What a Space Heater Costs to Run, by State

The formula

Cost per hour = heater watts ÷ 1,000 × price per kWh. A 1,500 watt heater draws 1.5 kW, so at 18.19¢ per kWh it costs 1.5 × $0.1819 = $0.27 for each hour at full power. NDSU Extension notes that any heater that plugs into a standard wall outlet can use only about 1,500 watts, and that every plug-in heater produces the same amount of heat from the same electricity, so that is about the most a plug-in heater can cost per hour. On a lower setting, or while its thermostat has it switched off, it uses less.

To get your own price per kWh, divide your bill's total electricity charges, delivery included, by the kWh used. Enter it in the space heater calculator to size a heater for your room and get its running cost.

Cost by state

Average residential electricity price for January to August 2026 and for August 2026 alone, in cents per kWh, from EIA's Electric Power Monthly (2026 figures are preliminary). The costs use the January to August 2026 price, which includes January and February; your winter price may differ. The monthly column assumes 8 hours a day for 30 days at full power.

Prices rose over the past year: the US average for January to August was 18.19¢, against 17.03¢ for the same months of 2025. EIA publishes a new month of data each month, and we update this page when it does.

When a space heater makes sense

A space heater heats one room. NDSU Extension's energy educator says a space heater saves money only if you turn the thermostat down in the rest of the house. Run alongside full central heat, it just adds to the bill. To compare electric heat with gas, propane, oil or a heat pump at your own prices, use the heating cost calculator.

Use it safely

The U.S. Fire Administration says to keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet from space heaters, to plug them directly into wall outlets and never into an extension cord or power strip, and to turn them off when leaving the room or going to bed.

Frequently asked questions

Calculators for this

Published 2026-11-11. Sources: EIA, Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A (August 2026); EIA, Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.B (year to date); NDSU Extension, Be Wary of Portable Heater Claims; U.S. Fire Administration, Heating fire safety; U.S. Fire Administration, Space heater safety pictograph. See how we calculate.