How much does it cost to run an electric blanket?
An electric blanket costs about 0.9¢ per hour, 7.3¢ a day, $2.23 a month and $11 a year at typical use (8 hours a day for 5 months a year) and the U.S. average rate of 17.99¢/kWh. Electric blankets draw 60-200 W depending on size; controllers pulse the heating wire so average draw on a mid setting is about half the rated watts.
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Cost by setting
| Setting | Watts | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Twin | 60 | 0.5¢ | 4.5¢ | $1.36 | $7 |
| Queen | 100 | 0.9¢ | 7.3¢ | $2.23 | $11 |
| King (dual control) | 180 | 1.6¢ | 13¢ | $3.99 | $20 |
At 8 hours a day for 5 months a year and 17.99¢/kWh.
Cost by hours of use
| Hours per day | kWh/day | Per day | Per month | Per year (all year) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour | 0.06 | 1.1¢ | $0.34 | $4 |
| 2 hours | 0.11 | 2.0¢ | $0.61 | $7 |
| 4 hours | 0.21 | 3.8¢ | $1.15 | $14 |
| 8 hours | 0.41 | 7.3¢ | $2.23 | $27 |
| 12 hours | 0.61 | 11¢ | $3.32 | $40 |
| 24 hours | 1.20 | 22¢ | $6.57 | $79 |
Cost to run an electric blanket in every state
The same electric blanket costs $8 a year in North Dakota and $27 in Hawaii, at each state's average residential rate (12 months ending July 2026).
| State | Rate | Per hour | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | 12.32¢ | 0.6¢ | $1.53 | $8 |
| Idaho | 12.65¢ | 0.6¢ | $1.57 | $8 |
| Nebraska | 12.86¢ | 0.6¢ | $1.60 | $8 |
| Louisiana | 12.99¢ | 0.6¢ | $1.61 | $8 |
| Utah | 13.32¢ | 0.7¢ | $1.65 | $8 |
| Nevada | 13.36¢ | 0.7¢ | $1.66 | $8 |
| Arkansas | 13.43¢ | 0.7¢ | $1.67 | $8 |
| Tennessee | 13.56¢ | 0.7¢ | $1.68 | $8 |
| Oklahoma | 13.70¢ | 0.7¢ | $1.70 | $9 |
| Montana | 13.84¢ | 0.7¢ | $1.72 | $9 |
| Kentucky | 13.92¢ | 0.7¢ | $1.73 | $9 |
| Missouri | 13.95¢ | 0.7¢ | $1.73 | $9 |
| Wyoming | 14.01¢ | 0.7¢ | $1.74 | $9 |
| Washington | 14.12¢ | 0.7¢ | $1.75 | $9 |
| Iowa | 14.13¢ | 0.7¢ | $1.75 | $9 |
| South Dakota | 14.20¢ | 0.7¢ | $1.76 | $9 |
| Mississippi | 14.77¢ | 0.7¢ | $1.83 | $9 |
| North Carolina | 14.77¢ | 0.7¢ | $1.83 | $9 |
| Kansas | 15.09¢ | 0.8¢ | $1.87 | $9 |
| Georgia | 15.12¢ | 0.8¢ | $1.88 | $9 |
| New Mexico | 15.32¢ | 0.8¢ | $1.90 | $10 |
| Florida | 15.39¢ | 0.8¢ | $1.91 | $10 |
| Arizona | 15.40¢ | 0.8¢ | $1.91 | $10 |
| West Virginia | 15.48¢ | 0.8¢ | $1.92 | $10 |
| Oregon | 15.50¢ | 0.8¢ | $1.92 | $10 |
| South Carolina | 15.64¢ | 0.8¢ | $1.94 | $10 |
| Texas | 15.96¢ | 0.8¢ | $1.98 | $10 |
| Minnesota | 16.22¢ | 0.8¢ | $2.01 | $10 |
| Alabama | 16.44¢ | 0.8¢ | $2.04 | $10 |
| Virginia | 16.48¢ | 0.8¢ | $2.05 | $10 |
| Colorado | 16.58¢ | 0.8¢ | $2.06 | $10 |
| Indiana | 16.94¢ | 0.8¢ | $2.10 | $11 |
| Delaware | 17.79¢ | 0.9¢ | $2.21 | $11 |
| Ohio | 18.25¢ | 0.9¢ | $2.27 | $11 |
| Wisconsin | 18.74¢ | 0.9¢ | $2.33 | $12 |
| Illinois | 18.79¢ | 0.9¢ | $2.33 | $12 |
| Pennsylvania | 20.70¢ | 1.0¢ | $2.57 | $13 |
| Maryland | 21.03¢ | 1.1¢ | $2.61 | $13 |
| Michigan | 21.05¢ | 1.1¢ | $2.61 | $13 |
| New Jersey | 23.78¢ | 1.2¢ | $2.95 | $15 |
| Vermont | 23.80¢ | 1.2¢ | $2.96 | $15 |
| District of Columbia | 24.20¢ | 1.2¢ | $3.01 | $15 |
| New Hampshire | 26.67¢ | 1.3¢ | $3.31 | $17 |
| Alaska | 26.85¢ | 1.3¢ | $3.33 | $17 |
| Connecticut | 27.99¢ | 1.4¢ | $3.48 | $17 |
| New York | 28.39¢ | 1.4¢ | $3.53 | $18 |
| Rhode Island | 29.27¢ | 1.5¢ | $3.63 | $18 |
| Maine | 29.31¢ | 1.5¢ | $3.64 | $18 |
