Electric Heater Cost Calculator

Space Heater Cost Calculator

Updated October 2026 with 2026 electricity rates for every state, from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

How To Use the Calculator

1. Enter your heater’s wattage. It’s on the label or in the manual, and most plug-in space heaters top out at 1,500W.
2. Pick your state, or type the price per kWh from your electric bill for a more exact answer.
3. Enter how many hours a day you expect it to run. The results update as you type.

Still choosing a heater? See our quietest space heaters and best electric wall heaters.

How Much Does a Space Heater Cost To Run per Hour?

At the 2026 U.S. average of 18.31 cents per kWh, a standard 1,500W space heater costs about 27 cents an hour on full power.

Here’s what common sizes cost at that rate, running flat out:

A 5,000W heater is a hardwired 240V garage or shop unit. Plug-in heaters in the U.S. top out at about 1,500W, because that’s what a standard 15-amp outlet can safely supply.

How Much Electricity Does a Space Heater Use?

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A heater’s wattage is how much power it draws while it’s heating. A 1,500W heater running for one hour uses 1.5 kilowatt-hours (kWh).

The calculator uses this formula:

Watts ÷ 1,000 × hours × price per kWh = running cost

So a 1,500W heater for one hour at 18.31 cents works out like this:

1,500 ÷ 1,000 × 1 × $0.1831 = $0.27

Electric heaters turn almost all of that power into heat, so a cheaper heater of the same wattage won’t cost less to run.

What changes the bill is how long it runs. A heater with a thermostat switches off once the room is warm, so over an hour it may only draw full power for part of the time.

How Much Does It Cost To Heat My Room?

That depends on the room’s size, insulation, windows and how cold it is outside. No calculator can know those for your house.

The surest way to find out is to measure it. Plug the heater into an energy meter for a day and it shows the exact kWh used, which you can turn into dollars with the formula above.

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Measure what your heater really uses

The Kill A Watt plugs in between the outlet and your heater and counts the kWh it uses, thermostat cycling included.

Check the Kill A Watt Price

If the numbers come out high, a smaller heater that warms just the spot you sit in usually beats heating the whole room. Our guide to the cheapest ways to heat a house compares every option.

2026 Electricity Rates by State

Average residential price per kWh from the EIA. The July column is the latest month; the January to July average smooths out seasonal swings.

Your own rate can differ from the state average. Check your bill for the total price per kWh, including delivery charges.

Related article: The cheapest ways to heat your home