How much does it cost to run a garage heater?
A garage heater costs about 54¢ per hour, $1.23 a day, $37.55 a month and $188 a year at typical use (4 hours a day, 4 days a week for 5 months a year) and the U.S. average rate of 17.99¢/kWh. 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.
Calculate your cost
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Cost by setting
| Setting | Watts | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,000 W | 4,000 | 43¢ | 99¢ | $30.04 | $150 |
| 5,000 W | 5,000 | 54¢ | $1.23 | $37.55 | $188 |
| 7,500 W | 7,500 | 81¢ | $1.85 | $56.32 | $282 |
| 10,000 W | 10,000 | $1.08 | $2.47 | $75.10 | $375 |
At 4 hours a day, 4 days a week 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 | 1.71 | 31¢ | $9.39 | $113 |
| 2 hours | 3.43 | 62¢ | $18.77 | $225 |
| 4 hours | 6.86 | $1.23 | $37.55 | $451 |
| 8 hours | 13.71 | $2.47 | $75.10 | $901 |
| 12 hours | 20.57 | $3.70 | $113 | $1,352 |
| 24 hours | 41.14 | $7.40 | $225 | $2,703 |
Cost to run a garage heater in every state
The same garage heater costs $129 a year in North Dakota and $454 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¢ | 37¢ | $25.71 | $129 |
| Idaho | 12.65¢ | 38¢ | $26.40 | $132 |
| Nebraska | 12.86¢ | 39¢ | $26.84 | $134 |
| Louisiana | 12.99¢ | 39¢ | $27.11 | $136 |
| Utah | 13.32¢ | 40¢ | $27.80 | $139 |
| Nevada | 13.36¢ | 40¢ | $27.88 | $139 |
| Arkansas | 13.43¢ | 40¢ | $28.03 | $140 |
| Tennessee | 13.56¢ | 41¢ | $28.30 | $142 |
| Oklahoma | 13.70¢ | 41¢ | $28.59 | $143 |
| Montana | 13.84¢ | 42¢ | $28.89 | $144 |
| Kentucky | 13.92¢ | 42¢ | $29.05 | $145 |
| Missouri | 13.95¢ | 42¢ | $29.12 | $146 |
| Wyoming | 14.01¢ | 42¢ | $29.24 | $146 |
| Washington | 14.12¢ | 42¢ | $29.47 | $147 |
| Iowa | 14.13¢ | 42¢ | $29.49 | $147 |
| South Dakota | 14.20¢ | 43¢ | $29.64 | $148 |
| Mississippi | 14.77¢ | 44¢ | $30.83 | $154 |
| North Carolina | 14.77¢ | 44¢ | $30.83 | $154 |
| Kansas | 15.09¢ | 45¢ | $31.49 | $157 |
| Georgia | 15.12¢ | 45¢ | $31.56 | $158 |
| New Mexico | 15.32¢ | 46¢ | $31.98 | $160 |
| Florida | 15.39¢ | 46¢ | $32.12 | $161 |
| Arizona | 15.40¢ | 46¢ | $32.14 | $161 |
| West Virginia | 15.48¢ | 46¢ | $32.31 | $162 |
| Oregon | 15.50¢ | 47¢ | $32.35 | $162 |
| South Carolina | 15.64¢ | 47¢ | $32.64 | $163 |
| Texas | 15.96¢ | 48¢ | $33.31 | $167 |
| Minnesota | 16.22¢ | 49¢ | $33.85 | $169 |
| Alabama | 16.44¢ | 49¢ | $34.31 | $172 |
| Virginia | 16.48¢ | 49¢ | $34.40 | $172 |
| Colorado | 16.58¢ | 50¢ | $34.60 | $173 |
| Indiana | 16.94¢ | 51¢ | $35.36 | $177 |
| Delaware | 17.79¢ | 53¢ | $37.13 | $186 |
| Ohio | 18.25¢ | 55¢ | $38.09 | $190 |
| Wisconsin | 18.74¢ | 56¢ | $39.11 | $196 |
| Illinois | 18.79¢ | 56¢ | $39.22 | $196 |
| Pennsylvania | 20.70¢ | 62¢ | $43.20 | $216 |
| Maryland | 21.03¢ | 63¢ | $43.89 | $219 |
| Michigan | 21.05¢ | 63¢ | $43.93 | $220 |
| New Jersey | 23.78¢ | 71¢ | $49.63 | $248 |
| Vermont | 23.80¢ | 71¢ | $49.67 | $248 |
| District of Columbia | 24.20¢ | 73¢ | $50.51 | $253 |
| New Hampshire | 26.67¢ | 80¢ | $55.66 | $278 |
| Alaska | 26.85¢ | 81¢ | $56.04 | $280 |
| Connecticut | 27.99¢ | 84¢ | $58.42 | $292 |
| New York | 28.39¢ | 85¢ | $59.25 | $296 |
| Rhode Island | 29.27¢ | 88¢ | $61.09 | $305 |
| Maine | 29.31¢ | 88¢ | $61.17 | $306 |
| Massachusetts | 30.43¢ | 91¢ | $63.51 | $318 |
| California | 32.99¢ | 99¢ | $68.85 | $344 |
| Hawaii | 43.51¢ | $1.31 | $90.81 | $454 |
How to cut the cost
- Insulate and weatherstrip the garage door first; an uninsulated door can account for half the heat loss and keep the heater at 100% duty.
