How Much Does It Cost to Run a Electric Baseboard Heater?
A typical Electric Baseboard Heater uses 1500W and runs about 8 hours/day. At the national average rate of 16.72¢/kWh, that costs approximately $60.19/month.
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What Affects the Cost of Running a Electric Baseboard Heater
Zone Heating Is the Only Way Baseboard Heaters Save Money
Electric baseboard heaters draw the same wattage per BTU as any electric resistance heater. Their advantage is zone control: each room has its own thermostat, so you can heat only the rooms you are using and turn off the rest. A family that spends evenings in the living room and bedrooms can heat just those rooms at $40-50/month instead of heating the entire house for $80-120/month. But this only works if you actually turn down the thermostats in unused rooms. If every baseboard in the house runs all day, you will pay more than central heating.
Each Heater Is Sized for Its Room
Baseboard heaters are typically rated at 250W per linear foot. A 4-foot heater draws 1,000W; a 6-foot heater draws 1,500W. Most rooms have heaters matched to their square footage at roughly 10W per square foot. A 150 square foot bedroom with a 1,500W baseboard running 8 hours per day costs about $2/day at the national average rate. If you have baseboard heaters in 5 rooms, the total depends on how many rooms are running and for how long.
Electric Baseboard Heater vs. Alternatives
How the monthly cost of a Electric Baseboard Heater compares to other options:
| Alternative | Est. Monthly Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Electric Baseboard Heater (this page) | $60.19 | At national average rate, 8hrs/day |
| Portable space heater | ~$36-60 | Same efficiency, but portable. Useful for supplementing baseboard heat in the coldest room. |
| Electric furnace (central) | ~$40-80 | Heats the whole house through ductwork. No zone control unless you add dampers. |
| Mini-split heat pump | ~$25-50 | 2-3x more efficient per BTU. Increasingly popular as a baseboard replacement. |
| Radiant floor heating (electric) | ~$40-80 | More comfortable heat distribution but similar efficiency to baseboard. |
Electric Baseboard Heater Cost by State
What a Electric Baseboard Heater costs to run at 1500W for 8 hours/day in every state:
| State | Rate | Monthly Cost | Yearly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 14.82¢ | $53.35 | $640.22 |
| Alaska | 25.34¢ | $91.22 | $1094.69 |
| Arizona | 13.81¢ | $49.72 | $596.59 |
| Arkansas | 12.63¢ | $45.47 | $545.62 |
| California | 31.41¢ | $113.08 | $1356.91 |
| Colorado | 15.24¢ | $54.86 | $658.37 |
| Connecticut | 29.35¢ | $105.66 | $1267.92 |
| Delaware | 15.24¢ | $54.86 | $658.37 |
| District of Columbia | 15.87¢ | $57.13 | $685.58 |
| Florida | 15.63¢ | $56.27 | $675.22 |
| Georgia | 14.12¢ | $50.83 | $609.98 |
| Hawaii | 43.21¢ | $155.56 | $1866.67 |
| Idaho | 10.87¢ | $39.13 | $469.58 |
| Illinois | 16.37¢ | $58.93 | $707.18 |
| Indiana | 15.12¢ | $54.43 | $653.18 |
| Iowa | 14.23¢ | $51.23 | $614.74 |
| Kansas | 14.98¢ | $53.93 | $647.14 |
| Kentucky | 12.87¢ | $46.33 | $555.98 |
| Louisiana | 11.98¢ | $43.13 | $517.54 |
| Maine | 22.87¢ | $82.33 | $987.98 |
| Maryland | 16.12¢ | $58.03 | $696.38 |
| Massachusetts | 28.76¢ | $103.54 | $1242.43 |
| Michigan | 18.76¢ | $67.54 | $810.43 |
| Minnesota | 15.34¢ | $55.22 | $662.69 |
| Mississippi | 13.76¢ | $49.54 | $594.43 |
| Missouri | 13.12¢ | $47.23 | $566.78 |
| Montana | 12.45¢ | $44.82 | $537.84 |
| Nebraska | 11.98¢ | $43.13 | $517.54 |
| Nevada | 15.03¢ | $54.11 | $649.3 |
| New Hampshire | 25.34¢ | $91.22 | $1094.69 |
| New Jersey | 18.76¢ | $67.54 | $810.43 |
| New Mexico | 14.87¢ | $53.53 | $642.38 |
| New York | 22.87¢ | $82.33 | $987.98 |
| North Carolina | 13.98¢ | $50.33 | $603.94 |
| North Dakota | 11.87¢ | $42.73 | $512.78 |
| Ohio | 15.34¢ | $55.22 | $662.69 |
| Oklahoma | 11.98¢ | $43.13 | $517.54 |
| Oregon | 13.12¢ | $47.23 | $566.78 |
| Pennsylvania | 16.87¢ | $60.73 | $728.78 |
| Rhode Island | 27.12¢ | $97.63 | $1171.58 |
| South Carolina | 14.98¢ | $53.93 | $647.14 |
| South Dakota | 13.76¢ | $49.54 | $594.43 |
| Tennessee | 12.87¢ | $46.33 | $555.98 |
| Texas | 14.98¢ | $53.93 | $647.14 |
| Utah | 10.87¢ | $39.13 | $469.58 |
| Vermont | 21.34¢ | $76.82 | $921.89 |
| Virginia | 15.34¢ | $55.22 | $662.69 |
| Washington | 10.76¢ | $38.74 | $464.83 |
| West Virginia | 13.12¢ | $47.23 | $566.78 |
| Wisconsin | 16.98¢ | $61.13 | $733.54 |
| Wyoming | 11.23¢ | $40.43 | $485.14 |
Energy-Saving Tips for Your Electric Baseboard Heater
- Keep furniture and curtains at least 6 inches from the unit
- Use individual room thermostats to heat only occupied rooms
- Lower heat in rooms you are not using
- Insulate exterior walls behind baseboard units for better efficiency
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, relative to other heating options. Electric resistance heating (which includes baseboard heaters) is the most expensive way to generate heat per BTU. A single 1,500W baseboard heater running 8 hours per day costs about $60/month at the national average rate. The saving grace is zone control: if you only heat 2-3 rooms instead of the whole house, total costs can be competitive with central heating.
The single most effective step is turning down thermostats in rooms you are not using. Close doors to unheated rooms to prevent warm air from migrating. Make sure furniture and curtains are at least 6 inches from the heater to allow airflow. Improve insulation and seal drafts, especially around windows. And consider replacing baseboard heaters in your most-used rooms with a mini-split heat pump, which delivers the same heat at 30-50% of the electricity cost.
They cost the same per watt, since both are electric resistance heating at near 100% efficiency. A 1,500W space heater and a 1,500W baseboard heater cost identical amounts to run per hour. The difference is portability (space heater) versus permanent installation and thermostat control (baseboard). If you only need heat in one room at a time, a space heater you carry with you can be cheaper than running multiple baseboard units.
Related Appliances
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1500W typical
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Portable Air Conditioner
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Ceiling Fan
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Tower Fan
100W typical
Electric Furnace
10000W typical
Infrared Heater
1500W typical
Whole House Fan
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Dehumidifier
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Humidifier
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Electricity cost estimates are based on typical wattage and average residential rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Your actual costs may vary based on your appliance's specific wattage, usage patterns, and your utility's rate structure. See our full disclaimer.