Heat lamp vs. wall heater: running cost
A heat lamp is cheaper to run: about $8 a year versus $164 for a wall heater at typical use and 17.99¢/kWh, a $156 difference.
| Heat lamp | Wall heater | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical watts | 250 W | 1,500 W |
| Watt range | 125–500 W | 500–4,000 W |
| Typical use | 30 minutes a day | 8 hours a day for 5 months a year |
| Energy per year | 46 kWh | 913 kWh |
| Cost per hour | 4.5¢ | 13¢ |
| Cost per day | 2.2¢ | $1.08 |
| Cost per month | $0.68 | $32.85 |
| Cost per year | $8 | $164 |
| Per year in Hawaii (43.51¢) | $20 | $397 |
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What drives the difference
- Heat lamp: Bathroom heat lamps use 250 W infrared bulbs, often in pairs. They have no thermostat, so they draw full power whenever on.
- 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
Prevents hours of accidental full-power runtime.
See options on AmazonWarms towels at about 100 W instead of 500 W of lamps.
See options on AmazonHeats the same room using about a third to half the electricity.
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, a heat lamp or a wall heater?
At typical use and the U.S. average rate (17.99¢/kWh), a wall heater costs about $164 a year versus $8 for a heat lamp. That's $156 more, or 20.0× as much.
How many watts do heat lamp and wall heater use?
A heat lamp typically draws 250 W (range 125–500 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.