace at typical use and 17.99¢/kWh, a $1,725 difference.
| Electric furnace | Electric baseboard heater | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical watts | 15,000 W | 1,500 W |
| Watt range | 10,000–25,000 W | 500–2,500 W |
| Typical use | 24 hours a day for 5 months a year | 12 hours a day for 5 months a year |
| Energy per year | 10,958 kWh | 1,370 kWh |
| Cost per hour | 54¢ | 13¢ |
| Cost per day | $12.95 | $1.62 |
| Cost per month | $394 | $49.28 |
| Cost per year | $1,971 | $246 |
| Per year in Hawaii (43.51¢) | $4,768 | $596 |
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What drives the difference
- Electric furnace: Electric furnaces use resistance heating strips rated 10-25 kW plus a ~500 W blower. Defaults (about 10,900 kWh a winter) reflect a moderate US climate; cold climates can run 15,000-20,000 kWh.
- 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.
Ways to cut either cost
Delivers 2-3 times more heat per kWh than resistance baseboards, cutting heating cost 50-65%.
See options on AmazonAutomates setbacks and holds temperature tighter than mechanical thermostats.
See options on AmazonProduces 2-3.5 kWh of heat per kWh used, cutting heating cost 50-70% versus an electric furnace.
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 furnace or an electric baseboard heater?
At typical use and the U.S. average rate (17.99¢/kWh), an electric furnace costs about $1,971 a year versus $246 for an electric baseboard heater. That's $1,725 more, or 8.0× as much.
How many watts do electric furnace and electric baseboard heater use?
An electric furnace typically draws 15,000 W (range 10,000–25,000 W). An electric baseboard heater draws 1,500 W (range 500–2,500 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.