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What does it cost to run?

In the US, a space heater costs about $33 a winter month.

What do you run?

Tap a row to edit it.

  • watts
    Hours a dayHours a day
    How manyHow many
    When

    1,500 W × 4 hours = 6.00 kWh a day · × 30.4 days = 182.4 kWh × 18.0¢ US average = $32.83 a winter month

    A kilowatt-hour (kWh) is 1,000 watts for one hour. It’s what your bill counts.

    Low is 750 W on many models; check yours.

    A heated throw (100 W) for the same 4 hours is about $2.20 a winter month.

$33a winter month

$33 a winter month

On low (750 W), it’s about $16.42 a winter month.

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How much does it cost to run common appliances?

Each cost uses the US average price and typical settings. Open one to change it.

What uses the most electricity in a home?

Heating and cooling use the most. In homes with electric heat, heating is the biggest single use: about 3,250 kWh a year.

  • Air conditioning19%
  • Space heating12%
  • Water heating12%
  • Refrigerators7%
  • Lighting5%
Home survey · 2020 · US government data (EIA)

How do you work out what an appliance costs to run?

Multiply the watts by the hours, then by your price. It’s the same method the US Department of Energy shows.

  1. 1Find the kWh

    A kilowatt-hour (kWh) is 1,000 watts for one hour. It’s what your bill counts.

    1,500 W × 4 hours ÷ 1,000 = 6.00 kWh

  2. 2Count the days

    A month averages 30.4 days (365 ÷ 12). A winter-only heater counts Nov–Mar only.

    6.00 kWh × 30.4 days = 182.4 kWh

  3. 3Multiply by your price

    Use your electric company’s price, all charges in.

    182.4 kWh × 18.0¢ US average = $32.83

FAQ

Questions about running costs

Often it uses less. The label shows the most power an appliance can draw. Many use less on low settings, and fridges and heaters switch on and off, so set the watts and hours to match how you use it.

Information as of Nov 2, 2026.

Our numbers come from US government data (EIA) and ENERGY STAR.

Most plug-in heaters use 1,500 watts on high. Source: the makers’ spec pages for Lasko 754200 (opens lasko.com in a new tab), Vornado MVH (opens vornado.com in a new tab) and Dreo Atom One (opens www.dreo.com in a new tab). That’s 12.5 amps at 120 volts, just over the 12 amps (80%) that NEC 210.23(B)(1) (opens www.nfpa.org in a new tab) allows one plug-in appliance on a 15-amp circuit. Heaters are tested to UL 1278 (opens www.shopulstandards.com in a new tab). The US Fire Administration (opens www.usfa.fema.gov in a new tab) says to plug one straight into a wall outlet.

Report a mistake (opens support.onepublicgrid.com in a new tab)