🔥 Heating
How Much Does a Electric Wall Heater Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.3¢/kWh (July 2026), a electric wall heater costs about $33.38 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
$33.38
182 kWh
Per year
$401
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
$33.38
Per year
$401
Uses 182 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 | $0.13 | $23.16 | $278 |
| Nevada | 12.8 | $0.13 | $23.35 | $280 |
| Utah | 13.1 | $0.13 | $23.89 | $287 |
| North Dakota | 13.4 | $0.13 | $24.44 | $293 |
| Idaho | 13.7 | $0.14 | $24.99 | $300 |
| Tennessee | 13.7 | $0.14 | $24.99 | $300 |
| Kentucky | 13.8 | $0.14 | $25.17 | $302 |
| Nebraska | 13.8 | $0.14 | $25.17 | $302 |
| Arkansas | 14.3 | $0.14 | $26.08 | $313 |
| Oklahoma | 14.4 | $0.14 | $26.27 | $315 |
| Wyoming | 14.4 | $0.14 | $26.27 | $315 |
| Mississippi | 14.5 | $0.14 | $26.45 | $318 |
| Washington | 14.7 | $0.15 | $26.81 | $322 |
| Florida | 15.0 | $0.15 | $27.36 | $329 |
| Montana | 15.0 | $0.15 | $27.36 | $329 |
| North Carolina | 15.2 | $0.15 | $27.72 | $333 |
| Kansas | 15.3 | $0.15 | $27.91 | $335 |
| Arizona | 15.4 | $0.15 | $28.09 | $337 |
| South Dakota | 15.4 | $0.15 | $28.09 | $337 |
| South Carolina | 15.5 | $0.15 | $28.27 | $339 |
| West Virginia | 15.8 | $0.16 | $28.82 | $346 |
| Texas | 15.9 | $0.16 | $29.00 | $348 |
| Iowa | 16.0 | $0.16 | $29.18 | $350 |
| Oregon | 16.0 | $0.16 | $29.18 | $350 |
| Missouri | 16.1 | $0.16 | $29.37 | $353 |
| New Mexico | 16.1 | $0.16 | $29.37 | $353 |
| Georgia | 16.3 | $0.16 | $29.73 | $357 |
| Alabama | 16.4 | $0.16 | $29.91 | $359 |
| Indiana | 16.7 | $0.17 | $30.46 | $366 |
| Colorado | 17.0 | $0.17 | $31.01 | $372 |
| Minnesota | 17.5 | $0.17 | $31.92 | $383 |
| Virginia | 17.6 | $0.18 | $32.10 | $385 |
| Delaware | 18.5 | $0.18 | $33.74 | $405 |
| Wisconsin | 19.1 | $0.19 | $34.84 | $418 |
| Illinois | 19.2 | $0.19 | $35.02 | $420 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | $0.20 | $35.57 | $427 |
| Maryland | 21.4 | $0.21 | $39.03 | $469 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.7 | $0.22 | $39.58 | $475 |
| Michigan | 23.1 | $0.23 | $42.13 | $506 |
| Vermont | 23.8 | $0.24 | $43.41 | $521 |
| Connecticut | 24.2 | $0.24 | $44.14 | $530 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.2 | $0.25 | $45.96 | $552 |
| New Jersey | 25.2 | $0.25 | $45.96 | $552 |
| New Hampshire | 26.6 | $0.27 | $48.52 | $583 |
| Rhode Island | 28.3 | $0.28 | $51.62 | $620 |
| Alaska | 28.8 | $0.29 | $52.53 | $631 |
| New York | 29.9 | $0.30 | $54.54 | $655 |
| Massachusetts | 30.5 | $0.30 | $55.63 | $668 |
| Maine | 32.4 | $0.32 | $59.10 | $710 |
| California | 33.6 | $0.34 | $61.29 | $736 |
| Hawaii | 48.0 | $0.48 | $87.55 | $1,051 |
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 18.3¢/kWh, one hour costs about $0.18. In Louisiana (12.7¢/kWh) it's $0.13, while in Hawaii (48¢/kWh) it's $0.48.
How much does a electric wall heater cost to run per month?
With typical usage (6 hours/day), expect about $33.38 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $23.16 in Louisiana up to $87.55 in Hawaii. Rates are as of July 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.