Find out what an electric space heater costs to run per hour, per day and per month.
Results are rough estimates for planning. Real prices and costs vary by provider, location and situation. Browse all calculators
How the Space Heater Cost Calculator works
Electricity is billed by the kilowatt-hour (kWh). A heater’s watts divided by 1,000 gives kilowatts. Kilowatts × hours × your rate per kWh = cost. Most space heaters on high use 1,500 watts.
Example
A 1,500-watt heater running 8 hours a day at $0.16 per kWh: 1.5 × 8 × 0.16 = $1.92 a day, or about $57.60 over 30 days.
Tips
- Find your rate on your electric bill: total charges divided by kWh used gives your real rate.
- Low or eco settings (often 750 to 900 watts) cut the cost roughly in half.
- Heating one small room with a space heater can cost less than heating the whole house, but it rarely beats a furnace for the whole home.
Common questions
Does a thermostat lower the cost? Yes. A heater with a thermostat cycles off once the room is warm, so real use is often less than the hours it is plugged in.
Are space heaters safe to leave on? Keep them 3 feet from anything that can burn, plug them straight into the wall (not an extension cord), and turn them off when you leave or sleep.