How much does it cost to run an electric patio heater?
An electric patio heater costs about 27¢ per hour, 35¢ a day, $10.56 a month and $53 a year at typical use (3 hours a day, 3 days a week for 5 months a year) and the U.S. average rate of 17.99¢/kWh. 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%.
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Cost by setting
| Setting | Watts | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plug-in 1,500 W | 1,500 | 27¢ | 35¢ | $10.56 | $53 |
| Hardwired 3,000 W | 3,000 | 54¢ | 69¢ | $21.12 | $106 |
| Hardwired 6,000 W | 6,000 | $1.08 | $1.39 | $42.24 | $211 |
At 3 hours a day, 3 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 | 0.64 | 12¢ | $3.52 | $42 |
| 2 hours | 1.29 | 23¢ | $7.04 | $84 |
| 4 hours | 2.57 | 46¢ | $14.08 | $169 |
| 8 hours | 5.14 | 93¢ | $28.16 | $338 |
| 12 hours | 7.71 | $1.39 | $42.24 | $507 |
| 24 hours | 15.43 | $2.78 | $84.48 | $1,014 |
Cost to run an electric patio heater in every state
The same electric patio heater costs $36 a year in North Dakota and $128 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¢ | 18¢ | $7.23 | $36 |
| Idaho | 12.65¢ | 19¢ | $7.43 | $37 |
| Nebraska | 12.86¢ | 19¢ | $7.55 | $38 |
| Louisiana | 12.99¢ | 19¢ | $7.63 | $38 |
| Utah | 13.32¢ | 20¢ | $7.82 | $39 |
| Nevada | 13.36¢ | 20¢ | $7.84 | $39 |
| Arkansas | 13.43¢ | 20¢ | $7.88 | $39 |
| Tennessee | 13.56¢ | 20¢ | $7.96 | $40 |
| Oklahoma | 13.70¢ | 21¢ | $8.04 | $40 |
| Montana | 13.84¢ | 21¢ | $8.12 | $41 |
| Kentucky | 13.92¢ | 21¢ | $8.17 | $41 |
| Missouri | 13.95¢ | 21¢ | $8.19 | $41 |
| Wyoming | 14.01¢ | 21¢ | $8.22 | $41 |
| Washington | 14.12¢ | 21¢ | $8.29 | $41 |
| Iowa | 14.13¢ | 21¢ | $8.29 | $41 |
| South Dakota | 14.20¢ | 21¢ | $8.34 | $42 |
| Mississippi | 14.77¢ | 22¢ | $8.67 | $43 |
| North Carolina | 14.77¢ | 22¢ | $8.67 | $43 |
| Kansas | 15.09¢ | 23¢ | $8.86 | $44 |
| Georgia | 15.12¢ | 23¢ | $8.88 | $44 |
| New Mexico | 15.32¢ | 23¢ | $8.99 | $45 |
| Florida | 15.39¢ | 23¢ | $9.03 | $45 |
| Arizona | 15.40¢ | 23¢ | $9.04 | $45 |
| West Virginia | 15.48¢ | 23¢ | $9.09 | $45 |
| Oregon | 15.50¢ | 23¢ | $9.10 | $45 |
| South Carolina | 15.64¢ | 23¢ | $9.18 | $46 |
| Texas | 15.96¢ | 24¢ | $9.37 | $47 |
| Minnesota | 16.22¢ | 24¢ | $9.52 | $48 |
| Alabama | 16.44¢ | 25¢ | $9.65 | $48 |
| Virginia | 16.48¢ | 25¢ | $9.67 | $48 |
| Colorado | 16.58¢ | 25¢ | $9.73 | $49 |
| Indiana | 16.94¢ | 25¢ | $9.94 | $50 |
| Delaware | 17.79¢ | 27¢ | $10.44 | $52 |
| Ohio | 18.25¢ | 27¢ | $10.71 | $54 |
| Wisconsin | 18.74¢ | 28¢ | $11.00 | $55 |
| Illinois | 18.79¢ | 28¢ | $11.03 | $55 |
| Pennsylvania | 20.70¢ | 31¢ | $12.15 | $61 |
| Maryland | 21.03¢ | 32¢ | $12.34 | $62 |
| Michigan | 21.05¢ | 32¢ | $12.36 | $62 |
| New Jersey | 23.78¢ | 36¢ | $13.96 | $70 |
| Vermont | 23.80¢ | 36¢ | $13.97 | $70 |
| District of Columbia | 24.20¢ | 36¢ | $14.21 | $71 |
| New Hampshire | 26.67¢ | 40¢ | $15.66 | $78 |
| Alaska | 26.85¢ | 40¢ | $15.76 | $79 |
| Connecticut | 27.99¢ | 42¢ | $16.43 | $82 |
| New York | 28.39¢ | 43¢ | $16.67 | $83 |
| Rhode Island | 29.27¢ | 44¢ | $17.18 | $86 |
| Maine | 29.31¢ | 44¢ | $17.21 | $86 |
| Massachusetts | 30.43¢ | 46¢ | $17.86 | $89 |
| California | 32.99¢ | 49¢ | $19.37 | $97 |
| Hawaii | 43.51¢ | 65¢ | $25.54 | $128 |
How to cut the cost
- Mount it 7-8 ft above seating and aim it at people; infrared only warms what it hits.
- Add a wind screen or use it on the sheltered side of the patio; wind does not cool infrared heat much but does chill people quickly.
- Use a timer or remote with 1-2 hour auto-off so it is not left running after guests leave.
- Turn it on only when people are seated; infrared heaters reach full output in seconds.
Cheaper ways to get the job done
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 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric patio heater | 1,500 | 3 hours a day, 3 days a week for 5 months a year | $10.56 | $53 |
| Infrared heater | 1,500 | 6 hours a day for 5 months a year | $29.67 | $148 |
| 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 |
| 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 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 electric patio heater per hour?
An electric patio heater drawing 1,500 watts uses 1.50 kWh per hour. At the U.S. average of 17.99¢/kWh that's 27¢ per hour. In North Dakota (12.32¢) it's 18¢. In Hawaii (43.51¢) it's 65¢.
How much does it cost to run an electric patio heater per month?
At typical use (3 hours a day, 3 days a week for 5 months a year), an electric patio heater costs about $10.56 a month while in use and $53 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 patio heater use?
Most electric patio heaters use 1,000 to 6,000 watts, depending on the setting (plug-in 1,500 w 1,500 W, hardwired 3,000 w 3,000 W, hardwired 6,000 w 6,000 W). Check the label on the back or bottom for your model's exact rating.
How many kWh does an electric patio heater use?
About 1.93 kWh a day and 294 kWh a year at typical use (3 hours a day, 3 days a week for 5 months a year).
Does an electric patio heater use a lot of electricity?
No. At about 294 kWh a year it's a small share (2.8%) of the average U.S. home's 10,492 kWh.
Is it cheaper to run an electric patio heater or an infrared heater?
At typical use, an electric patio heater costs about $53 a year versus $148 for an infrared heater. So the electric patio heater is cheaper by about $96 a year. Use the comparison table above to compare them at your own settings.
How can I lower the cost of running an electric patio heater?
- Mount it 7-8 ft above seating and aim it at people; infrared only warms what it hits.
- Add a wind screen or use it on the sheltered side of the patio; wind does not cool infrared heat much but does chill people quickly.
- Use a timer or remote with 1-2 hour auto-off so it is not left running after guests leave.
Rates updated 2026-10-21: EIA data through July 2026. Typical wattage and usage reviewed against DOE, ENERGY STAR and manufacturer specs. Methodology.