How much does it cost to run an infrared heater?
An infrared heater costs about 16¢ per hour, 97¢ a day, $29.67 a month and $148 a year at typical use (6 hours a day for 5 months a year) and the U.S. average rate of 17.99¢/kWh. Infrared and quartz heaters use the same 1,500 W maximum as other plug-in heaters. Claims of 50% savings are not physically possible; savings only come from heating people directly instead of the whole room.
Calculate your cost
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Cost by setting
| Setting | Watts | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | 500 | 5.4¢ | 33¢ | $9.95 | $50 |
| Medium | 1,000 | 11¢ | 65¢ | $19.81 | $99 |
| High | 1,500 | 16¢ | 97¢ | $29.67 | $148 |
At 6 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 | 0.92 | 17¢ | $5.05 | $61 |
| 2 hours | 1.82 | 33¢ | $9.98 | $120 |
| 4 hours | 3.62 | 65¢ | $19.82 | $238 |
| 8 hours | 7.22 | $1.30 | $39.51 | $474 |
| 12 hours | 10.81 | $1.95 | $59.20 | $710 |
| 24 hours | 21.60 | $3.89 | $118 | $1,419 |
Cost to run an infrared heater in every state
The same infrared heater costs $102 a year in North Dakota and $359 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¢ | 11¢ | $20.32 | $102 |
| Idaho | 12.65¢ | 11¢ | $20.86 | $104 |
| Nebraska | 12.86¢ | 12¢ | $21.21 | $106 |
| Louisiana | 12.99¢ | 12¢ | $21.42 | $107 |
| Utah | 13.32¢ | 12¢ | $21.97 | $110 |
| Nevada | 13.36¢ | 12¢ | $22.03 | $110 |
| Arkansas | 13.43¢ | 12¢ | $22.15 | $111 |
| Tennessee | 13.56¢ | 12¢ | $22.36 | $112 |
| Oklahoma | 13.70¢ | 12¢ | $22.59 | $113 |
| Montana | 13.84¢ | 12¢ | $22.82 | $114 |
| Kentucky | 13.92¢ | 13¢ | $22.96 | $115 |
| Missouri | 13.95¢ | 13¢ | $23.00 | $115 |
| Wyoming | 14.01¢ | 13¢ | $23.10 | $116 |
| Washington | 14.12¢ | 13¢ | $23.29 | $116 |
| Iowa | 14.13¢ | 13¢ | $23.30 | $117 |
| South Dakota | 14.20¢ | 13¢ | $23.42 | $117 |
| Mississippi | 14.77¢ | 13¢ | $24.36 | $122 |
| North Carolina | 14.77¢ | 13¢ | $24.36 | $122 |
| Kansas | 15.09¢ | 14¢ | $24.88 | $124 |
| Georgia | 15.12¢ | 14¢ | $24.93 | $125 |
| New Mexico | 15.32¢ | 14¢ | $25.26 | $126 |
| Florida | 15.39¢ | 14¢ | $25.38 | $127 |
| Arizona | 15.40¢ | 14¢ | $25.40 | $127 |
| West Virginia | 15.48¢ | 14¢ | $25.53 | $128 |
| Oregon | 15.50¢ | 14¢ | $25.56 | $128 |
| South Carolina | 15.64¢ | 14¢ | $25.79 | $129 |
| Texas | 15.96¢ | 14¢ | $26.32 | $132 |
| Minnesota | 16.22¢ | 15¢ | $26.75 | $134 |
| Alabama | 16.44¢ | 15¢ | $27.11 | $136 |
| Virginia | 16.48¢ | 15¢ | $27.18 | $136 |
| Colorado | 16.58¢ | 15¢ | $27.34 | $137 |
| Indiana | 16.94¢ | 15¢ | $27.94 | $140 |
| Delaware | 17.79¢ | 16¢ | $29.34 | $147 |
| Ohio | 18.25¢ | 16¢ | $30.10 | $150 |
| Wisconsin | 18.74¢ | 17¢ | $30.90 | $155 |
| Illinois | 18.79¢ | 17¢ | $30.99 | $155 |
| Pennsylvania | 20.70¢ | 19¢ | $34.14 | $171 |
| Maryland | 21.03¢ | 19¢ | $34.68 | $173 |
| Michigan | 21.05¢ | 19¢ | $34.71 | $174 |
| New Jersey | 23.78¢ | 21¢ | $39.22 | $196 |
| Vermont | 23.80¢ | 21¢ | $39.25 | $196 |
| District of Columbia | 24.20¢ | 22¢ | $39.91 | $200 |
| New Hampshire | 26.67¢ | 24¢ | $43.98 | $220 |
| Alaska | 26.85¢ | 24¢ | $44.28 | $221 |
| Connecticut | 27.99¢ | 25¢ | $46.16 | $231 |
| New York | 28.39¢ | 26¢ | $46.82 | $234 |
| Rhode Island | 29.27¢ | 26¢ | $48.27 | $241 |
| Maine | 29.31¢ | 26¢ | $48.34 | $242 |
| Massachusetts | 30.43¢ | 27¢ | $50.18 | $251 |
| California | 32.99¢ | 30¢ | $54.40 | $272 |
| Hawaii | 43.51¢ | 39¢ | $71.75 | $359 |
How to cut the cost
- Aim it directly at where you sit; infrared warms objects and people in its line of sight, so you can keep the room air 3-5°F cooler.
