How much does it cost to run a space heater?
A space 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. Nearly all plug-in space heaters draw 1,500 W on high, the most a standard 15-amp outlet can safely supply. Every model converts electricity to heat at the same 100% rate, so the thermostat setting and hours matter more than the brand.
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Cost by setting
| Setting | Watts | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | 750 | 8.1¢ | 49¢ | $14.88 | $74 |
| 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 a space heater in every state
The same space 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
- Heat only the room you're in and turn the central thermostat down 5-8°F; that saves more than the heater costs if the rest of the house is electric or gas heated.
- Set the heater's own thermostat to 66-68°F instead of running it on High continuously; cycling cuts draw by roughly 30-50%.
- Close the door of the room being heated; an open doorway can double the run time.
- Plug it directly into a wall outlet on a timer or smart plug so it shuts off 30 minutes before you leave or fall asleep.
- Place it 3 ft from walls and furniture and aim it at where you sit rather than at a window or exterior wall.
Cheaper ways to get the job done
Stores heat in oil so it holds room temperature on its lower 600-900 W settings and cycles less.
See options on AmazonWarms your body directly at about 100 W instead of heating the whole room at 1,500 W.
See options on AmazonLets you schedule shut-off and see real kWh so the heater never runs in an empty room.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Infrared heater | 1,500 | 6 hours a day for 5 months a year | $29.67 | $148 |
| Electric blanket | 100 | 8 hours a day for 5 months a year | $2.23 | $11 |
| Heat pump | 4,000 | 24 hours a day for 5 months a year | $184 | $920 |
| Electric baseboard heater | 1,500 | 12 hours a day for 5 months a year | $49.28 | $246 |
Head-to-head comparisons
- Space heater vs. oil-filled radiator
- Electric blanket vs. space heater
- Space heater vs. heat pump
- Space heater vs. ceramic space heater
- Infrared heater vs. space heater
- Small space heater vs. space heater
- Wall heater vs. space heater
- Electric fireplace vs. space heater
- Garage heater vs. space heater
- Heated throw vs. space heater
- Dyson Hot+Cool vs. space heater
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a space heater per hour?
A space 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 a space heater per month?
At typical use (6 hours a day for 5 months a year), a space 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 a space heater use?
Most space heaters use 750 to 1,500 watts, depending on the setting (low 750 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 a space 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 a space 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 a space heater or a ceramic space heater?
At typical use, a space heater costs about $148 a year versus $148 for a ceramic space heater. So the ceramic 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 a space heater?
- Heat only the room you're in and turn the central thermostat down 5-8°F; that saves more than the heater costs if the rest of the house is electric or gas heated.
- Set the heater's own thermostat to 66-68°F instead of running it on High continuously; cycling cuts draw by roughly 30-50%.
- Close the door of the room being heated; an open doorway can double the run time.
Rates updated 2026-10-21: EIA data through July 2026. Typical wattage and usage reviewed against DOE, ENERGY STAR and manufacturer specs. Methodology.