Running a standard 1,500-watt space heater costs about $0.24 per hour, based on a US average electricity rate of $0.16 per kilowatt-hour (kWh). Using one can save you money if you turn down your central heating thermostat and only heat the room you are currently in. This strategy, known as zone heating, prevents you from paying to warm empty spaces.
Quick answer
Running a typical space heater costs roughly $0.24 per hour on the highest setting. It only saves you money if you simultaneously lower your home’s main furnace thermostat by several degrees.
- Best for zone heating: Using a space heater to warm a single occupied room while the rest of the house stays cool.
- A 1,500-watt space heater uses 1.5 kWh of electricity for every hour it runs continuously.
- Running a heater for 8 hours a day can add roughly $57.60 to a monthly electric bill.
- Natural gas furnaces cost less to operate per BTU of heat than electric space heaters.
- Lowering a whole-house thermostat by just 1 degree Fahrenheit saves 1% to 3% on your primary heating bill.
- All 1,500-watt space heaters cost the exact same amount to run, regardless of manufacturer efficiency claims.
- How much does it cost to run a space heater per hour and per month?
- How do I calculate the cost based on my specific electricity bill?
- Are space heaters expensive to run?
- Cost of running a space heater vs furnace: which is cheaper?
- Does running a space heater actually save money?
- Does it cost more to run space heaters on the high setting vs low setting?
- Do energy-efficient space heaters cost less to run?
- What do owners say?
- Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to run a space heater per hour and per month?
At a national average of $0.16 per kWh, running a 1,500-watt heater costs $0.24 per hour. To understand this cost, you need to look at how electricity is billed.
Most standard space heaters draw a maximum of 1,500 watts of electricity on their highest setting. Operating a 1,500-watt appliance for one full hour consumes 1.5 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity. Power companies charge by the kWh.
If you leave the heater running constantly for 8 hours a day, it consumes 12 kWh per day. Over a 30-day month, that adds up to 360 kWh. At $0.16 per kWh, this adds exactly $57.60 to a monthly electric bill.
| Electricity Rate (per kWh) | Cost Per Hour | Cost Per 8-Hour Day | Cost Per Month (8 hrs/day) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0.12 (Low rate states) | $0.18 | $1.44 | $43.20 |
| $0.16 (US National Average) | $0.24 | $1.92 | $57.60 |
| $0.25 (High rate states) | $0.37 | $3.00 | $90.00 |
| $0.35 (Premium/Peak rates) | $0.52 | $4.20 | $126.00 |
However, these numbers assume the heater runs continuously. In reality, most space heaters have built-in thermostats. Once the room reaches the set temperature, the heater turns off. It cycles back on when the room cools down. Because it does not draw maximum power 100% of the time, your actual daily costs will usually be lower than the maximum estimates.
How do I calculate the cost based on my specific electricity bill?
You can find your exact cost by looking at your current electric bill. Electricity prices vary wildly across the United States. State averages from the U.S. Energy Information Administration show rates ranging from roughly 12 cents to over 40 cents per kWh depending on where you live.
Step 1: Find your rate. Look at your utility bill for a line labeled “Energy Charge” or “Cost per kWh.” If your bill just gives a total amount, divide your total bill by the total kWh used that month.
Step 2: Multiply by 1.5. Take your rate (for example, $0.18) and multiply it by 1.5 (the amount of kWh a 1500W heater uses in an hour). In this case, $0.18 x 1.5 = $0.27 per hour.
Step 3: Estimate your usage. Multiply that hourly cost by how many hours a day you run the heater. If you run it for 4 hours, $0.27 x 4 = $1.08 per day.
Are space heaters expensive to run?
Yes, space heaters are expensive to run if you treat them like a primary heating system. Electricity is a premium energy source. Relying on multiple space heaters to warm an entire house will drastically increase your monthly utility bill.
The cost becomes a problem when people forget to turn them off. Leaving a 1,500-watt heater running unattended overnight every night will guarantee a high bill at the end of the month.
From the Shop
Buyers frequently mention severe sticker shock on their next electric bill when they first buy a space heater. A common scenario we see: a homeowner places a heater in a chilly bedroom, runs it on the high setting for 10 hours a night, and leaves the door open. Thirty days later, their electric bill is $70 higher than normal. Space heaters only work efficiently in small, enclosed rooms.
Cost of running a space heater vs furnace: which is cheaper?
It is almost always cheaper to heat your entire home with a natural gas furnace than with electric space heaters. This comes down to the cost of the fuel.
