How Much Does It Cost to Run a Space Heater?
A typical Space 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 Space Heater
Wattage Setting Makes the Biggest Difference
Most space heaters have two settings: low (750W) and high (1,500W). The high setting costs exactly twice as much per hour as low. If you run on high for 8 hours at the national average rate, that is $1.20 per night. Switch to low and it drops to $0.60. Over a five-month winter, that single toggle saves roughly $90. Before you even think about which heater to buy, think about which setting you will realistically use.
Room Size and Insulation Are the Hidden Multipliers
A space heater in a well-insulated 150 square foot bedroom will cycle off its thermostat frequently, cutting actual energy use well below the rated wattage. The same heater in a drafty 300 square foot living room with single-pane windows will run at full power almost continuously. The room you put it in matters more than the brand you buy. If you feel cold air leaking around windows, a $5 roll of weatherstripping will do more for your heating bill than an expensive heater upgrade.
Space Heater vs. Central Heat: When Each One Wins
A space heater makes financial sense when you are heating one room and can turn down the central thermostat for the rest of the house. If your central heat costs $150/month and you spend most evenings in one room, running a space heater in that room at $36/month while dropping central heat to 62 degrees can cut your total heating bill by 20-30%. But if you are heating three or four rooms with individual space heaters, you will almost always spend more than central heat would cost. The break-even point is usually two rooms.
Hours Per Day Is Where People Underestimate
Most people guess they run their space heater for 3-4 hours. In reality, if you turn it on when you get home at 6 PM and leave it running until you go to bed at 11 PM, that is 5 hours. If you also run it while getting ready in the morning, you are at 6-7 hours. And if it runs overnight in a bedroom, that is 8-10 hours. Track your actual usage for a week before budgeting. The calculator above lets you adjust hours precisely so you can see the real impact.
Space Heater vs. Alternatives
How the monthly cost of a Space Heater compares to other options:
| Alternative | Est. Monthly Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Space Heater (this page) | $60.19 | At national average rate, 8hrs/day |
| Gas furnace (central) | ~$60-100 | Cheaper for whole-home heating in most states, but requires gas hookup |
| Electric baseboard heater | ~$36-60 | Same wattage as a space heater, but permanently installed. No portability advantage. |
| Heat pump (mini-split) | ~$25-50 | Two to three times more efficient than resistive electric heat. Higher upfront cost pays back in 2-4 years. |
| Electric blanket | ~$5-8 | If you only need warmth in bed, this is far cheaper than heating the room. |
| Infrared heater | ~$36-60 | Similar wattage to a ceramic heater. Warms objects directly rather than air. Feels warmer faster in drafty rooms. |
Space Heater Cost by State
What a Space 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 Space Heater
- Use in a single, well-insulated room to avoid heating your entire home
- Set the thermostat to the lowest comfortable temperature
- Choose a heater sized appropriately for your room
- Turn down central heating when using a space heater in one room
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on how many rooms you are heating. Running a 1,500W space heater in one room costs about $1.20-$2.00 per 8-hour session, depending on your state. If you can lower your central heat by 5-8 degrees while supplementing with the space heater, you will likely save money because your furnace is not heating unoccupied rooms. But if you leave the thermostat unchanged and add a space heater on top, you are simply adding cost. The key is the tradeoff: space heater ON, central heat DOWN.
Yes, relative to most household appliances. At 1,500W, a space heater draws more power than a refrigerator, a TV, and a laptop combined. Running one for 8 hours uses 12 kWh, which is roughly 1.3% of the average U.S. household's entire monthly electricity consumption in a single day. Over a full winter (5 months, 8 hours/day), a space heater adds approximately $180-$300 to your electricity bill depending on your state's rate.
At the national average rate of 16.72 cents per kWh, running a 1,500W space heater for 8 hours costs $2.01. In Washington state, where rates are the lowest at 10.76 cents, the same session costs $1.29. In Hawaii, where rates are the highest at 43.21 cents, it costs $5.19. Use the calculator above with your state selected for an exact answer.
If both are rated at 1,500W, they cost exactly the same per hour of operation. The difference is in how they deliver heat. Ceramic heaters warm up fast and heat the immediate area quickly, making them better for short bursts. Oil-filled radiators take longer to warm up but retain heat after being turned off, making them better for overnight use. From a pure electricity cost perspective, the wattage is what matters, not the heating technology.
Not effectively or affordably. A single 1,500W space heater is designed for a room of about 150-300 square feet. To heat a typical 1,500 square foot home, you would need 5-10 space heaters running simultaneously, drawing 7,500-15,000 watts. At the national average rate, that would cost $6-$12 per day, or $180-$360 per month. Central heating, even electric, is almost always more cost-effective for whole-home coverage because it distributes heat through ductwork rather than trying to radiate it from a single point.
Related Appliances
Central Air Conditioner
3500W typical
Window Air Conditioner
1200W typical
Portable Air Conditioner
1400W typical
Ceiling Fan
75W typical
Tower Fan
100W typical
Electric Furnace
10000W typical
Electric Baseboard Heater
1500W typical
Infrared Heater
1500W typical
Whole House Fan
500W typical
Dehumidifier
500W typical
Humidifier
35W typical
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.