$2.04 a Day for a Space Heater: Electricity Cost Calculator
A 1,500 W space heater costs $2.04 a day for 8 hours at 17¢/kWh — enter any wattage, hours and rate below for the cost per hour, day, month and year.
· Source: EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A (July 2026 data) · next EIA update ~Oct 23
On this page: CalculatorTableHow we calculatedSources
Jump to calculator ↓Secondary control: the slider nudges the rate field above (numeric input stays the precise, primary way in). The URL keeps your scenario.
Why this number
Most “cost to run X” answers give you one national number. This one uses your wattage, your hours, and your rate — so the figure is actually yours. Pick an appliance or type any wattage:
What common appliances cost to run per month
At the US average rate of 17¢/kWh (2026 EIA), here’s roughly what everyday appliances add to your bill — sorted from most to least expensive. Your own cost scales directly with your rate: at 34¢/kWh (double) every figure doubles; quick-fill your state above to see yours.
| Appliance | Typical power | Assumed use | Cost / month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central air conditioner | 3,500 W | 6 h/day | $107 |
| Electric water heater | 4,500 W | 3 h/day | $69 |
| Space heater | 1,500 W | 8 h/day | $61 |
| EV charging (Level 2) | 7,200 W | 1.5 h/day | $55 |
| Pool pump | 1,000 W | 8 h/day | $41 |
| Window air conditioner | 1,100 W | 6 h/day | $34 |
| Dehumidifier | 500 W | 12 h/day | $31 |
| Refrigerator | 150 W (effective) | 24 h/day | $18 |
| Gaming PC | 800 W | 5 h/day | $20 |
| Clothes dryer | 3,000 W | 1 h/day | $15 |
| Wi-Fi router + modem | 60 W | 24 h/day | $7 |
| Dishwasher | 1,800 W | 0.7 h/day | $6 |
| Electric oven | 2,400 W | 0.5 h/day | $6 |
| 65-inch LED TV | 100 W | 5 h/day | $3 |
| Ceiling fan | 60 W | 8 h/day | $2 |
| Microwave | 1,200 W | 0.3 h/day | $2 |
These are estimates at the national average rate and typical usage — use the calculator above to swap in your own numbers, or open any appliance for its own page and rate table. The full ranked list is at cost to run an appliance . The pattern holds everywhere: heating, cooling, and always-on loads dominate; electronics barely register.
How to read the numbers
The math is deliberately simple and transparent:
- Watts → kilowatts: divide the power draw by 1,000. A 1,500 W heater is 1.5 kW.
- Energy per day (kWh): kilowatts × hours run. 1.5 kW × 8 h = 12 kWh/day.
- Cost: energy × your rate in dollars per kWh. 12 kWh × $0.17 = $2.04/day, about $61/month if run daily.
The two levers that dominate the result are run-hours and your rate. A device rated at high wattage but used briefly (a microwave, a kettle) costs little; a modest-wattage device that runs constantly (a fridge, a router, a pool pump) quietly adds up.
The appliances worth watching
Heat is expensive. Anything that heats, cools, or runs all day is where the money goes — central AC, electric water heaters, space heaters, dryers, and EV charging. If you want to cut a bill, start there, not with unplugging phone chargers.
Rates vary enormously by state — from about 12¢/kWh in Idaho and Utah to over 50¢/kWh in Hawaii — so the same appliance can cost four times as much to run depending on where you live. Quick-fill your state above, or see the full electricity rates by state . If your bill is high year-round, it may be worth checking whether solar still pays off in 2026 now that the federal credit has ended.
Wondering why the state quick-fill moves the answer so much? The electricity rates by state page ranks all 50 — the same EIA table this calculator draws from, downloadable as CSV.
On a time-of-use plan, when an appliance runs matters as much as its wattage — the TOU rate simulator prices your whole month on real peak/off-peak tariffs.
Bill suddenly jumped and you don’t know why? The bill jump calculator splits the increase into weather, rate and usage from your own two bills.
Frequently asked questions
How is the cost to run an appliance calculated?
Cost = (watts ÷ 1,000) × hours used × rate in dollars per kWh. For example a 1,500W space heater for 8 hours at 17¢/kWh = 1.5 × 8 × 0.17 = $2.04 per day.
What electricity rate should I use?
The rate on your utility bill (cents per kWh) is most accurate. If you don’t have it, the EIA 2025 annual US average is about 17¢/kWh, but it ranges from ~12¢ (Idaho, Utah) to over 50¢ (Hawaii). Use the state quick-fill for your state’s EIA average.
Why is my real bill higher than the appliance total?
Your bill also includes fixed connection charges, taxes, and delivery fees on top of the per-kWh energy charge. This tool estimates the energy cost of running a device — the biggest controllable part of the bill.
Which appliances cost the most to run?
Anything that makes heat or runs constantly: central air conditioning, electric water heaters, space heaters, clothes dryers, and EV charging. Small electronics and LED lighting cost very little by comparison.
How we calculated this
Cost = watts ÷ 1,000 × hours × rate ($/kWh). Per day multiplies by hours per day; per month by 30 days; per year by 365. A 1,500 W heater for 8 hours at 17¢/kWh: 1.5 × 8 × 0.17 = $2.04 a day. The state quick-fill uses the EIA residential average; the appliance table uses each preset’s watts and typical duty-cycle hours at the current US average.Sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) electricity rates · DSIRE incentive records · public IRS/OBBBA guidance. Figures are modeled estimates, not quotes or tax advice. See our methodology.