How much does it cost to run an electric radiant floor heating?
An electric radiant floor heating costs about 5.4¢ per hour, 32¢ a day, $9.86 a month and $69 a year at typical use (6 hours a day for 7 months a year) and the U.S. average rate of 17.99¢/kWh. Electric floor heating mats and cables draw about 12 W per square foot of heated area. The floor thermostat cycles them to hold surface temperature.
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Cost by setting
| Setting | Watts | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small bathroom (25 sq ft) | 300 | 2.7¢ | 16¢ | $4.93 | $34 |
| Bathroom (50 sq ft) | 600 | 5.4¢ | 32¢ | $9.86 | $69 |
| Kitchen (100 sq ft) | 1,200 | 11¢ | 65¢ | $19.71 | $138 |
| Room (200 sq ft) | 2,400 | 22¢ | $1.30 | $39.43 | $276 |
At 6 hours a day for 7 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 | 0.30 | 5.4¢ | $1.64 | $20 |
| 2 hours | 0.60 | 11¢ | $3.29 | $39 |
| 4 hours | 1.20 | 22¢ | $6.57 | $79 |
| 8 hours | 2.40 | 43¢ | $13.14 | $158 |
| 12 hours | 3.60 | 65¢ | $19.71 | $237 |
| 24 hours | 7.20 | $1.30 | $39.43 | $473 |
Cost to run an electric radiant floor heating in every state
The same electric radiant floor heating costs $47 a year in North Dakota and $167 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¢ | 3.7¢ | $6.75 | $47 |
| Idaho | 12.65¢ | 3.8¢ | $6.93 | $49 |
| Nebraska | 12.86¢ | 3.9¢ | $7.05 | $49 |
| Louisiana | 12.99¢ | 3.9¢ | $7.12 | $50 |
| Utah | 13.32¢ | 4.0¢ | $7.30 | $51 |
| Nevada | 13.36¢ | 4.0¢ | $7.32 | $51 |
| Arkansas | 13.43¢ | 4.0¢ | $7.36 | $52 |
| Tennessee | 13.56¢ | 4.1¢ | $7.43 | $52 |
| Oklahoma | 13.70¢ | 4.1¢ | $7.51 | $53 |
| Montana | 13.84¢ | 4.2¢ | $7.58 | $53 |
| Kentucky | 13.92¢ | 4.2¢ | $7.63 | $53 |
| Missouri | 13.95¢ | 4.2¢ | $7.64 | $53 |
| Wyoming | 14.01¢ | 4.2¢ | $7.68 | $54 |
| Washington | 14.12¢ | 4.2¢ | $7.74 | $54 |
| Iowa | 14.13¢ | 4.2¢ | $7.74 | $54 |
| South Dakota | 14.20¢ | 4.3¢ | $7.78 | $54 |
| Mississippi | 14.77¢ | 4.4¢ | $8.09 | $57 |
| North Carolina | 14.77¢ | 4.4¢ | $8.09 | $57 |
| Kansas | 15.09¢ | 4.5¢ | $8.27 | $58 |
| Georgia | 15.12¢ | 4.5¢ | $8.28 | $58 |
| New Mexico | 15.32¢ | 4.6¢ | $8.39 | $59 |
| Florida | 15.39¢ | 4.6¢ | $8.43 | $59 |
| Arizona | 15.40¢ | 4.6¢ | $8.44 | $59 |
| West Virginia | 15.48¢ | 4.6¢ | $8.48 | $59 |
| Oregon | 15.50¢ | 4.7¢ | $8.49 | $59 |
| South Carolina | 15.64¢ | 4.7¢ | $8.57 | $60 |
| Texas | 15.96¢ | 4.8¢ | $8.74 | $61 |
| Minnesota | 16.22¢ | 4.9¢ | $8.89 | $62 |
| Alabama | 16.44¢ | 4.9¢ | $9.01 | $63 |
| Virginia | 16.48¢ | 4.9¢ | $9.03 | $63 |
| Colorado | 16.58¢ | 5.0¢ | $9.08 | $64 |
| Indiana | 16.94¢ | 5.1¢ | $9.28 | $65 |
| Delaware | 17.79¢ | 5.3¢ | $9.75 | $68 |
| Ohio | 18.25¢ | 5.5¢ | $10.00 | $70 |
| Wisconsin | 18.74¢ | 5.6¢ | $10.27 | $72 |
| Illinois | 18.79¢ | 5.6¢ | $10.29 | $72 |
| Pennsylvania | 20.70¢ | 6.2¢ | $11.34 | $79 |
| Maryland | 21.03¢ | 6.3¢ | $11.52 | $81 |
| Michigan | 21.05¢ | 6.3¢ | $11.53 | $81 |
| New Jersey | 23.78¢ | 7.1¢ | $13.03 | $91 |
| Vermont | 23.80¢ | 7.1¢ | $13.04 | $91 |
| District of Columbia | 24.20¢ | 7.3¢ | $13.26 | $93 |
| New Hampshire | 26.67¢ | 8.0¢ | $14.61 | $102 |
| Alaska | 26.85¢ | 8.1¢ | $14.71 | $103 |
| Connecticut | 27.99¢ | 8.4¢ | $15.34 | $107 |
| New York | 28.39¢ | 8.5¢ | $15.55 | $109 |
| Rhode Island | 29.27¢ | 8.8¢ | $16.04 | $112 |
| Maine | 29.31¢ | 8.8¢ | $16.06 | $112 |
| Massachusetts | 30.43¢ | 9.1¢ | $16.67 | $117 |
| California | 32.99¢ | 9.9¢ | $18.07 | $127 |
| Hawaii | 43.51¢ | 13¢ | $23.84 | $167 |
How to cut the cost
- Program the floor thermostat to heat only 1 hour before and during your morning and evening bathroom routines.
