🔥 Heating
How Much Does a Engine Block Heater Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.3¢/kWh (July 2026), a engine block heater costs about $16.69 per month at typical usage — 4 hours/day.
Per hour
$0.14
at 400–1,500 W
Per day
$0.55
4 hours/day
Per month
$16.69
91 kWh
Per year
$200
1,095 kWh
Block heaters keep engine coolant warm on frigid nights, typically drawing 400–1,500 watts. A timer that switches it on two to three hours before you leave captures nearly all the benefit at a fraction of the all-night cost.
Calculate it for your home
Per hour
$0.14
Per day
$0.55
Per month
$16.69
Per year
$200
Uses 91 kWh/month at 18.3¢ per kWh.
Cheapest and most expensive states
Monthly cost at typical usage, using each state's current average residential rate.
Cost in every state
| State | Rate (¢/kWh) | Per hour | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | 12.7 | $0.10 | $11.58 | $139 |
| Nevada | 12.8 | $0.10 | $11.67 | $140 |
| Utah | 13.1 | $0.10 | $11.95 | $143 |
| North Dakota | 13.4 | $0.10 | $12.22 | $147 |
| Idaho | 13.7 | $0.10 | $12.49 | $150 |
| Tennessee | 13.7 | $0.10 | $12.49 | $150 |
| Kentucky | 13.8 | $0.10 | $12.59 | $151 |
| Nebraska | 13.8 | $0.10 | $12.59 | $151 |
| Arkansas | 14.3 | $0.11 | $13.04 | $157 |
| Oklahoma | 14.4 | $0.11 | $13.13 | $158 |
| Wyoming | 14.4 | $0.11 | $13.13 | $158 |
| Mississippi | 14.5 | $0.11 | $13.22 | $159 |
| Washington | 14.7 | $0.11 | $13.41 | $161 |
| Florida | 15.0 | $0.11 | $13.68 | $164 |
| Montana | 15.0 | $0.11 | $13.68 | $164 |
| North Carolina | 15.2 | $0.11 | $13.86 | $166 |
| Kansas | 15.3 | $0.11 | $13.95 | $168 |
| Arizona | 15.4 | $0.12 | $14.04 | $169 |
| South Dakota | 15.4 | $0.12 | $14.04 | $169 |
| South Carolina | 15.5 | $0.12 | $14.14 | $170 |
| West Virginia | 15.8 | $0.12 | $14.41 | $173 |
| Texas | 15.9 | $0.12 | $14.50 | $174 |
| Iowa | 16.0 | $0.12 | $14.59 | $175 |
| Oregon | 16.0 | $0.12 | $14.59 | $175 |
| Missouri | 16.1 | $0.12 | $14.68 | $176 |
| New Mexico | 16.1 | $0.12 | $14.68 | $176 |
| Georgia | 16.3 | $0.12 | $14.87 | $178 |
| Alabama | 16.4 | $0.12 | $14.96 | $180 |
| Indiana | 16.7 | $0.13 | $15.23 | $183 |
| Colorado | 17.0 | $0.13 | $15.50 | $186 |
| Minnesota | 17.5 | $0.13 | $15.96 | $192 |
| Virginia | 17.6 | $0.13 | $16.05 | $193 |
| Delaware | 18.5 | $0.14 | $16.87 | $203 |
| Wisconsin | 19.1 | $0.14 | $17.42 | $209 |
| Illinois | 19.2 | $0.14 | $17.51 | $210 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | $0.15 | $17.78 | $214 |
| Maryland | 21.4 | $0.16 | $19.52 | $234 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.7 | $0.16 | $19.79 | $238 |
| Michigan | 23.1 | $0.17 | $21.07 | $253 |
| Vermont | 23.8 | $0.18 | $21.71 | $261 |
| Connecticut | 24.2 | $0.18 | $22.07 | $265 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.2 | $0.19 | $22.98 | $276 |
| New Jersey | 25.2 | $0.19 | $22.98 | $276 |
| New Hampshire | 26.6 | $0.20 | $24.26 | $291 |
| Rhode Island | 28.3 | $0.21 | $25.81 | $310 |
| Alaska | 28.8 | $0.22 | $26.27 | $315 |
| New York | 29.9 | $0.22 | $27.27 | $327 |
| Massachusetts | 30.5 | $0.23 | $27.82 | $334 |
| Maine | 32.4 | $0.24 | $29.55 | $355 |
| California | 33.6 | $0.25 | $30.64 | $368 |
| Hawaii | 48.0 | $0.36 | $43.78 | $526 |
How to lower the cost
- Heat the person, not the house: electric blankets and heated throws deliver comfort for a tenth of a space heater’s draw.
- Every degree of thermostat setback saves roughly 1–3% on heating over an 8-hour stretch.
- Air sealing and insulation beat any heater upgrade — leaked heat is bought at full price.
Frequently asked questions
How much electricity does a engine block heater use?
A typical engine block heater draws about 750 watts in use. At 4 hours/day, that works out to roughly 3.0 kWh per day, or 91 kWh per month.
How much does it cost to run a engine block heater for 1 hour?
At the current U.S. average residential rate of 18.3¢/kWh, one hour costs about $0.14. In Louisiana (12.7¢/kWh) it's $0.10, while in Hawaii (48¢/kWh) it's $0.36.
How much does a engine block heater cost to run per month?
With typical usage (4 hours/day), expect about $16.69 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $11.58 in Louisiana up to $43.78 in Hawaii. Rates are as of July 2026.
Does a engine block heater use a lot of electricity?
Yes — at typical usage it accounts for roughly 10% of an average U.S. home's monthly consumption (885 kWh), which makes it one of the larger loads in the house.