🔥 Heating
How Much Does a Space Heater Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.3¢/kWh (July 2026), a space heater costs about $66.76 per month at typical usage — 8 hours/day.
Per hour
$0.27
at 750–1,500 W
Per day
$2.20
8 hours/day
Per month
$66.76
365 kWh
Per year
$802
4,380 kWh
Portable electric space heaters draw a lot of power for their size — a typical unit runs at 1,500 watts on high, the maximum a standard outlet safely supplies. Running one all evening is one of the fastest ways to inflate a winter electric bill.
Calculate it for your home
Per hour
$0.27
Per day
$2.20
Per month
$66.76
Per year
$802
Uses 365 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 | $0.19 | $46.33 | $556 |
| Nevada | 12.8 | $0.19 | $46.69 | $561 |
| Utah | 13.1 | $0.20 | $47.79 | $574 |
| North Dakota | 13.4 | $0.20 | $48.88 | $587 |
| Idaho | 13.7 | $0.21 | $49.98 | $600 |
| Tennessee | 13.7 | $0.21 | $49.98 | $600 |
| Kentucky | 13.8 | $0.21 | $50.34 | $604 |
| Nebraska | 13.8 | $0.21 | $50.34 | $604 |
| Arkansas | 14.3 | $0.21 | $52.17 | $626 |
| Oklahoma | 14.4 | $0.22 | $52.53 | $631 |
| Wyoming | 14.4 | $0.22 | $52.53 | $631 |
| Mississippi | 14.5 | $0.22 | $52.90 | $635 |
| Washington | 14.7 | $0.22 | $53.63 | $644 |
| Florida | 15.0 | $0.22 | $54.72 | $657 |
| Montana | 15.0 | $0.22 | $54.72 | $657 |
| North Carolina | 15.2 | $0.23 | $55.45 | $666 |
| Kansas | 15.3 | $0.23 | $55.81 | $670 |
| Arizona | 15.4 | $0.23 | $56.18 | $675 |
| South Dakota | 15.4 | $0.23 | $56.18 | $675 |
| South Carolina | 15.5 | $0.23 | $56.54 | $679 |
| West Virginia | 15.8 | $0.24 | $57.64 | $692 |
| Texas | 15.9 | $0.24 | $58.00 | $696 |
| Iowa | 16.0 | $0.24 | $58.37 | $701 |
| Oregon | 16.0 | $0.24 | $58.37 | $701 |
| Missouri | 16.1 | $0.24 | $58.73 | $705 |
| New Mexico | 16.1 | $0.24 | $58.73 | $705 |
| Georgia | 16.3 | $0.24 | $59.46 | $714 |
| Alabama | 16.4 | $0.25 | $59.83 | $718 |
| Indiana | 16.7 | $0.25 | $60.92 | $731 |
| Colorado | 17.0 | $0.26 | $62.02 | $745 |
| Minnesota | 17.5 | $0.26 | $63.84 | $767 |
| Virginia | 17.6 | $0.26 | $64.20 | $771 |
| Delaware | 18.5 | $0.28 | $67.49 | $810 |
| Wisconsin | 19.1 | $0.29 | $69.68 | $837 |
| Illinois | 19.2 | $0.29 | $70.04 | $841 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | $0.29 | $71.14 | $854 |
| Maryland | 21.4 | $0.32 | $78.07 | $937 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.7 | $0.33 | $79.16 | $950 |
| Michigan | 23.1 | $0.35 | $84.27 | $1,012 |
| Vermont | 23.8 | $0.36 | $86.82 | $1,042 |
| Connecticut | 24.2 | $0.36 | $88.28 | $1,060 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.2 | $0.38 | $91.93 | $1,104 |
| New Jersey | 25.2 | $0.38 | $91.93 | $1,104 |
| New Hampshire | 26.6 | $0.40 | $97.04 | $1,165 |
| Rhode Island | 28.3 | $0.42 | $103 | $1,240 |
| Alaska | 28.8 | $0.43 | $105 | $1,261 |
| New York | 29.9 | $0.45 | $109 | $1,310 |
| Massachusetts | 30.5 | $0.46 | $111 | $1,336 |
| Maine | 32.4 | $0.49 | $118 | $1,419 |
| California | 33.6 | $0.50 | $123 | $1,472 |
| Hawaii | 48.0 | $0.72 | $175 | $2,102 |
How to lower the cost
- Heat only the room you're in and lower the central thermostat — a space heater loses money if the furnace keeps running too.
- Use the built-in thermostat or a smart plug schedule instead of running it continuously.
- A 750 W low setting costs exactly half as much per hour as the 1,500 W high setting.
Frequently asked questions
How much electricity does a space heater use?
A typical space heater draws about 1,500 watts in use. At 8 hours/day, that works out to roughly 12 kWh per day, or 365 kWh per month.
How much does it cost to run a space heater for 1 hour?
At the current U.S. average residential rate of 18.3¢/kWh, one hour costs about $0.27. In Louisiana (12.7¢/kWh) it's $0.19, while in Hawaii (48¢/kWh) it's $0.72.
How much does a space heater cost to run per month?
With typical usage (8 hours/day), expect about $66.76 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $46.33 in Louisiana up to $175 in Hawaii. Rates are as of July 2026.
Does a space heater use a lot of electricity?
Yes — at typical usage it accounts for roughly 41% of an average U.S. home's monthly consumption (885 kWh), which makes it one of the larger loads in the house.