How much does it cost to run a heating pad?
A heating pad costs about 0.6¢ per hour, 0.6¢ a day, $0.19 a month and $2 a year at typical use (1 hour a day) and the U.S. average rate of 17.99¢/kWh. A typical heating pad uses 20-120 W. Even used daily it costs well under a dollar a month.
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Cost by setting
| Setting | Watts | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | 25 | 0.3¢ | 0.3¢ | $0.10 | $1 |
| Medium | 40 | 0.5¢ | 0.5¢ | $0.15 | $2 |
| High | 50 | 0.6¢ | 0.6¢ | $0.19 | $2 |
At 1 hour a day and 17.99¢/kWh.
Cost by hours of use
| Hours per day | kWh/day | Per day | Per month | Per year (all year) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour | 0.04 | 0.6¢ | $0.19 | $2 |
| 2 hours | 0.07 | 1.3¢ | $0.38 | $5 |
| 4 hours | 0.14 | 2.5¢ | $0.77 | $9 |
| 8 hours | 0.28 | 5.0¢ | $1.53 | $18 |
| 12 hours | 0.42 | 7.6¢ | $2.30 | $28 |
| 24 hours | 0.84 | 15¢ | $4.60 | $55 |
Cost to run a heating pad in every state
The same heating pad costs $2 a year in North Dakota and $6 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¢ | 0.4¢ | $0.13 | $2 |
| Idaho | 12.65¢ | 0.4¢ | $0.13 | $2 |
| Nebraska | 12.86¢ | 0.5¢ | $0.14 | $2 |
| Louisiana | 12.99¢ | 0.5¢ | $0.14 | $2 |
| Utah | 13.32¢ | 0.5¢ | $0.14 | $2 |
| Nevada | 13.36¢ | 0.5¢ | $0.14 | $2 |
| Arkansas | 13.43¢ | 0.5¢ | $0.14 | $2 |
| Tennessee | 13.56¢ | 0.5¢ | $0.14 | $2 |
| Oklahoma | 13.70¢ | 0.5¢ | $0.15 | $2 |
| Montana | 13.84¢ | 0.5¢ | $0.15 | $2 |
| Kentucky | 13.92¢ | 0.5¢ | $0.15 | $2 |
| Missouri | 13.95¢ | 0.5¢ | $0.15 | $2 |
| Wyoming | 14.01¢ | 0.5¢ | $0.15 | $2 |
| Washington | 14.12¢ | 0.5¢ | $0.15 | $2 |
| Iowa | 14.13¢ | 0.5¢ | $0.15 | $2 |
| South Dakota | 14.20¢ | 0.5¢ | $0.15 | $2 |
| Mississippi | 14.77¢ | 0.5¢ | $0.16 | $2 |
| North Carolina | 14.77¢ | 0.5¢ | $0.16 | $2 |
| Kansas | 15.09¢ | 0.5¢ | $0.16 | $2 |
| Georgia | 15.12¢ | 0.5¢ | $0.16 | $2 |
| New Mexico | 15.32¢ | 0.5¢ | $0.16 | $2 |
| Florida | 15.39¢ | 0.5¢ | $0.16 | $2 |
| Arizona | 15.40¢ | 0.5¢ | $0.16 | $2 |
| West Virginia | 15.48¢ | 0.5¢ | $0.16 | $2 |
| Oregon | 15.50¢ | 0.5¢ | $0.17 | $2 |
| South Carolina | 15.64¢ | 0.5¢ | $0.17 | $2 |
| Texas | 15.96¢ | 0.6¢ | $0.17 | $2 |
| Minnesota | 16.22¢ | 0.6¢ | $0.17 | $2 |
| Alabama | 16.44¢ | 0.6¢ | $0.18 | $2 |
| Virginia | 16.48¢ | 0.6¢ | $0.18 | $2 |
| Colorado | 16.58¢ | 0.6¢ | $0.18 | $2 |
| Indiana | 16.94¢ | 0.6¢ | $0.18 | $2 |
| Delaware | 17.79¢ | 0.6¢ | $0.19 | $2 |
| Ohio | 18.25¢ | 0.6¢ | $0.19 | $2 |
| Wisconsin | 18.74¢ | 0.7¢ | $0.20 | $2 |
| Illinois | 18.79¢ | 0.7¢ | $0.20 | $2 |
| Pennsylvania | 20.70¢ | 0.7¢ | $0.22 | $3 |
| Maryland | 21.03¢ | 0.7¢ | $0.22 | $3 |
| Michigan | 21.05¢ | 0.7¢ | $0.22 | $3 |
| New Jersey | 23.78¢ | 0.8¢ | $0.25 | $3 |
| Vermont | 23.80¢ | 0.8¢ | $0.25 | $3 |
| District of Columbia | 24.20¢ | 0.8¢ | $0.26 | $3 |
| New Hampshire | 26.67¢ | 0.9¢ | $0.28 | $3 |
| Alaska | 26.85¢ | 0.9¢ | $0.29 | $3 |
| Connecticut | 27.99¢ | 1.0¢ | $0.30 | $4 |
| New York | 28.39¢ | 1.0¢ | $0.30 | $4 |
