🔥 Heating
How Much Does a Infrared Heater Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.8¢/kWh (April 2026), a infrared heater costs about $54.87 per month at typical usage — 8 hours/day.
Per hour
$0.23
at 750–1,500 W
Per day
$1.80
8 hours/day
Per month
$54.87
292 kWh
Per year
$659
3,504 kWh
Infrared heaters warm people and objects directly rather than the air, which can let you feel comfortable at a lower room temperature. Per hour of runtime, though, they cost the same as any resistance heater of equal wattage.
Calculate it for your home
Per hour
$0.23
Per day
$1.80
Per month
$54.87
Per year
$659
Uses 292 kWh/month at 18.8¢ 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | 12.4 | $0.15 | $36.19 | $434 |
| Idaho | 12.7 | $0.15 | $37.06 | $445 |
| Nebraska | 13.3 | $0.16 | $38.81 | $466 |
| Oklahoma | 13.3 | $0.16 | $38.81 | $466 |
| Utah | 13.3 | $0.16 | $38.81 | $466 |
| Iowa | 13.9 | $0.17 | $40.57 | $487 |
| Montana | 13.9 | $0.17 | $40.57 | $487 |
| Missouri | 14.0 | $0.17 | $40.86 | $491 |
| Arkansas | 14.2 | $0.17 | $41.44 | $498 |
| Nevada | 14.3 | $0.17 | $41.73 | $501 |
| Louisiana | 14.4 | $0.17 | $42.02 | $505 |
| Washington | 14.4 | $0.17 | $42.02 | $505 |
| South Dakota | 14.5 | $0.17 | $42.32 | $508 |
| Wyoming | 14.7 | $0.18 | $42.90 | $515 |
| Tennessee | 14.9 | $0.18 | $43.48 | $522 |
| Kentucky | 15.0 | $0.18 | $43.78 | $526 |
| New Mexico | 15.2 | $0.18 | $44.36 | $533 |
| Florida | 15.4 | $0.18 | $44.94 | $540 |
| Georgia | 15.4 | $0.18 | $44.94 | $540 |
| Arizona | 15.5 | $0.19 | $45.24 | $543 |
| Kansas | 15.8 | $0.19 | $46.11 | $554 |
| Oregon | 15.8 | $0.19 | $46.11 | $554 |
| West Virginia | 16.1 | $0.19 | $46.99 | $564 |
| North Carolina | 16.3 | $0.20 | $47.57 | $571 |
| Minnesota | 16.4 | $0.20 | $47.86 | $575 |
| Colorado | 16.5 | $0.20 | $48.15 | $578 |
| Mississippi | 16.8 | $0.20 | $49.03 | $589 |
| Texas | 17.0 | $0.20 | $49.61 | $596 |
| South Carolina | 17.1 | $0.21 | $49.90 | $599 |
| Alabama | 17.4 | $0.21 | $50.78 | $610 |
| Virginia | 17.4 | $0.21 | $50.78 | $610 |
| Indiana | 17.9 | $0.21 | $52.24 | $627 |
| Delaware | 18.8 | $0.23 | $54.87 | $659 |
| Wisconsin | 19.2 | $0.23 | $56.03 | $673 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | $0.23 | $56.91 | $683 |
| Illinois | 20.5 | $0.25 | $59.83 | $718 |
| Michigan | 21.4 | $0.26 | $62.45 | $750 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.5 | $0.26 | $62.75 | $753 |
| Maryland | 22.1 | $0.27 | $64.50 | $774 |
| New Jersey | 23.5 | $0.28 | $68.58 | $823 |
| Vermont | 24.6 | $0.30 | $71.79 | $862 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.4 | $0.30 | $74.13 | $890 |
| New Hampshire | 27.2 | $0.33 | $79.38 | $953 |
| Alaska | 27.4 | $0.33 | $79.96 | $960 |
| Rhode Island | 28.3 | $0.34 | $82.59 | $992 |
| Maine | 28.4 | $0.34 | $82.88 | $995 |
| Massachusetts | 29.5 | $0.35 | $86.09 | $1,034 |
| New York | 29.5 | $0.35 | $86.09 | $1,034 |
| Connecticut | 32.2 | $0.39 | $93.97 | $1,128 |
| California | 35.3 | $0.42 | $103 | $1,237 |
| Hawaii | 46.6 | $0.56 | $136 | $1,633 |
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 infrared heater use?
A typical infrared heater draws about 1,200 watts in use. At 8 hours/day, that works out to roughly 9.6 kWh per day, or 292 kWh per month.
How much does it cost to run a infrared heater for 1 hour?
At the current U.S. average residential rate of 18.8¢/kWh, one hour costs about $0.23. In North Dakota (12.4¢/kWh) it's $0.15, while in Hawaii (46.6¢/kWh) it's $0.56.
How much does a infrared heater cost to run per month?
With typical usage (8 hours/day), expect about $54.87 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $36.19 in North Dakota up to $136 in Hawaii. Rates are as of April 2026.
Does a infrared heater use a lot of electricity?
Yes — at typical usage it accounts for roughly 33% of an average U.S. home's monthly consumption (885 kWh), which makes it one of the larger loads in the house.