🔥 Heating
How Much Does a Garage Heater Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.4¢/kWh (May 2026), a garage heater costs about $83.90 per month at typical usage — 3 hours/day.
Per hour
$0.92
at 2,400–7,500 W
Per day
$2.76
3 hours/day
Per month
$83.90
456 kWh
Per year
$1,007
5,475 kWh
Hardwired 240 V garage heaters commonly draw 5,000–7,500 watts — three to five space heaters' worth. Heating an uninsulated garage is expensive enough that insulation and door seals usually save more than any heater upgrade.
Calculate it for your home
Per hour
$0.92
Per day
$2.76
Per month
$83.90
Per year
$1,007
Uses 456 kWh/month at 18.4¢ 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho | 12.4 | $0.62 | $56.54 | $679 |
| Utah | 13.0 | $0.65 | $59.28 | $712 |
| Oklahoma | 13.4 | $0.67 | $61.10 | $734 |
| Nebraska | 13.6 | $0.68 | $62.02 | $745 |
| Nevada | 13.6 | $0.68 | $62.02 | $745 |
| North Dakota | 13.6 | $0.68 | $62.02 | $745 |
| Missouri | 13.7 | $0.68 | $62.47 | $750 |
| Iowa | 14.1 | $0.70 | $64.30 | $772 |
| New Mexico | 14.1 | $0.70 | $64.30 | $772 |
| Louisiana | 14.2 | $0.71 | $64.75 | $777 |
| Arkansas | 14.4 | $0.72 | $65.66 | $788 |
| Tennessee | 14.5 | $0.72 | $66.12 | $794 |
| Montana | 14.7 | $0.73 | $67.03 | $805 |
| Wyoming | 14.8 | $0.74 | $67.49 | $810 |
| Kentucky | 15.0 | $0.75 | $68.40 | $821 |
| Washington | 15.0 | $0.75 | $68.40 | $821 |
| Kansas | 15.1 | $0.76 | $68.86 | $827 |
| North Carolina | 15.1 | $0.76 | $68.86 | $827 |
| Arizona | 15.2 | $0.76 | $69.31 | $832 |
| Florida | 15.2 | $0.76 | $69.31 | $832 |
| South Dakota | 15.7 | $0.79 | $71.59 | $860 |
| Georgia | 15.8 | $0.79 | $72.05 | $865 |
| Colorado | 16.2 | $0.81 | $73.87 | $887 |
| Mississippi | 16.2 | $0.81 | $73.87 | $887 |
| South Carolina | 16.2 | $0.81 | $73.87 | $887 |
| Oregon | 16.3 | $0.82 | $74.33 | $892 |
| Texas | 16.4 | $0.82 | $74.78 | $898 |
| Alabama | 16.8 | $0.84 | $76.61 | $920 |
| West Virginia | 16.8 | $0.84 | $76.61 | $920 |
| Minnesota | 17.0 | $0.85 | $77.52 | $931 |
| Virginia | 17.6 | $0.88 | $80.26 | $964 |
| Indiana | 18.2 | $0.91 | $82.99 | $996 |
| Delaware | 19.4 | $0.97 | $88.46 | $1,062 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | $0.98 | $88.92 | $1,068 |
| Wisconsin | 19.7 | $0.98 | $89.83 | $1,079 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.6 | $1.08 | $98.50 | $1,183 |
| Maryland | 21.8 | $1.09 | $99.41 | $1,194 |
| Michigan | 22.0 | $1.10 | $100 | $1,205 |
| New Jersey | 23.3 | $1.17 | $106 | $1,276 |
| Illinois | 23.9 | $1.19 | $109 | $1,309 |
| Vermont | 24.9 | $1.25 | $114 | $1,363 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.4 | $1.27 | $116 | $1,391 |
| New Hampshire | 27.3 | $1.37 | $124 | $1,495 |
| Connecticut | 27.4 | $1.37 | $125 | $1,500 |
| Alaska | 28.2 | $1.41 | $129 | $1,544 |
| Maine | 28.6 | $1.43 | $130 | $1,566 |
| Massachusetts | 28.8 | $1.44 | $131 | $1,577 |
| Rhode Island | 29.5 | $1.47 | $135 | $1,615 |
| New York | 29.9 | $1.49 | $136 | $1,637 |
| California | 33.3 | $1.66 | $152 | $1,823 |
| Hawaii | 52.0 | $2.60 | $237 | $2,847 |
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 garage heater use?
A typical garage heater draws about 5,000 watts in use. At 3 hours/day, that works out to roughly 15 kWh per day, or 456 kWh per month.
How much does it cost to run a garage heater for 1 hour?
At the current U.S. average residential rate of 18.4¢/kWh, one hour costs about $0.92. In Idaho (12.4¢/kWh) it's $0.62, while in Hawaii (52¢/kWh) it's $2.60.
How much does a garage heater cost to run per month?
With typical usage (3 hours/day), expect about $83.90 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $56.54 in Idaho up to $237 in Hawaii. Rates are as of May 2026.
Does a garage heater use a lot of electricity?
Yes — at typical usage it accounts for roughly 52% of an average U.S. home's monthly consumption (885 kWh), which makes it one of the larger loads in the house.