- Use the 500-1,000 W settings in small rooms; High is rarely needed within 6 ft.
- Turn it off when you leave the room; radiant heat stops almost immediately, so there is no benefit to leaving it running.
- Ignore cabinet-style marketing claims of cutting your heating bill in half; compare models by thermostat accuracy and timer features instead.
Cheaper ways to get the job done
Delivers heat to your body at around 100 W versus 1,500 W.
See options on AmazonMoves 2-3 kWh of heat per kWh of electricity, so heating a room costs a third to half as much.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infrared heater | 1,500 | 6 hours a day for 5 months a year | $29.67 | $148 |
| Space heater | 1,500 | 6 hours a day for 5 months a year | $29.67 | $148 |
| Ceramic space heater | 1,500 | 6 hours a day for 5 months a year | $29.67 | $148 |
| Oil-filled radiator | 1,500 | 8 hours a day for 5 months a year | $32.94 | $165 |
| Electric patio heater | 1,500 | 3 hours a day, 3 days a week for 5 months a year | $10.56 | $53 |
| Mini split heat pump (heating) | 1,100 | 14 hours a day for 5 months a year | $46.65 | $233 |
| Electric baseboard heater | 1,500 | 12 hours a day for 5 months a year | $49.28 | $246 |
Head-to-head comparisons
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run an infrared heater per hour?
An infrared heater drawing 1,500 watts uses 0.90 kWh per hour while running (60% duty cycle). At the U.S. average of 17.99¢/kWh that's 16¢ per hour. In North Dakota (12.32¢) it's 11¢. In Hawaii (43.51¢) it's 39¢.
How much does it cost to run an infrared heater per month?
At typical use (6 hours a day for 5 months a year), an infrared heater costs about $29.67 a month while in use and $148 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 infrared heater use?
Most infrared heaters use 500 to 1,500 watts, depending on the setting (low 500 W, medium 1,000 W, high 1,500 W). Plugged in but off, it still draws about 1 W of standby power. Check the label on the back or bottom for your model's exact rating.
How many kWh does an infrared heater use?
About 5.42 kWh a day and 825 kWh a year at typical use (6 hours a day for 5 months a year).
Does an infrared heater use a lot of electricity?
It's a moderate load: 825 kWh a year is about 8% of the average U.S. home's yearly use.
Is it cheaper to run an infrared heater or a space heater?
At typical use, an infrared heater costs about $148 a year versus $148 for a space heater. So the space heater is cheaper by about $0 a year. Use the comparison table above to compare them at your own settings.
How can I lower the cost of running an infrared heater?
- Aim it directly at where you sit; infrared warms objects and people in its line of sight, so you can keep the room air 3-5°F cooler.
- Use the 500-1,000 W settings in small rooms; High is rarely needed within 6 ft.
- Turn it off when you leave the room; radiant heat stops almost immediately, so there is no benefit to leaving it running.
Rates updated 2026-10-21: EIA data through July 2026. Typical wattage and usage reviewed against DOE, ENERGY STAR and manufacturer specs. Methodology.