- Set the thermostat to 50-55°F for a working garage instead of 65-70°F, and turn it off when you leave.
- Aim the heater at your workbench, not the overhead door.
- Keep a 35-40°F frost-protection setting instead of shutting down fully only if you have plumbing or chemicals that can freeze.
Cheaper ways to get the job done
Cuts heat loss through the door, often reducing heater runtime by 25-40%.
See options on AmazonHeats a garage for about a third of the electricity of resistance heat in moderate climates.
See options on AmazonWarms you at the workbench at 1,500 W instead of heating the whole space.
See options on AmazonWe may earn a commission from qualifying purchases. It never changes the numbers we show. Disclosure.
Compare with similar appliances
| Appliance | Watts | Typical use | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garage heater | 5,000 | 4 hours a day, 4 days a week for 5 months a year | $37.55 | $188 |
| Space heater | 1,500 | 6 hours a day for 5 months a year | $29.67 | $148 |
| Infrared heater | 1,500 | 6 hours a day for 5 months a year | $29.67 | $148 |
| Mini split heat pump (heating) | 1,100 | 14 hours a day for 5 months a year | $46.65 | $233 |
| Electric patio heater | 1,500 | 3 hours a day, 3 days a week for 5 months a year | $10.56 | $53 |
| Sauna | 6,000 | 1.5 hours a day, 3 days a week | $14.78 | $177 |
| Heat pump | 4,000 | 24 hours a day for 5 months a year | $184 | $920 |
Head-to-head comparisons
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a garage heater per hour?
A garage heater drawing 5,000 watts uses 3.00 kWh per hour while running (60% duty cycle). At the U.S. average of 17.99¢/kWh that's 54¢ per hour. In North Dakota (12.32¢) it's 37¢. In Hawaii (43.51¢) it's $1.31.
How much does it cost to run a garage heater per month?
At typical use (4 hours a day, 4 days a week for 5 months a year), a garage heater costs about $37.55 a month while in use and $188 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 a garage heater use?
Most garage heaters use 4,000 to 10,000 watts, depending on the setting (4,000 w 4,000 W, 5,000 w 5,000 W, 7,500 w 7,500 W, 10,000 w 10,000 W). Check the label on the back or bottom for your model's exact rating.
How many kWh does a garage heater use?
About 6.86 kWh a day and 1,044 kWh a year at typical use (4 hours a day, 4 days a week for 5 months a year).
Does a garage heater use a lot of electricity?
It's a moderate load: 1,044 kWh a year is about 10% of the average U.S. home's yearly use.
Is it cheaper to run a garage heater or a space heater?
At typical use, a garage heater costs about $188 a year versus $148 for a space heater. So the space heater is cheaper by about $39 a year. Use the comparison table above to compare them at your own settings.
How can I lower the cost of running a garage heater?
- Insulate and weatherstrip the garage door first; an uninsulated door can account for half the heat loss and keep the heater at 100% duty.
- Set the thermostat to 50-55°F for a working garage instead of 65-70°F, and turn it off when you leave.
- Aim the heater at your workbench, not the overhead door.
Rates updated 2026-10-21: EIA data through July 2026. Typical wattage and usage reviewed against DOE, ENERGY STAR and manufacturer specs. Methodology.