How Much Does It Cost to Run a Space Heater All Winter?
Quick Answers
Is a space heater cheaper than central heat?
Not necessarily — it depends on how much of the home you're actually heating; a space heater can be cost-effective for heating one occupied room but expensive as a whole-home solution.
How much does an hour of space heater use cost?
At 1,500 watts and the national average rate, roughly 28 cents per hour.
What changes this estimate the most?
Your state's electricity rate and how many hours per day the unit actually runs, since both scale the cost linearly.
The math
A 1,500-watt heater run 8 hours a day uses 12 kWh daily, or 1,440 kWh across a 120-day winter — about $271 at the national average rate of 18.83 cents/kWh.
Where this gets expensive fast
In New England, where average rates run well above the national figure, the same usage pattern can push past $350-400 for the season.
When a space heater actually saves money
If it lets you lower whole-home thermostat settings while heating only an occupied room, it can reduce total cost — but running one continuously in an already-heated home usually adds cost rather than saving it.
Want to see where you personally stand? Check your own CCM Energy Score, free and takes under a minute.