Energy costs · October 2026 prices
How much does it cost to run a space heater?
A typical space heater uses about 1,500 watts, so it costs about 29¢ an hour to run at the U.S. average electricity price of 19.0¢ per kWh (October 2026). Used 4 hours a day, that is about $34.20 a month, or $410.40 a year.
Key figures
- 750–1,500 Wtypical wattage (U.S. Department of Energy)
- 29¢per hour at 19.0¢/kWh
- $34.20per month, used 4 hours a day
- 180.0 kWhper month at that use
Portable electric heaters are among the most power-hungry appliances in a home: the DOE puts them at 750 to 1,500 watts, and most models are rated 1,500 watts on their high setting. Running cost depends mostly on hours of use and the setting: a heater on a low setting or with a thermostat that cycles off uses less than its rated wattage.
Cost by region
| Region | Price per kWh | Per hour | Per month (4 hours a day) | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. average | 19.0¢ | 29¢ | $34.20 | $410.40 |
| Northeast | 26.6¢ | 40¢ | $47.88 | $574.56 |
| Midwest | 19.3¢ | 29¢ | $34.74 | $416.88 |
| South | 16.2¢ | 24¢ | $29.16 | $349.92 |
| West | 20.1¢ | 30¢ | $36.18 | $434.16 |
Cost per hour in every state (August 2026)
| State | ¢ per kWh | Per hour | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.3¢ | 24¢ | $29.39 |
| Alaska | 29.4¢ | 44¢ | $52.94 |
| Arizona | 15.1¢ | 23¢ | $27.09 |
| Arkansas | 14.4¢ | 22¢ | $25.87 |
| California | 29.8¢ | 45¢ | $53.55 |
| Colorado | 17.2¢ | 26¢ | $30.91 |
| Connecticut | 24.5¢ | 37¢ | $44.12 |
| Delaware | 18.7¢ | 28¢ | $33.66 |
| District of Columbia | 26.0¢ | 39¢ | $46.76 |
| Florida | 15.0¢ | 22¢ | $26.98 |
| Georgia | 15.9¢ | 24¢ | $28.62 |
| Hawaii | 47.2¢ | 71¢ | $84.92 |
| Idaho | 13.4¢ | 20¢ | $24.07 |
| Illinois | 19.3¢ | 29¢ | $34.78 |
| Indiana | 17.0¢ | 26¢ | $30.64 |
| Iowa | 17.1¢ | 26¢ | $30.71 |
| Kansas | 15.5¢ | 23¢ | $27.85 |
| Kentucky | 13.8¢ | 21¢ | $24.84 |
| Louisiana | 12.9¢ | 19¢ | $23.17 |
| Maine | 32.1¢ | 48¢ | $57.80 |
| Maryland | 21.4¢ | 32¢ | $38.52 |
| Massachusetts | 30.5¢ | 46¢ | $54.86 |
| Michigan | 23.0¢ | 34¢ | $41.38 |
| Minnesota | 17.2¢ | 26¢ | $30.96 |
| Mississippi | 14.4¢ | 22¢ | $25.97 |
| Missouri | 16.0¢ | 24¢ | $28.84 |
| Montana | 15.6¢ | 23¢ | $28.03 |
| Nebraska | 13.5¢ | 20¢ | $24.37 |
| Nevada | 12.7¢ | 19¢ | $22.90 |
| New Hampshire | 27.6¢ | 41¢ | $49.75 |
| New Jersey | 24.6¢ | 37¢ | $44.30 |
| New Mexico | 16.5¢ | 25¢ | $29.72 |
| New York | 28.7¢ | 43¢ | $51.57 |
| North Carolina | 15.0¢ | 22¢ | $26.91 |
| North Dakota | 13.3¢ | 20¢ | $23.96 |
| Ohio | 19.4¢ | 29¢ | $34.88 |
| Oklahoma | 14.8¢ | 22¢ | $26.68 |
| Oregon | 15.9¢ | 24¢ | $28.66 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.8¢ | 33¢ | $39.19 |
| Rhode Island | 28.2¢ | 42¢ | $50.72 |
| South Carolina | 15.8¢ | 24¢ | $28.37 |
| South Dakota | 15.2¢ | 23¢ | $27.27 |
| Tennessee | 13.4¢ | 20¢ | $24.16 |
| Texas | 15.9¢ | 24¢ | $28.64 |
| Utah | 13.3¢ | 20¢ | $23.96 |
| Vermont | 23.8¢ | 36¢ | $42.91 |
| Virginia | 17.6¢ | 26¢ | $31.75 |
| Washington | 14.6¢ | 22¢ | $26.33 |
| West Virginia | 16.3¢ | 24¢ | $29.36 |
| Wisconsin | 19.4¢ | 29¢ | $34.94 |
| Wyoming | 14.4¢ | 22¢ | $25.97 |
State prices: U.S. Energy Information Administration, residential customers.
Running cost calculator
Cost = watts × hours ÷ 1,000 × price per kWh (the DOE formula). The wattage on your appliance’s label or in its manual gives the most accurate result; appliances that cycle on and off (heaters with a thermostat, dehumidifiers) use less than their rated wattage.
Compared with other appliances
| Appliance | Cost per hour of use |
|---|---|
| Space heaters | 29¢ |
| Clothes dryers | 65¢ |
| Dishwashers | 34¢ |
| Hair dryers | 29¢ |
| Electric kettles | 29¢ |
| Clothes irons | 27¢ |
| Toaster ovens | 23¢ |
| Vacuum cleaners | 23¢ |
| Toasters | 21¢ |
More about space heaters
- Fans & Heaters: models and list prices
- Safety: 39 CPSC recalls since 2010 mention space heaters or similar products. Search recalls
- Running costs of other appliances
Sources: electricity prices from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Average Price Data, “Electricity per kWh” (about the data); U.S. Department of Energy typical wattages (Estimating Appliance and Home Electronic Energy Use, Virginia Cooperative Extension BSE-301NP, developed with DOE, 2020). Cost = watts × hours ÷ 1,000 × price per kWh. Your own price per kWh, including delivery charges and taxes, is on your electricity bill.