An electric space heater uses approximately 1500 watts; on average, an electric space heater is used for around 5 hours a day.

To determine the power consumption and running cost per hour, day, week, and year of your electric space heater, please enter the number of usage hours and power setting (in wattage) and click the calculate button.

*Based on $0.12/kWh electricity cost and 5 hours daily usage. Actual energy consumption and cost may vary. For information and to compare models, visit https://www.eia.gov.

How Many Watts Does a Space Heater Use?

Space heaters come in various sizes and types, each with its own power consumption. Most commonly, space heaters have a wattage ranging between 750 watts and 1,500 watts. This wattage determines how much electricity a space heater uses to generate heat.

A space heater with a higher wattage rating will generally produce more heat, but it will also consume more electricity. It’s essential to consider your heating needs and balance them with energy efficiency when selecting the right space heater for your space.

Keep in mind that many space heaters have adjustable heat settings, allowing you to choose between different wattages to control the heat output and energy consumption.

For example, a 1,500-watt space heater might have options for 750 watts, 1,000 watts, and 1,500 watts, providing flexibility to suit your comfort and energy-saving preferences.

How Much Electricity Does a Space Heater Use?

To understand how much electricity a space heater consumes, it’s helpful to compare its energy usage with other common household appliances.

AppliancePower Consumption (Watts) RangeOperating Time (Hours)Energy Use (kWh)
Space Heater500-150042-6
Television50-40040.2-1.6
Laptop Computer20-10040.08-0.4
Vacuum Cleaner500-15000.50.25-0.75
Clothes Dryer3000-600013-6

As shown in the table, a space heater can consume anywhere from 500 to 1500 watts, depending on the model and settings used.

This range can result in an energy use of approximately 2 to 6 kWh over four hours of operation.

This comparison emphasizes the importance of using a space heater efficiently and choosing a model with lower wattage to conserve energy and lower electricity bills.

What factors influence the electricity usage of space heaters?

The amount of electricity a space heater uses depends on its wattage, heat settings, and type.

Watts, Amps, and Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

Space heaters use electricity to generate heat. The amount of electricity a space heater uses is measured in watts (W) or amps (A). One watt equals one amp of electrical current flowing through one volt (V) of electrical potential difference.

Kilowatt-hours (kWh) are used to measure the amount of energy used by an appliance over time. One kWh equals 1000 watts used for one hour.

Understanding the concepts of watts, amps, and voltage is important for understanding how space heaters work and how much energy they consume.

Watts

Watts (W) are a unit of power that measures how much energy an electrical device uses per second. One watt is equal to one joule of energy per second.

For example, a device that uses 100 watts of power consumes 100 joules of energy every second.

Amps

Amperes (A), or amps for short, measure the flow of electrical current through a device. One amp is equivalent to one coulomb of electrical charge flowing per second.

In other words, amps measure how much electricity is flowing through a device at a given time.

Voltage

Voltage (V) is a measure of electrical potential difference, or the amount of energy required to move a unit of electric charge from one point to another.

Voltage is often referred to as electrical pressure because it describes how strongly the electricity is pushing through a device. In the United States, standard household voltage is 120 volts.

Heat Settings

Most space heaters come with multiple heat settings that allow users to adjust the amount of electricity used.

The higher the heat setting, the more electricity the space heater uses. For example, a space heater with a 1500-watt maximum setting will consume 1500 watts of electricity when running on high, and less than 1500 watts on lower settings.

Room size and insulation

The size of the room you want to heat and the quality of its insulation can also impact how much electricity a space heater uses.

A smaller, well-insulated room will require less energy to heat than a larger, poorly insulated room.

Climate

The temperature and climate of the area you live in can also impact how much electricity a space heater uses.

If you live in a colder climate, you may need to use your space heater more frequently, which can increase energy consumption.

Usage time

The amount of time you use your space heater can also impact its electricity usage.

Using it for longer periods of time will naturally consume more electricity than using it for shorter periods.

Thermostat and Timer Settings

Some space heaters come with built-in thermostats and timers, which can help regulate temperature and reduce energy usage. Using these settings can help minimize electricity consumption.

How Many Amps Does A Small Space Heater Use?

