🔥 Heating
How Much Does a Electric Wall Heater Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.4¢/kWh (May 2026), a electric wall heater costs about $33.56 per month at typical usage — 6 hours/day.
Per hour
$0.18
at 500–2,000 W
Per day
$1.10
6 hours/day
Per month
$33.56
182 kWh
Per year
$403
2,190 kWh
Recessed wall heaters with a fan are common in bathrooms, apartments, and additions. Typical units draw 1,000–2,000 watts, and because they're often on a wall thermostat, actual runtime — not rated wattage — decides the bill.
Calculate it for your home
Per hour
$0.18
Per day
$1.10
Per month
$33.56
Per year
$403
Uses 182 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 | $0.12 | $22.62 | $272 |
| Utah | 13.0 | $0.13 | $23.71 | $285 |
| Oklahoma | 13.4 | $0.13 | $24.44 | $293 |
| Nebraska | 13.6 | $0.14 | $24.81 | $298 |
| Nevada | 13.6 | $0.14 | $24.81 | $298 |
| North Dakota | 13.6 | $0.14 | $24.81 | $298 |
| Missouri | 13.7 | $0.14 | $24.99 | $300 |
| Iowa | 14.1 | $0.14 | $25.72 | $309 |
| New Mexico | 14.1 | $0.14 | $25.72 | $309 |
| Louisiana | 14.2 | $0.14 | $25.90 | $311 |
| Arkansas | 14.4 | $0.14 | $26.27 | $315 |
| Tennessee | 14.5 | $0.14 | $26.45 | $318 |
| Montana | 14.7 | $0.15 | $26.81 | $322 |
| Wyoming | 14.8 | $0.15 | $27.00 | $324 |
| Kentucky | 15.0 | $0.15 | $27.36 | $329 |
| Washington | 15.0 | $0.15 | $27.36 | $329 |
| Kansas | 15.1 | $0.15 | $27.54 | $331 |
| North Carolina | 15.1 | $0.15 | $27.54 | $331 |
| Arizona | 15.2 | $0.15 | $27.72 | $333 |
| Florida | 15.2 | $0.15 | $27.72 | $333 |
| South Dakota | 15.7 | $0.16 | $28.64 | $344 |
| Georgia | 15.8 | $0.16 | $28.82 | $346 |
| Colorado | 16.2 | $0.16 | $29.55 | $355 |
| Mississippi | 16.2 | $0.16 | $29.55 | $355 |
| South Carolina | 16.2 | $0.16 | $29.55 | $355 |
| Oregon | 16.3 | $0.16 | $29.73 | $357 |
| Texas | 16.4 | $0.16 | $29.91 | $359 |
| Alabama | 16.8 | $0.17 | $30.64 | $368 |
| West Virginia | 16.8 | $0.17 | $30.64 | $368 |
| Minnesota | 17.0 | $0.17 | $31.01 | $372 |
| Virginia | 17.6 | $0.18 | $32.10 | $385 |
| Indiana | 18.2 | $0.18 | $33.20 | $399 |
| Delaware | 19.4 | $0.19 | $35.39 | $425 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | $0.20 | $35.57 | $427 |
| Wisconsin | 19.7 | $0.20 | $35.93 | $431 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.6 | $0.22 | $39.40 | $473 |
| Maryland | 21.8 | $0.22 | $39.76 | $477 |
| Michigan | 22.0 | $0.22 | $40.13 | $482 |
| New Jersey | 23.3 | $0.23 | $42.50 | $510 |
| Illinois | 23.9 | $0.24 | $43.59 | $523 |
| Vermont | 24.9 | $0.25 | $45.42 | $545 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.4 | $0.25 | $46.33 | $556 |
| New Hampshire | 27.3 | $0.27 | $49.80 | $598 |
| Connecticut | 27.4 | $0.27 | $49.98 | $600 |
| Alaska | 28.2 | $0.28 | $51.44 | $618 |
| Maine | 28.6 | $0.29 | $52.17 | $626 |
| Massachusetts | 28.8 | $0.29 | $52.53 | $631 |
| Rhode Island | 29.5 | $0.29 | $53.81 | $646 |
| New York | 29.9 | $0.30 | $54.54 | $655 |
| California | 33.3 | $0.33 | $60.74 | $729 |
| Hawaii | 52.0 | $0.52 | $94.85 | $1,139 |
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 electric wall heater use?
A typical electric wall heater draws about 1,000 watts in use. At 6 hours/day, that works out to roughly 6.0 kWh per day, or 182 kWh per month.
How much does it cost to run a electric wall heater for 1 hour?
At the current U.S. average residential rate of 18.4¢/kWh, one hour costs about $0.18. In Idaho (12.4¢/kWh) it's $0.12, while in Hawaii (52¢/kWh) it's $0.52.
How much does a electric wall heater cost to run per month?
With typical usage (6 hours/day), expect about $33.56 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $22.62 in Idaho up to $94.85 in Hawaii. Rates are as of May 2026.
Does a electric wall heater use a lot of electricity?
Yes — at typical usage it accounts for roughly 21% of an average U.S. home's monthly consumption (885 kWh), which makes it one of the larger loads in the house.