Halogen heaters are among the most cost-effective electric heater options, with a typical power output of 1200W. Their immediate warmth in close proximity saves energy by not needing to be left running for long stretches of time.
Oil-Filled Heaters
Oil-filled heaters use oil that's heated by electricity to create comfortable, radiant heat. Once the oil is heated, these can continue to provide warmth for a while, even after you turn them off, so they use less electricity overall.
The verdict is in and we can say that in considering both the cost to run per hour as well as how quickly you can expect to actually feel warm, a halogen heater is the cheapest electric heater to run.
Answer. To calculate the cost of running a 1500-watt heater for 24 hours in the US, you need to know the electricity cost per kilowatt-hour (kWh). If the average cost is about 16 cents per kWh (as of early 2023), the heater uses 1.5 kW x 24 hours = 36 kWh. Therefore, the cost would be 36 kWh x 16 cents = 5,76.
Far Infrared Heaters are the most efficient of all the space heater options and consume the lowest wattage, making them the cheapest to run. Far Infrared is radiant heating and is most easily absorbed by people's skin. In fact, all objects, including us emit and absorb infrared.
So, after looking at the different types of electric heaters available, due to its lower power-output, halogen heaters are the cheapest electric heaters to run.
But in general, since central heating powered by natural gas is cheaper than heat from electricity, heating a large space will cost less with an HVAC system that runs on gas.
If you use a space heater in your home, please be aware that using a space heater can cause a significant increase in your monthly bill. A 1,000-watt space heater operating 12 hours a day will add about $40 to your monthly bill. If the cost does not deter you, remember how important it is to use space heaters safely.
The average residential space heater has two main heat settings, low and high. The low setting needs 750 watts to run, whereas the high setting takes 1,500 watts. Roughly speaking, it will cost about $0.20 to run a 1,500-watt space heater for one hour.
Space heaters are designed to run for a few hours and warm a small space. These units aren't intended to run all day or night, operating without stopping for eight hours or more.
Ceramic and convector heaters take a little longer to get up to temperature but can heat larger spaces and most often have an adjustable thermostat to help you manage costs. Wall panel heaters also fall under this umbrella. Their low wattage means they use less energy, but they also take longer to warm a room.
Oil filled radiators work in a very energy efficient manner, so can be considered cheap to run in comparison with many alternative designer radiator styles.
Ceramic heaters are cheaper to run than traditional gas based, or oil filled systems. Ceramic heaters contain heating elements that offer far greater resistance than traditional metal units, this allows for the radiator to generate more heat per watt.
This winter, staying warm without overspending is a priority for many households. Tubular heaters are the cheapest electric heater to run this winter, offering efficient heating at low operational costs.
Infrared heaters are the most efficient type of heater available. They use very little electricity to generate heat, and they provide a lot of heat for their size. Infrared heaters are also very safe to use, as they do not emit any harmful radiation. Oil-filled heaters are another type of heater that is very efficient.
Using a space heater 8 hours per day will use about 84 kilowatt-hours of electricity per week. It costs an average of $51.65 to run a space heater for a month and $258.26 to run for a year.
Using a space heater can be a good way to boost the temperature in a small, drafty room—and it could be less expensive than cranking up your central heating system. But a space heater is economical only if you use it judiciously.
✓ Oil-filled radiators are incredibly efficient thanks to their heat-retentive thermal fluid, even heat distribution and retention, and in-built energy-saving features.
Reverse cycle split system air conditioners (A.K.A heat pumps) – the most energy efficient electric heater. 5 and 6 star reverse cycle units can be even cheaper to run than gas heaters, producing just one-fifth of the greenhouse gas emissions that a standard electric heater creates.
In other words, a 1,500-watt heater will be great for a 250-square-foot room with central heat. If that same room had no other source of heat, you'd need a 2,000-watt heater.
Savings using a space heater for 8 hours per day
Those with electric heat save less -- about $72 respectively -- and folks with natural gas, which is currently cheap, would pay about $36 more than if they ran a space heater.
After evaluating the various kinds of electric heaters on the market, it is clear that halogen heaters are most cost-effective to run due to their lower power output. Though many of the higher wattage models come with inbuilt thermostats and timers, allowing you to manage how much energy they use and for what duration.