🔥 Heating
How Much Does a Electric Wall Heater Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.8¢/kWh (April 2026), a electric wall heater costs about $34.29 per month at typical usage — 6 hours/day.
Per hour
$0.19
at 500–2,000 W
Per day
$1.13
6 hours/day
Per month
$34.29
182 kWh
Per year
$412
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
$0.19
Per day
$1.13
Per month
$34.29
Per year
$412
Uses 182 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 | $0.12 | $22.62 | $272 |
| Idaho | 12.7 | $0.13 | $23.16 | $278 |
| Nebraska | 13.3 | $0.13 | $24.26 | $291 |
| Oklahoma | 13.3 | $0.13 | $24.26 | $291 |
| Utah | 13.3 | $0.13 | $24.26 | $291 |
| Iowa | 13.9 | $0.14 | $25.35 | $304 |
| Montana | 13.9 | $0.14 | $25.35 | $304 |
| Missouri | 14.0 | $0.14 | $25.54 | $307 |
| Arkansas | 14.2 | $0.14 | $25.90 | $311 |
| Nevada | 14.3 | $0.14 | $26.08 | $313 |
| Louisiana | 14.4 | $0.14 | $26.27 | $315 |
| Washington | 14.4 | $0.14 | $26.27 | $315 |
| South Dakota | 14.5 | $0.14 | $26.45 | $318 |
| Wyoming | 14.7 | $0.15 | $26.81 | $322 |
| Tennessee | 14.9 | $0.15 | $27.18 | $326 |
| Kentucky | 15.0 | $0.15 | $27.36 | $329 |
| New Mexico | 15.2 | $0.15 | $27.72 | $333 |
| Florida | 15.4 | $0.15 | $28.09 | $337 |
| Georgia | 15.4 | $0.15 | $28.09 | $337 |
| Arizona | 15.5 | $0.15 | $28.27 | $339 |
| Kansas | 15.8 | $0.16 | $28.82 | $346 |
| Oregon | 15.8 | $0.16 | $28.82 | $346 |
| West Virginia | 16.1 | $0.16 | $29.37 | $353 |
| North Carolina | 16.3 | $0.16 | $29.73 | $357 |
| Minnesota | 16.4 | $0.16 | $29.91 | $359 |
| Colorado | 16.5 | $0.17 | $30.10 | $361 |
| Mississippi | 16.8 | $0.17 | $30.64 | $368 |
| Texas | 17.0 | $0.17 | $31.01 | $372 |
| South Carolina | 17.1 | $0.17 | $31.19 | $374 |
| Alabama | 17.4 | $0.17 | $31.74 | $381 |
| Virginia | 17.4 | $0.17 | $31.74 | $381 |
| Indiana | 17.9 | $0.18 | $32.65 | $392 |
| Delaware | 18.8 | $0.19 | $34.29 | $412 |
| Wisconsin | 19.2 | $0.19 | $35.02 | $420 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | $0.20 | $35.57 | $427 |
| Illinois | 20.5 | $0.20 | $37.39 | $449 |
| Michigan | 21.4 | $0.21 | $39.03 | $469 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.5 | $0.21 | $39.22 | $471 |
| Maryland | 22.1 | $0.22 | $40.31 | $484 |
| New Jersey | 23.5 | $0.23 | $42.86 | $515 |
| Vermont | 24.6 | $0.25 | $44.87 | $539 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.4 | $0.25 | $46.33 | $556 |
| New Hampshire | 27.2 | $0.27 | $49.61 | $596 |
| Alaska | 27.4 | $0.27 | $49.98 | $600 |
| Rhode Island | 28.3 | $0.28 | $51.62 | $620 |
| Maine | 28.4 | $0.28 | $51.80 | $622 |
| Massachusetts | 29.5 | $0.29 | $53.81 | $646 |
| New York | 29.5 | $0.29 | $53.81 | $646 |
| Connecticut | 32.2 | $0.32 | $58.73 | $705 |
| California | 35.3 | $0.35 | $64.39 | $773 |
| Hawaii | 46.6 | $0.47 | $85.00 | $1,021 |
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 18.8¢/kWh, one hour costs about $0.19. In North Dakota (12.4¢/kWh) it's $0.12, while in Hawaii (46.6¢/kWh) it's $0.47.
How much does a electric wall heater cost to run per month?
With typical usage (6 hours/day), expect about $34.29 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $22.62 in North Dakota up to $85.00 in Hawaii. Rates are as of April 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.