How Much Electricity Does a Space Heater Use?

As the weather cools, many of us turn to space heaters to keep warm. They are a convenient way to enhance your home’s heating system while saving money on energy costs—or are they?

Understanding how much electricity a space heater consumes allows you to monitor your usage and helps you decide whether it’s the best solution for you.

How much energy a specific space heater uses depends on various factors like its power rating and operating hours. The average cost of electricity in your location is also a consideration.

In this post, we’ll take a closer look at the different factors that determine a space heater’s energy consumption. We’ll provide you with a simple formula and metrics to help you estimate the cost of running one on your home.

How Much Electricity Does a Space Heater Use?

Much like any home appliance, how much power your space heater uses depends on its power output and how long you use it.

For example, in a 24-hour period, a small 1500-watt (W) space heater will require around 1.5 kilowatt-hours (kWh). A larger model with a power output of 1500 watts or more will consume around 3 kWh per day.

To give you a general idea, let’s take a look at the table below for the estimate of energy use for various power output space heaters used for 8 hours a day:

If you use a 1500-watt space heater for 8 hours a day, it will consume 360 kWh per month.

Note that these are just examples and estimates. The actual consumption may vary depending on the model, the size and temperature in the room, the outdoor temperature, the unit’s energy efficiency rating, and how often you use the heater.

Key Factors That Determine Energy Consumption on Space Heaters

Besides its power rating and daily average hours of use, a space heater’s operating cost are determined by other factors, including:

Wattage Rating

This indicates the power consumption of your heater at a given hour. If, say, you run a 3,000-watt space heater in a large room for 8 hours, your unit will consume 24 kWh of energy. Multiplying the energy consumption rate by the average monthly price of electricity (read below) will give you the cost of running a space heater.

Cost of Electricity in Your Area

How much you’ll pay for your monthly electric bill also depends on your location. But your billing statement only shows you the total amount charged. It does not indicate how much each appliance in your home consumes and contributes to the total amount.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the current average price of electricity in residential homes is 16.09 cents/kWh. A high monthly rate, however, does not necessarily indicate higher utility bills. You should still keep an eye on how often you use your heater.

Here’s how much it costs to run a 1,500-watt space heater 8 hours a day for a month based on several states’ average residential electricity rates.

To calculate the average monthly energy bill for your space heater, you can use this formula:

1,500 watts (power rating) x 8 (daily average hours) = 12,000 kWh or 12 kWh

Then,

12 kWh (energy used) x 30 (days in a month) x 0.1609 cents/kWh = $57.92

So, on a monthly basis, you’re looking at paying $57.92 to run your space heater for 8 hours a day.

What Are Watts, Kilowatt-Hours, and Voltages?

What do these terms even mean?

These terms are used for explaining how electricity works.

Watts (W), as we’ve mentioned earlier, indicates just how much electricity your space heater uses. Kilowatt-hour (kWh) tells you how much energy your space heater uses over a given time. For example, if you run a 1,500-watt unit for 10 hours, it will have used 15 kWh of energy.

Voltage, which is measured in volts (V), indicates electrical pressure differences. It’s basically the force that pushes electricity through a circuit, indicating the amount of electrical power required to run a space heater.

A higher voltage means that your heater requires more power (watts) to run, while a lower voltage means less power. The total kWh use indicated in your electricity bill will show you how much energy your space heater consumed in that particular month.

Do Larger Space Heaters Use More Electricity?

In general, larger space heaters consume more electricity than smaller ones. This is because they require more power to heat a larger space. However, other factors like the room’s size and temperature and the type of heater used can influence its energy use. The efficiency of the heating element is also a factor.

Electric resistance heaters, for example, consume more power than ceramic heaters. And higher temperature settings require more electricity than lower temperature settings.

Additionally, certain models are designed to be energy efficient. It’s also important to check the insulation of the room you’re trying to warm. Doing so helps to reduce electricity consumption.

Will Solar Panels Help You Save Money on Electricity?

Using solar panels is an effective approach to help cut the cost to run a space heater. However, the savings will vary greatly. And individual reductions in energy consumption depend on factors such the power use and electric costs and plans in a particular location, among other things.

The size of the solar panel system, the amount of sunlight available, and the cost of electricity from the grid are also at play.

That said, it’s best to speak with a solar energy expert to see whether this is a suitable choice for you. And before you make a decision, make sure you get many quotations from reliable installers.

How Big of a Room Can a Space Heater Heat?

The size of a room that a space heater can heat depends on the unit’s power. And again, you need to also factor in the room’s insulation and the temperature outside. A space heater will not properly heat your home if the outdoor temperature falls below freezing and you don’t have adequate insulation.

You may also use the 10 watts per square foot of space metric. A small, compact space heater with a power output of 1500 watts or less can effectively heat a 150-square-foot room.

With a larger unit with a power output of 1500 watts or higher, you can expect it to heat up to a 300-square-foot room. But these are rough estimates, and actual performance may vary.

Is It Cheaper To Run a Space Heater or Heat?

Compared to central heating systems, most space heaters use less energy. This is because they only need to heat a single room instead of the entire house. It is also true for newer electric space heaters that are built to be more energy efficient than earlier models.

That said, for warming a larger portion of your home, a central heating system is likely to be a better option. They tend to be more efficient and cost-effective in the long run since you wouldn’t want to place a space heater in every room in your house. Doing so would just cost more.

The Takeaway

Space heaters can be a practical and cost-effective way to keep your space warm. However, it’s important to understand how much energy these appliances use.

On average, a space heater uses around 1,500 watts an hour, but this can vary depending on the model and size of the unit. How much it will cost to run it will depend on your frequency of use and the average electricity rate in your area.

To minimize energy consumption, opt for one with a high energy efficiency rating and if you can, avoid running the space heater overnight.

We hope you found this helpful, and if you have more questions regarding electricity usage on space heaters, let us know!