Space heaters are essentially 100% efficient at converting electricity to heat. Every single watt of power they pull from the wall turns into heat energy. However, electricity is generally much more expensive per BTU (British Thermal Unit) than natural gas.
A natural gas furnace burning fuel at $1.50 per therm produces heat at a much lower cost than an electric heater using electricity at $0.16 per kWh. If you have an electric heat pump, it is also much cheaper to run than a space heater. Heat pumps move heat rather than create it, making them up to 300% efficient compared to a space heater’s 100%.
Does running a space heater actually save money?
A space heater only saves money if you use it for zone heating. Zone heating means heating only the specific room you are sitting in, while letting the rest of the house stay cold.
If you turn on a space heater in your office but leave your main thermostat set to 72 degrees, you are just spending extra money. You are paying to run the furnace and paying to run the space heater.
To save money, you must lower the whole-house thermostat. Lowering a whole-house thermostat by just 1 degree Fahrenheit can save 1% to 3% on the primary heating bill. If you drop the main house temperature to 62 degrees, you save a significant amount of natural gas. You then use the space heater to keep your single home office comfortably at 70 degrees.
Will it save me money?
- YES: If you drop your central thermostat by 5 to 10 degrees and heat one small room with the door closed.
- NO: If you leave the central thermostat at its normal temperature and run a space heater for extra warmth.
- NO: If you use three or more space heaters in different rooms at the same time.
Does it cost more to run space heaters on the high setting vs low setting?
Yes, running a space heater on the high setting costs exactly twice as much per hour as running it on the low setting.
Most standard electric space heaters have a switch for “High” and “Low.” The high setting draws 1,500 watts. The low setting usually draws 750 watts.
If your electricity costs $0.16 per kWh, the high setting costs $0.24 per hour. Switching the unit to low drops the power consumption to 0.75 kWh, meaning it costs $0.12 per hour to run. Using the low setting is a great way to maintain the temperature in a room once it is already warm, cutting your running costs in half.
Do energy-efficient space heaters cost less to run?
No. Claims of “energy efficiency” by manufacturers are largely misleading. All 1,500-watt heaters cost the exact same to run.
Because resistive electric heating is 100% efficient, a $20 basic fan heater and a $300 designer infrared heater will both produce the exact same amount of heat when plugged into the wall and run at 1,500 watts. They both draw 1.5 kWh of electricity per hour.
The only difference is how they deliver the heat. A fan pushes hot air around the room quickly. An oil-filled radiator heats up liquid slowly and radiates the heat outward. Neither uses less electricity to generate that heat.
What do owners say?
Owners like
- Thermostat features successfully cycle the heater off, saving noticeable money compared to constant-on models.
- Oil-filled radiators retain heat for a long time after the electricity stops drawing.
- Allows households to keep the main furnace at 62 degrees while keeping the home office at 70 degrees comfortably.
Common complaints
- Severe sticker shock on the next electric bill when left running overnight in a bedroom.
- Frequently trips the circuit breaker if running on the high (1500W) setting while another appliance is used.
- Claims of ‘energy efficiency’ by manufacturers are misleading, as all 1500W heaters cost the exact same to run.
Summarised from owner reviews and long-term user reports; individual experiences vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
how much cost run space heater?
At the US national average electricity rate of $0.16 per kWh, it costs about $0.24 per hour to run a standard 1,500-watt space heater on its maximum setting. If used for 8 hours a day, this adds roughly $1.92 to your daily electric bill.
how expensive to run space heater?
It can be very expensive if left on constantly. Running a standard 1,500-watt space heater for 24 hours straight costs about $5.76 per day. Over a full month, continuous use would add over $170 to your utility bill. You should always use a thermostat to ensure it cycles on and off.
does running a space heater save money?
It only saves money if you practice zone heating. You must turn down your home’s central furnace thermostat by 5 to 10 degrees and only use the space heater to warm the single room you are currently occupying. If you do not lower the main thermostat, you will just spend extra money.
are space heaters expensive to run?
Yes, compared to natural gas, electricity is an expensive fuel source. Space heaters are costly to run because they rely on electricity to generate heat. They should only be used to supplement heating in small spaces, not to heat an entire home.
does it cost more to run space heaters?
It costs more to run space heaters on their “High” setting (1,500 watts) than on their “Low” setting (typically 750 watts). Running a heater on low cuts your hourly electricity cost exactly in half.
cost of running a space heater vs furnace?
A natural gas furnace is much cheaper to run per BTU of heat than an electric space heater. Natural gas rates are significantly lower than electricity rates across the United States. However, if you are only heating one small 10×10 room, turning off the massive gas furnace and running one small electric heater can result in a lower overall monthly bill.
