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How much does it cost to run a space heater?

Most plug-in space heaters draw 1,500 watts on high, and many draw 750 on low. On high for 4 hours, one uses 6.00 kilowatt-hours (kWh).

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    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.

Estimate my billSee prices by state

What does a space heater cost to run in each state?

The same space heater costs more than three times as much in Hawaii as in North Dakota.

  1. Hawaii$80.80 · 44.3¢
  2. California$58.92 · 32.3¢
  3. Massachusetts$55.45 · 30.4¢
  4. Maine$53.99 · 29.6¢
  5. Rhode Island$53.63 · 29.4¢
  6. US average$32.83 · 18.0¢
  7. Idaho$23.35 · 12.8¢
  8. Nebraska$23.16 · 12.7¢
  9. North Dakota$22.44 · 12.3¢
See prices by state

A space heater (1,500 W for 4 hours a day) at each state’s average price.

State averages · last 12 months · US government data (EIA)

More for heating and cooling

FAQ

Questions about space heater power

Most plug-in space heaters use 1,500 watts on high, according to the makers’ spec pages. That’s 1.50 kilowatt-hours (kWh) for every hour on high, or 6.00 kWh in 4 hours.

Information as of Nov 2, 2026.

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

We assume 4 hours a day.

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.

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