Most space heaters use on average 1,500 Watts of electricity and cost about 15¢ an hour to operate. While that may not sound like much, it can add up quickly if heaters are left on for several hours a day.
The electric space heaters tested at Consumer Reports use 1,500 watts to fully power. Since you should never use a space heater while sleeping, it would cost $2.82 a day to use a space heater 16 hours a day, based on the national average electricity rate.
Space heaters cost about $0.20, or 20 cents, per hour to run. That's for the most common size – 1,500 watts. The range is 10 cents to 42 cents, or $0.10 to $0.42 per hour for space heaters from 750 watts to 3,000 watts.
In a nutshell, it depends how much of your home you want to heat. Overall, for heating the same space, an electric heater costs more than twice as much as using central heating.
Running your heater per day (8 hours): 8 hours X 13.9 c per kWh = $1.11/day. Using your heater for 8 hours a day per month: $1.11 X 30 = $33.3/month.
The cost to run a 1,500-watt space heater depends on how much your energy company charges you for electricity. However, in the United States, the average household pays somewhere around $0.20 per hour to run their electric space heater.
The Energy Department estimates that the cost to heat an entire home with electric space heaters cost 43% more than a gas furnace. Using a space heater in your bedroom only while you sleep is a practical way to use a space heater and won't make much of a dent in your electricity bill.
Space heaters do use less energy as compared to using central heat. However, they are not as efficient as space heaters. As such, having a space heater in every room in the home and turning them all on at the same will only cost you more, not less. When you purchased your heater is also a factor.
AC Unit. Because an electric furnace needs to generate heat, it uses far more electricity than an air conditioning unit as it works to keep your home warm.
Electric space heaters provide heat quickly, and because they run on household electricity, you never have to buy fuel for them. You don't get this kind of convenience for free, however, and you'll notice a hefty hike in your monthly electricity bill if you use one regularly.
Infrared Heaters – the lowest wattage per heat provided makes these the cheapest to run. Oil-Filled Heaters – their long-lasting heat makes the most out of the electricity. Storage Heaters – saves in running costs by using off-peak electricity tariffs.
So I did the research, and even made a free calculator. On average, a 1,500W heater costs around $0.20 per hour to run on high. This adds up to a cost of $1.60 for 8 hours a day, and $48 per month. The running costs depend on your electric heater's power, running time, heat settings, and your electricity price.
So, is electric or gas heat cheaper? Using off-peak electricity, conventional electric heating may cost about twice as much as gas heating to run. And here's why: electric heaters are essentially 100% efficient.
According to experts at the Energy Saving Trust, the idea it's cheaper to leave the heating on low all day is a myth. They're clear that having the heating on only when you need it is, in the long run, the best way to save energy, and therefore money.
0.06 (60 watts / 1000) kilowatts x 24 hours x 12 cents = approximately 20 cents in one day.
Because of electricity generation and transmission losses, electric heat is often more expensive than heat produced in homes or businesses that use combustion appliances.
Phantom energy: Do appliances use electricity when plugged in but turned off? The short answer is yes! A variety of different electronic devices and appliances, including televisions, toasters, lamps, and more, when plugged in, can consume electricity even when they're turned off.
Air Conditioning & Heating
Your HVAC system uses the most energy of any single appliance or system at 46 percent of the average U.S. home's energy consumption.
It's definitely more efficient to heat one room instead of the whole house, even if you're using an antique space heater.