🔥 Heating
How Much Does a Infrared Heater Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.4¢/kWh (May 2026), a infrared heater costs about $53.70 per month at typical usage — 8 hours/day.
Per hour
$0.22
at 750–1,500 W
Per day
$1.77
8 hours/day
Per month
$53.70
292 kWh
Per year
$645
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
$0.22
Per day
$1.77
Per month
$53.70
Per year
$645
Uses 292 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 | $0.15 | $36.19 | $434 |
| Utah | 13.0 | $0.16 | $37.94 | $456 |
| Oklahoma | 13.4 | $0.16 | $39.11 | $470 |
| Nebraska | 13.6 | $0.16 | $39.69 | $477 |
| Nevada | 13.6 | $0.16 | $39.69 | $477 |
| North Dakota | 13.6 | $0.16 | $39.69 | $477 |
| Missouri | 13.7 | $0.16 | $39.98 | $480 |
| Iowa | 14.1 | $0.17 | $41.15 | $494 |
| New Mexico | 14.1 | $0.17 | $41.15 | $494 |
| Louisiana | 14.2 | $0.17 | $41.44 | $498 |
| Arkansas | 14.4 | $0.17 | $42.02 | $505 |
| Tennessee | 14.5 | $0.17 | $42.32 | $508 |
| Montana | 14.7 | $0.18 | $42.90 | $515 |
| Wyoming | 14.8 | $0.18 | $43.19 | $519 |
| Kentucky | 15.0 | $0.18 | $43.78 | $526 |
| Washington | 15.0 | $0.18 | $43.78 | $526 |
| Kansas | 15.1 | $0.18 | $44.07 | $529 |
| North Carolina | 15.1 | $0.18 | $44.07 | $529 |
| Arizona | 15.2 | $0.18 | $44.36 | $533 |
| Florida | 15.2 | $0.18 | $44.36 | $533 |
| South Dakota | 15.7 | $0.19 | $45.82 | $550 |
| Georgia | 15.8 | $0.19 | $46.11 | $554 |
| Colorado | 16.2 | $0.19 | $47.28 | $568 |
| Mississippi | 16.2 | $0.19 | $47.28 | $568 |
| South Carolina | 16.2 | $0.19 | $47.28 | $568 |
| Oregon | 16.3 | $0.20 | $47.57 | $571 |
| Texas | 16.4 | $0.20 | $47.86 | $575 |
| Alabama | 16.8 | $0.20 | $49.03 | $589 |
| West Virginia | 16.8 | $0.20 | $49.03 | $589 |
| Minnesota | 17.0 | $0.20 | $49.61 | $596 |
| Virginia | 17.6 | $0.21 | $51.36 | $617 |
| Indiana | 18.2 | $0.22 | $53.11 | $638 |
| Delaware | 19.4 | $0.23 | $56.62 | $680 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | $0.23 | $56.91 | $683 |
| Wisconsin | 19.7 | $0.24 | $57.49 | $690 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.6 | $0.26 | $63.04 | $757 |
| Maryland | 21.8 | $0.26 | $63.62 | $764 |
| Michigan | 22.0 | $0.26 | $64.20 | $771 |
| New Jersey | 23.3 | $0.28 | $68.00 | $816 |
| Illinois | 23.9 | $0.29 | $69.75 | $837 |
| Vermont | 24.9 | $0.30 | $72.67 | $872 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.4 | $0.30 | $74.13 | $890 |
| New Hampshire | 27.3 | $0.33 | $79.67 | $957 |
| Connecticut | 27.4 | $0.33 | $79.96 | $960 |
| Alaska | 28.2 | $0.34 | $82.30 | $988 |
| Maine | 28.6 | $0.34 | $83.47 | $1,002 |
| Massachusetts | 28.8 | $0.35 | $84.05 | $1,009 |
| Rhode Island | 29.5 | $0.35 | $86.09 | $1,034 |
| New York | 29.9 | $0.36 | $87.26 | $1,048 |
| California | 33.3 | $0.40 | $97.18 | $1,167 |
| Hawaii | 52.0 | $0.62 | $152 | $1,822 |
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 18.4¢/kWh, one hour costs about $0.22. In Idaho (12.4¢/kWh) it's $0.15, while in Hawaii (52¢/kWh) it's $0.62.
How much does a infrared heater cost to run per month?
With typical usage (8 hours/day), expect about $53.70 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $36.19 in Idaho up to $152 in Hawaii. Rates are as of May 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.