What does your space heater cost to run?
Put in the watts from the heater's label and the rate from your electric bill. The tag shows your cost as you type.
Same hours, other ways to stay warm
How it's worked out: watts ÷ 1000 × hours × how often it's heating × your rate. The label shows the most a heater can draw; a thermostat lowers the real figure. The US average home rate is roughly 17–18¢ per kWh, but it varies a lot by state, so use the rate on your bill.
When a space heater makes sense
It's cheapest when you heat one small room you're actually in and turn the central heat down for the rest of the home. Run all day in a drafty room, it usually costs more than gas central heat. Block the draft first and the same heater switches off more often.
When heating yourself is cheaper
A heated blanket or mattress pad uses a small fraction of a heater's power because it warms you, not the air. For sleeping or sitting on the couch, it's the cheapest warmth per hour you can buy.
See the heated blanket vs space heater comparison for the cost per night.