Electric patio heater vs. garage heater: running cost
An electric patio heater is cheaper to run: about $53 a year versus $188 for a garage heater at typical use and 17.99¢/kWh, a $135 difference.
| Electric patio heater | Garage heater | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical watts | 1,500 W | 5,000 W |
| Watt range | 1,000–6,000 W | 4,000–10,000 W |
| Typical use | 3 hours a day, 3 days a week for 5 months a year | 4 hours a day, 4 days a week for 5 months a year |
| Energy per year | 294 kWh | 1,044 kWh |
| Cost per hour | 27¢ | 54¢ |
| Cost per day | 35¢ | $1.23 |
| Cost per month | $10.56 | $37.55 |
| Cost per year | $53 | $188 |
| Per year in Hawaii (43.51¢) | $128 | $454 |
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What drives the difference
- Electric patio heater: Electric patio heaters are infrared units that run at full power without a thermostat; outdoors they never reach a setpoint, so duty cycle is 100%.
- Garage heater: Hardwired 240 V garage and shop heaters are typically 4,000-10,000 W. Uninsulated garages make them run near continuously, so insulation drives the cost more than the heater does.
Ways to cut either cost
Warms each person at 10-20 W versus 1,500 W for a heater.
See options on AmazonShuts the heater off automatically after a set time.
See options on AmazonCuts heat loss through the door, often reducing heater runtime by 25-40%.
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 patio heater or a garage heater?
At typical use and the U.S. average rate (17.99¢/kWh), a garage heater costs about $188 a year versus $53 for an electric patio heater. That's $135 more, or 3.6× as much.
How many watts do electric patio heater and garage heater use?
An electric patio heater typically draws 1,500 W (range 1,000–6,000 W). A garage heater draws 5,000 W (range 4,000–10,000 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.