The amp usage of small space heaters can vary widely depending on their size, wattage, and other factors.

However, most small space heaters in the United States use between 7 and 12 amps when operating at full power. Here are some examples of specific small space heaters and their typical amp usage:

  • 1500-watt ceramic space heater: 12.5 amps
  • 1500-watt fan-forced space heater: 12.5

How Many Volts Is A Space Heater?

Most space heaters in the United States are designed to operate on a standard voltage of 120 volts.

However, it’s important to check the manufacturer’s specifications for your specific space heater to ensure that you are using the correct voltage and that it is compatible with your electrical system.

How Much Does It Cost To Run A Space Heater A Month?

The typical cost of running a space heater can vary based on its wattage and the room size it’s heating.

For instance, a 1,200-watt space heater can cost around 16 cents per hour to run, whereas a 2,000-watt heater can cost closer to 28 cents per hour.

Assuming you run a 1,500-watt space heater for eight hours per day, you can expect to pay approximately $1.60 per day or around $48 per month.

Keep in mind that the cost can fluctuate based on energy prices and usage patterns.

Heater PowerCost per HourCost for 4 HoursCost for 12 Hours
500 watt$0.07$0.28$0.84
800 watt$0.11$0.44$1.33
1000 watt$0.14$0.56$1.66
1500 watt$0.21$0.84$2.50
1800 watt$0.25$1.00$3.00
2500 watt$0.35$1.40$4.20

How to Work Out the Cost

To calculate the cost of running an electric heater, you need to know the wattage of the heater and the cost of electricity per kilowatt-hour (kWh) in your area. The formula for calculating the cost is:

Cost per hour = (Wattage ÷ 1000) x Cost per kWh

For example, if your electric heater is 1500 watts and the cost of electricity in your area is $0.15 per kWh, the cost to run the heater for one hour would be:

(1500 ÷ 1000) x $0.15 = $0.225 per hour

Hourly, Weekly, Monthly and Yearly Costs by State

The cost of electricity varies by state and even by utility company.

Here is a table that shows the hourly, weekly, monthly, and yearly costs of running a 1500-watt electric heater based on the average cost of electricity per kWh in different states:

StateCost per kWh (cents)Hourly Cost ($)Weekly Cost ($)Monthly Cost ($)Yearly Cost ($)
Alabama12.0118.02126.14540.546,486.47
California19.8129.72208.06891.9610,703.45
Florida10.5015.75110.26472.875,674.40
New York18.3327.50192.51825.589,906.94
Texas11.8417.76124.34532.946,395.23

Note that these calculations are based on the average cost of electricity in each state and may vary based on individual utility companies and energy plans.

By using these figures, you can estimate how much it would cost to run an electric heater in your area and adjust your usage to conserve energy and lower your electricity bills.

To calculate the approximate energy consumption of a space heater, you can follow these steps:

  1. Determine the heater’s wattage: Most space heaters range from 750 to 1,500 watts. Check the specifications on your heater or its manual to find the wattage.
  2. Calculate daily energy consumption: Multiply the heater’s wattage by the number of hours it is in use each day. This will give you the daily energy consumption in watt-hours (Wh). For example, if your heater has a wattage of 1,500 watts and you run it for 8 hours a day, the daily energy consumption would be 12,000 Wh (1,500 watts x 8 hours).
  3. Convert to kilowatt-hours (kWh): Divide the daily energy consumption (in watt-hours) by 1,000 to convert it to kilowatt-hours (kWh). In the example above, the daily energy consumption would be 12 kWh (12,000 Wh / 1,000).
  4. Calculate monthly energy consumption: Multiply the daily energy consumption (in kWh) by the number of days in the month. For example, if you run the heater for 8 hours a day with a daily consumption of 12 kWh, the monthly energy consumption would be 360 kWh (12 kWh x 30 days).
  5. Estimate the cost: To estimate the cost of running the space heater, multiply the monthly energy consumption (in kWh) by your local electricity rate (in dollars per kWh). For example, if the monthly energy consumption is 360 kWh and the electricity rate is $0.12 per kWh, the cost to run the space heater for a month would be $43.20 (360 kWh x $0.12).