| Rhode Island | 29.27¢ | 1.0¢ | $0.31 | $4 |
| Maine | 29.31¢ | 1.0¢ | $0.31 | $4 |
| Massachusetts | 30.43¢ | 1.1¢ | $0.32 | $4 |
| California | 32.99¢ | 1.2¢ | $0.35 | $4 |
| Hawaii | 43.51¢ | 1.5¢ | $0.46 | $6 |
How to cut the cost
- Use sessions of 15-20 minutes; most models auto-shut off at 2 hours anyway.
- Start on low or medium; high is rarely needed through clothing and also raises burn risk.
- Unplug it after use; some controllers draw a small amount of standby power.
- Cover it with a towel to hold heat so a lower setting feels the same.
Cheaper ways to get the job done
Uses about 0.02 kWh per 2-minute heat-up in the microwave.
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Compare with similar appliances
| Appliance | Watts | Typical use | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heating pad | 50 | 1 hour a day | $0.19 | $2 |
| Electric blanket | 100 | 8 hours a day for 5 months a year | $2.23 | $11 |
| Heated throw | 100 | 3 hours a day for 5 months a year | $1.04 | $5 |
| Heated mattress pad | 150 | 8 hours a day for 5 months a year | $3.00 | $15 |
| Heat tape | 90 | 24 hours a day for 3 months a year | $5.91 | $18 |
| Heated towel rack | 100 | 6 hours a day | $2.63 | $32 |
| Under-desk heater | 170 | 8 hours a day, 5 days a week for 5 months a year | $4.52 | $23 |
Head-to-head comparisons
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a heating pad per hour?
A heating pad drawing 50 watts uses 0.04 kWh per hour while running (70% duty cycle). At the U.S. average of 17.99¢/kWh that's 0.6¢ per hour. In North Dakota (12.32¢) it's 0.4¢. In Hawaii (43.51¢) it's 1.5¢.
How much does it cost to run a heating pad per month?
At typical use (1 hour a day), a heating pad costs about $0.19 a month and $2 a year, at the U.S. average rate. Enter your ZIP in the calculator above for your utility's rate.
How many watts does a heating pad use?
Most heating pads use 20 to 120 watts, depending on the setting (low 25 W, medium 40 W, high 50 W). Check the label on the back or bottom for your model's exact rating.
How many kWh does a heating pad use?
About 0.04 kWh a day and 13 kWh a year at typical use (1 hour a day).
Does a heating pad use a lot of electricity?
No. At about 13 kWh a year it's a small share (0.1%) of the average U.S. home's 10,492 kWh.
Is it cheaper to run a heating pad or an electric blanket?
At typical use, a heating pad costs about $2 a year versus $11 for an electric blanket. So the heating pad is cheaper by about $9 a year. Use the comparison table above to compare them at your own settings.
How can I lower the cost of running a heating pad?
- Use sessions of 15-20 minutes; most models auto-shut off at 2 hours anyway.
- Start on low or medium; high is rarely needed through clothing and also raises burn risk.
- Unplug it after use; some controllers draw a small amount of standby power.
Rates updated 2026-10-21: EIA data through July 2026. Typical wattage and usage reviewed against DOE, ENERGY STAR and manufacturer specs. Methodology.