🔥 Heating
How Much Does a Infrared Heater Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.3¢/kWh (July 2026), a infrared heater costs about $53.41 per month at typical usage — 8 hours/day.
Per hour
$0.22
at 750–1,500 W
Per day
$1.76
8 hours/day
Per month
$53.41
292 kWh
Per year
$641
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
$1.76
Per month
$53.41
Per year
$641
Uses 292 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 | $0.15 | $37.06 | $445 |
| Nevada | 12.8 | $0.15 | $37.36 | $449 |
| Utah | 13.1 | $0.16 | $38.23 | $459 |
| North Dakota | 13.4 | $0.16 | $39.11 | $470 |
| Idaho | 13.7 | $0.16 | $39.98 | $480 |
| Tennessee | 13.7 | $0.16 | $39.98 | $480 |
| Kentucky | 13.8 | $0.17 | $40.27 | $484 |
| Nebraska | 13.8 | $0.17 | $40.27 | $484 |
| Arkansas | 14.3 | $0.17 | $41.73 | $501 |
| Oklahoma | 14.4 | $0.17 | $42.02 | $505 |
| Wyoming | 14.4 | $0.17 | $42.02 | $505 |
| Mississippi | 14.5 | $0.17 | $42.32 | $508 |
| Washington | 14.7 | $0.18 | $42.90 | $515 |
| Florida | 15.0 | $0.18 | $43.78 | $526 |
| Montana | 15.0 | $0.18 | $43.78 | $526 |
| North Carolina | 15.2 | $0.18 | $44.36 | $533 |
| Kansas | 15.3 | $0.18 | $44.65 | $536 |
| Arizona | 15.4 | $0.18 | $44.94 | $540 |
| South Dakota | 15.4 | $0.18 | $44.94 | $540 |
| South Carolina | 15.5 | $0.19 | $45.24 | $543 |
| West Virginia | 15.8 | $0.19 | $46.11 | $554 |
| Texas | 15.9 | $0.19 | $46.40 | $557 |
| Iowa | 16.0 | $0.19 | $46.69 | $561 |
| Oregon | 16.0 | $0.19 | $46.69 | $561 |
| Missouri | 16.1 | $0.19 | $46.99 | $564 |
| New Mexico | 16.1 | $0.19 | $46.99 | $564 |
| Georgia | 16.3 | $0.20 | $47.57 | $571 |
| Alabama | 16.4 | $0.20 | $47.86 | $575 |
| Indiana | 16.7 | $0.20 | $48.74 | $585 |
| Colorado | 17.0 | $0.20 | $49.61 | $596 |
| Minnesota | 17.5 | $0.21 | $51.07 | $613 |
| Virginia | 17.6 | $0.21 | $51.36 | $617 |
| Delaware | 18.5 | $0.22 | $53.99 | $648 |
| Wisconsin | 19.1 | $0.23 | $55.74 | $669 |
| Illinois | 19.2 | $0.23 | $56.03 | $673 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | $0.23 | $56.91 | $683 |
| Maryland | 21.4 | $0.26 | $62.45 | $750 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.7 | $0.26 | $63.33 | $760 |
| Michigan | 23.1 | $0.28 | $67.42 | $809 |
| Vermont | 23.8 | $0.29 | $69.46 | $834 |
| Connecticut | 24.2 | $0.29 | $70.63 | $848 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.2 | $0.30 | $73.54 | $883 |
| New Jersey | 25.2 | $0.30 | $73.54 | $883 |
| New Hampshire | 26.6 | $0.32 | $77.63 | $932 |
| Rhode Island | 28.3 | $0.34 | $82.59 | $992 |
| Alaska | 28.8 | $0.35 | $84.05 | $1,009 |
| New York | 29.9 | $0.36 | $87.26 | $1,048 |
| Massachusetts | 30.5 | $0.37 | $89.01 | $1,069 |
| Maine | 32.4 | $0.39 | $94.56 | $1,135 |
| California | 33.6 | $0.40 | $98.06 | $1,177 |
| Hawaii | 48.0 | $0.58 | $140 | $1,682 |
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 18.3¢/kWh, one hour costs about $0.22. In Louisiana (12.7¢/kWh) it's $0.15, while in Hawaii (48¢/kWh) it's $0.58.
How much does a infrared heater cost to run per month?
With typical usage (8 hours/day), expect about $53.41 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $37.06 in Louisiana up to $140 in Hawaii. Rates are as of July 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.