How much does it cost to run a space heater? (2026)

Quick answer: A standard 1,500-watt space heater on high uses 1.5 kWh per hour. At the 2026 US average of about 18.2¢ per kWh, that is roughly 27¢ an hour, $2.18 a day at 8 hours, and $65 a month. On low (750 W) it is about half that.

Key takeaways

• Running cost = watts ÷ 1,000 × hours × your rate per kWh.
• All plug-in electric heaters turn electricity into heat at about 100% — type changes comfort, not efficiency.
• Space heaters save money only when you heat one room and turn the main heat down.
• A heat pump makes 2–4 times more heat per kWh than any space heater.
• Plug heaters directly into the wall, never into an extension cord or power strip.

Space heaters are one of the most searched energy questions every winter, and the answer is simple once you know two numbers: your heater's watts and your electricity price per kWh.

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#The formula

Cost per hour = watts ÷ 1,000 × price per kWh

• Watts are printed on the heater's label or box. Nearly all plug-in heaters top out at 1,500 W because that is about the most a standard 120-volt household outlet can safely supply.
• Your price per kWh is on your electric bill. If your bill shows a total only, divide the dollar amount by the kWh used.

#Cost at the US average rate

The U.S. Energy Information Administration expects the average residential electricity price to be 18.2¢ per kWh in 2026. At that rate:

#Cost at different electricity rates

Electricity prices vary a lot by state and utility. Here is a 1,500 W heater, 8 hours a day for 30 days:

These are worst-case numbers. Most heaters have a thermostat and cycle off once the room is warm, so in a small, well-sealed room you may use noticeably less.

#Does the type of heater matter?

For running cost, not as much as ads suggest. Every electric resistance heater — ceramic, oil-filled radiator, infrared, fan-forced — turns almost 100% of the electricity it uses into heat. A 1,500 W ceramic heater and a 1,500 W oil-filled radiator use the same energy per hour at full power.

What differs is how the heat feels:

• Ceramic / fan heaters warm a room quickly but the warmth disappears when they switch off.
• Oil-filled radiators take longer to warm up, run silently and keep radiating after they cycle off.
• Infrared heaters warm people and objects directly — good for a drafty room or sitting at a desk.

A heater with a built-in thermostat and low/high settings saves more than any "energy-saving" label.

#Space heater vs central heating

A space heater saves money only when it lets you turn the whole-house heat down. Heating one room you are sitting in for 4 hours with a 1,500 W heater costs about $1.09 at the US average rate. If that lets you set the thermostat several degrees lower for the rest of the house, you can come out ahead.

If you run a space heater on top of normal central heating, your bill only goes up. And if your home has a heat pump, it is usually far cheaper per unit of heat than a space heater — a heat pump moves 2–3 units of heat for every unit of electricity, while a space heater makes one. See heat pump vs furnace.

#6 ways to spend less with a space heater

1. Heat the person, not the house. Use a heater in the room you are in and lower the main thermostat.
2. Use the thermostat setting, not "high" all the time.
3. Close the door to the room you are heating.
4. Use a timer so it is not running after you leave or fall asleep.
5. Try a heated blanket (around 100 W) — at the average rate that is about 2¢ an hour.
6. Seal drafts around windows and doors first. See ways to lower your electric bill in winter.

#Safety basics

• Plug heaters directly into a wall outlet — not an extension cord or power strip.
• Keep at least 3 feet of clear space around the heater.
• Choose a model with tip-over and overheat shut-off.
• Never leave a heater running when you leave the room or go to sleep.
• Keep working smoke alarms on every level of your home.

#Cost by heater size (at 18.2¢ per kWh)

Most heaters cycle on and off with a thermostat, so real costs are often 20–40% lower than the full-power numbers.

#Space heater vs other heat: cost per unit of heat

So heating a whole house with space heaters is usually the most expensive option. Heating one small room for a few hours while the rest of the house is cooler can still save money.

Example: Your gas furnace costs about $5 a day to keep the whole house at 68°F. You turn it down to 62°F (saving roughly $1.20 a day) and run a 1,500 W heater in your home office for 5 hours on its thermostat (~$1.00). You save a little — and stay warm where you work. Run the heater 10+ hours a day and the savings disappear.

#How to choose a safe, efficient space heater

• ☐ Safety listing from UL, ETL or CSA
• ☐ Tip-over switch and overheat protection
• ☐ A real thermostat (not just high/low) so it cycles off
• ☐ Timer or app control
• ☐ Cool-touch housing if you have kids or pets
• ☐ Size: about 10 watts per square foot of room as a rough guide (1,500 W ≈ 150 sq ft)

#Frequently asked questions

Does a space heater use a lot of electricity?

A 1,500 W heater on high uses 1.5 kWh an hour — about as much as running a microwave non-stop. Over a month of daily use it can add $40–$100 or more to a bill, depending on your rate and how many hours you run it.

How much does it cost to run a space heater for 24 hours?

At 1,500 W and 18.2¢ per kWh, about $6.55 if it ran at full power the whole time. With a thermostat cycling it on and off, it is usually less.

Is it cheaper to run a space heater or central heat?

A space heater is cheaper only if it lets you keep the rest of the house cooler. Heating a whole home with several space heaters is usually more expensive than a furnace and much more expensive than a heat pump.

Are oil-filled heaters cheaper to run?

Not per hour at the same wattage. They feel more comfortable because they keep radiating heat after switching off, which can mean fewer on-cycles in a closed room.

Is it safe to leave a space heater on all night?

It's safer to use a timer and a model with tip-over and overheat protection. Never leave one running when you leave the house, and keep it 3 feet from anything that can burn.

What size space heater do I need?

As a rough guide, 10 watts per square foot — a 1,500 W heater for about 150 sq ft in a well-insulated room.

Does "eco mode" save money?

Eco modes mostly cycle the heater using a thermostat, which reduces run time. It helps, but the cost per hour at full power stays the same.

#Sources

• U.S. EIA — Short-Term Energy Outlook, electricity prices
• Carrier — Heat pump efficiency compared with electric resistance heat
• NFPA — Heating fire safety
• Ready.gov — Home fires