Space heater running cost
See what a space heater costs to run per hour, day, month and year at your state's electricity rate, and how much switching to a heat pump could save.
Most portable electric heaters draw 1,500 W on high. (US DOE, small space heaters)
Most portable electric heaters draw 1,500 watts on their high setting. Unlike appliances that cycle on and off, a space heater pulls close to full power the entire time it runs, so the wattage on the box is a good guide to its real cost. Adjust the power field if your heater has a lower setting or a different rating.
Set the hours per day to match how long the heater actually runs, then pick your state to load its current average residential rate, or type the exact rate from your bill. The annual figure assumes the same daily use all year, so for a heater you only use in winter, multiply the per-day cost by the number of days you actually run it.
Because resistive heaters turn every unit of electricity into one unit of heat, they are an expensive way to heat a space for long stretches. A heat pump moves heat rather than generating it, which is why the same warmth can cost far less to deliver.
Cost = watts / 1000 x hours x your rate. A typical portable heater draws 1,500 W on high (US Department of Energy, small space heaters). Rates are EIA average residential prices for period 2026-03. The heat pump comparison uses the US Department of Energy figure that modern heat pumps can cut heating electricity use by up to 75% versus electric resistance heating.
Full formulas and data sources are on the methodology page.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does it cost to run a space heater?
- A typical space heater draws 1,500 watts, which is 1.5 kWh per hour, or about 12 kWh over an 8-hour day. Your cost is that usage multiplied by your electricity rate. Enter your hours and state above and the calculator shows the exact figure per hour, day, month and year.
- How much does a 1,500 watt heater cost per hour?
- A 1,500 watt heater uses 1.5 kWh every hour it runs on high, so the hourly cost is 1.5 times your electricity rate in dollars per kWh. The calculator works this out at your state's current rate, or your own rate from your bill.
- Are space heaters expensive to run?
- They can be. At 1,500 watts a space heater is one of the higher-draw items in a home, and unlike a fridge it runs at full power the whole time. Running one 8 hours a day adds about 12 kWh a day to your usage, so cost adds up quickly over a winter.
- Would a heat pump be cheaper than a space heater?
- Usually, for sustained heating. The US Department of Energy says today's heat pumps can cut heating electricity use by up to 75% compared with electric resistance heaters like these. The calculator shows that best-case heat pump figure next to your space heater cost.