- Set the floor temperature to 78-82°F; higher settings add cost without much extra comfort.
- Use a floor thermostat with a floor sensor rather than an air sensor so it doesn't run trying to heat the room air.
- Install insulation board under the mat when remodeling; it cuts warm-up time and energy by 20-50% over concrete slabs.
Cheaper ways to get the job done
Schedules heat only when the room is used.
See options on AmazonRemoves cold-floor discomfort with no electricity.
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Compare with similar appliances
| Appliance | Watts | Typical use | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric radiant floor heating | 600 | 6 hours a day for 7 months a year | $9.86 | $69 |
| Electric baseboard heater | 1,500 | 12 hours a day for 5 months a year | $49.28 | $246 |
| Heated towel rack | 100 | 6 hours a day | $2.63 | $32 |
| Heat lamp | 250 | 30 minutes a day | $0.68 | $8 |
| Snow melting mat | 200 | 8 hours a day, 2 days a week for 4 months a year | $2.50 | $10 |
| Roof de-icing cable | 500 | 12 hours a day for 4 months a year | $19.71 | $79 |
| Engine block heater | 750 | 8 hours a day, 5 days a week for 3 months a year | $23.47 | $70 |
Head-to-head comparisons
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run an electric radiant floor heating per hour?
An electric radiant floor heating drawing 600 watts uses 0.30 kWh per hour while running (50% duty cycle). At the U.S. average of 17.99¢/kWh that's 5.4¢ per hour. In North Dakota (12.32¢) it's 3.7¢. In Hawaii (43.51¢) it's 13¢.
How much does it cost to run an electric radiant floor heating per month?
At typical use (6 hours a day for 7 months a year), an electric radiant floor heating costs about $9.86 a month while in use and $69 a year over the 7 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 radiant floor heating use?
Most electric radiant floor heatings use 150 to 3,000 watts, depending on the setting (small bathroom (25 sq ft) 300 W, bathroom (50 sq ft) 600 W, kitchen (100 sq ft) 1,200 W, room (200 sq ft) 2,400 W). Check the label on the back or bottom for your model's exact rating.
How many kWh does an electric radiant floor heating use?
About 1.80 kWh a day and 384 kWh a year at typical use (6 hours a day for 7 months a year).
Does an electric radiant floor heating use a lot of electricity?
It's a moderate load: 384 kWh a year is about 4% of the average U.S. home's yearly use.
Is it cheaper to run an electric radiant floor heating or an electric baseboard heater?
At typical use, an electric radiant floor heating costs about $69 a year versus $246 for an electric baseboard heater. So the electric radiant floor heating is cheaper by about $177 a year. Use the comparison table above to compare them at your own settings.
How can I lower the cost of running an electric radiant floor heating?
- Program the floor thermostat to heat only 1 hour before and during your morning and evening bathroom routines.
- Set the floor temperature to 78-82°F; higher settings add cost without much extra comfort.
- Use a floor thermostat with a floor sensor rather than an air sensor so it doesn't run trying to heat the room air.
Rates updated 2026-10-21: EIA data through July 2026. Typical wattage and usage reviewed against DOE, ENERGY STAR and manufacturer specs. Methodology.