| Massachusetts | 30.43¢ | 1.5¢ | $3.78 | $19 |
| California | 32.99¢ | 1.6¢ | $4.10 | $20 |
| Hawaii | 43.51¢ | 2.2¢ | $5.40 | $27 |
How to cut the cost
- Preheat the bed 20-30 minutes on high, then drop to low or let the auto-off run; most people only need heat for the first hour.
- Lower the bedroom or whole-house thermostat to 60-62°F overnight; this is the main saving an electric blanket enables.
- Use the 10-hour auto-shutoff and avoid leaving it on standby in summer; unplug it in the off-season.
- Place it under a regular comforter to hold heat in so a lower setting is enough.
Cheaper ways to get the job done
Heat rises from beneath you so lower settings feel warmer.
See options on AmazonAdds insulation for zero running cost.
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Compare with similar appliances
| Appliance | Watts | Typical use | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric blanket | 100 | 8 hours a day for 5 months a year | $2.23 | $11 |
| Heated mattress pad | 150 | 8 hours a day for 5 months a year | $3.00 | $15 |
| Heated throw | 100 | 3 hours a day for 5 months a year | $1.04 | $5 |
| Heating pad | 50 | 1 hour a day | $0.19 | $2 |
| Space heater | 1,500 | 6 hours a day for 5 months a year | $29.67 | $148 |
| Heated towel rack | 100 | 6 hours a day | $2.63 | $32 |
| Heat tape | 90 | 24 hours a day for 3 months a year | $5.91 | $18 |
Head-to-head comparisons
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run an electric blanket per hour?
An electric blanket drawing 100 watts uses 0.05 kWh per hour while running (50% duty cycle). At the U.S. average of 17.99¢/kWh that's 0.9¢ per hour. In North Dakota (12.32¢) it's 0.6¢. In Hawaii (43.51¢) it's 2.2¢.
How much does it cost to run an electric blanket per month?
At typical use (8 hours a day for 5 months a year), an electric blanket costs about $2.23 a month while in use and $11 a year over the 5 months it's typically used, at the U.S. average rate. Enter your ZIP in the calculator above for your utility's rate.
How many watts does an electric blanket use?
Most electric blankets use 60 to 200 watts, depending on the setting (twin 60 W, queen 100 W, king (dual control) 180 W). Plugged in but off, it still draws about 0.5 W of standby power. Check the label on the back or bottom for your model's exact rating.
How many kWh does an electric blanket use?
About 0.41 kWh a day and 62 kWh a year at typical use (8 hours a day for 5 months a year).
Does an electric blanket use a lot of electricity?
No. At about 62 kWh a year it's a small share (0.6%) of the average U.S. home's 10,492 kWh.
Is it cheaper to run an electric blanket or a heated mattress pad?
At typical use, an electric blanket costs about $11 a year versus $15 for a heated mattress pad. So the electric blanket is cheaper by about $4 a year. Use the comparison table above to compare them at your own settings.
How can I lower the cost of running an electric blanket?
- Preheat the bed 20-30 minutes on high, then drop to low or let the auto-off run; most people only need heat for the first hour.
- Lower the bedroom or whole-house thermostat to 60-62°F overnight; this is the main saving an electric blanket enables.
- Use the 10-hour auto-shutoff and avoid leaving it on standby in summer; unplug it in the off-season.
Rates updated 2026-10-21: EIA data through July 2026. Typical wattage and usage reviewed against DOE, ENERGY STAR and manufacturer specs. Methodology.