The short answer
A 100 W queen electric blanket costs about 15 cents a night, or $4.36 a month at 8 hours a night, at the U.S. average of 18.16¢ per kWh (August 2026). A 1,500 W space heater running the same hours costs $65.38 a month, about 15 times as much. A whole 150-night winter with the blanket is about $21.79.
Blanket vs space heater in every state
A 100 W blanket and a 1,500 W space heater, 8 hours a night for 30 nights, at each state's average residential rate (August 2026).
| Alabama | $3.92 | $58.79 | 16.33¢ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $7.06 | $105.88 | 29.41¢ |
| Arizona | $3.61 | $54.18 | 15.05¢ |
| Arkansas | $3.45 | $51.73 | 14.37¢ |
| California | $7.14 | $107.10 | 29.75¢ |
| Colorado | $4.12 | $61.81 | 17.17¢ |
| Connecticut | $5.88 | $88.24 | 24.51¢ |
| Delaware | $4.49 | $67.32 | 18.70¢ |
| District of Columbia | $6.24 | $93.53 | 25.98¢ |
| Florida | $3.60 | $53.96 | 14.99¢ |
| Georgia | $3.82 | $57.24 | 15.90¢ |
| Hawaii | $11.32 | $169.85 | 47.18¢ |
| Idaho | $3.21 | $48.13 | 13.37¢ |
| Illinois | $4.64 | $69.55 | 19.32¢ |
| Indiana | $4.08 | $61.27 | 17.02¢ |
| Iowa | $4.09 | $61.42 | 17.06¢ |
| Kansas | $3.71 | $55.69 | 15.47¢ |
| Kentucky | $3.31 | $49.68 | 13.80¢ |
| Louisiana | $3.09 | $46.33 | 12.87¢ |
| Maine | $7.71 | $115.60 | 32.11¢ |
| Maryland | $5.14 | $77.04 | 21.40¢ |
| Massachusetts | $7.32 | $109.73 | 30.48¢ |
| Michigan | $5.52 | $82.76 | 22.99¢ |
| Minnesota | $4.13 | $61.92 | 17.20¢ |
| Mississippi | $3.46 | $51.95 | 14.43¢ |
| Missouri | $3.84 | $57.67 | 16.02¢ |
| Montana | $3.74 | $56.05 | 15.57¢ |
| Nebraska | $3.25 | $48.74 | 13.54¢ |
| Nevada | $3.05 | $45.79 | 12.72¢ |
| New Hampshire | $6.63 | $99.50 | 27.64¢ |
| New Jersey | $5.91 | $88.60 | 24.61¢ |
| New Mexico | $3.96 | $59.44 | 16.51¢ |
| New York | $6.88 | $103.14 | 28.65¢ |
| North Carolina | $3.59 | $53.82 | 14.95¢ |
| North Dakota | $3.19 | $47.92 | 13.31¢ |
| Ohio | $4.65 | $69.77 | 19.38¢ |
| Oklahoma | $3.56 | $53.35 | 14.82¢ |
| Oregon | $3.82 | $57.31 | 15.92¢ |
| Pennsylvania | $5.22 | $78.37 | 21.77¢ |
| Rhode Island | $6.76 | $101.45 | 28.18¢ |
| South Carolina | $3.78 | $56.74 | 15.76¢ |
| South Dakota | $3.64 | $54.54 | 15.15¢ |
| Tennessee | $3.22 | $48.31 | 13.42¢ |
| Texas | $3.82 | $57.28 | 15.91¢ |
| Utah | $3.19 | $47.92 | 13.31¢ |
| Vermont | $5.72 | $85.82 | 23.84¢ |
| Virginia | $4.23 | $63.50 | 17.64¢ |
| Washington | $3.51 | $52.67 | 14.63¢ |
| West Virginia | $3.91 | $58.72 | 16.31¢ |
| Wisconsin | $4.66 | $69.88 | 19.41¢ |
| Wyoming | $3.46 | $51.95 | 14.43¢ |
Monthly costs.
How it works
The formula
cost = kWh × rate
month = night × nights a month; winter = night × nights in your winter
Assumptions
- Watts are nameplate ratings: about 60 W for a single blanket and 100 W for a double, from the DOE's typical-wattage list, and up to about 200 W for a king. Type the watts from your blanket's tag for your own.
- A blanket's controller cycles the heat on and off to hold its setting, so on low it draws well under nameplate much of the night. These costs are the most it can cost.
- The space heater runs at a steady 1,500 W, a plug-in heater on high. With a thermostat it also cycles, but it heats a whole room, so it still uses far more.
Worked example: a queen blanket
100 W, 8 hours a night, 30 nights, at 18.16¢ per kWh
- Energy: 100 × 8 ÷ 1,000 = 0.8 kWh a night
- Cost: 0.8 × $0.1816 = $0.15 a night, × 30 = $4.36 a month
- Space heater: 1,500 × 8 ÷ 1,000 = 12 kWh × $0.1816 = $2.18 a night
Ways to cut the cost
- Preheat, then turn it down. Warm the bed on high for 15 to 30 minutes, then sleep on low.
- Turn the thermostat down at night. The blanket only saves money if the house heat goes down.
- Use the timer or auto-off. Most controllers can switch off after a few hours.
- Put it under you. A heated mattress pad under the sheet loses less heat than a blanket on top.
- Replace old blankets. Newer ones are safer and often lower-wattage.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to run an electric blanket all night?
A 100 W queen blanket on for 8 hours uses at most 0.8 kWh, about 15 cents a night at the U.S. average of 18.16¢ per kWh (EIA, August 2026), or $4.36 a month. In Nevada that's $3.05 a month; in Hawaii, $11.32. Its thermostat cycles the heat, so on a low setting it costs less.
Is an electric blanket cheaper than a space heater?
Much cheaper. A 1,500 W space heater uses 15 times the power of a 100 W blanket: about $2.18 for the same 8-hour night against 15 cents. Heating the bed instead of the room is why: you warm a few pounds of bedding, not the air and walls.
How many watts does an electric blanket use?
Typical nameplate ratings are about 60 W for a single, 100 W for a double or queen, and up to about 200 W for a king with dual controls. Heated mattress pads are similar to blankets of the same size. A king blanket costs about $8.72 a month at 8 hours a night.
Is it safe to leave an electric blanket on all night?
Modern blankets have thermostats and automatic shut-off, and many are made for overnight use, but follow your model's instructions. Don't use one that's damaged or more than about 10 years old, don't fold or tuck it while it's on, and don't use one for an infant or anyone who can't switch it off.
Can an electric blanket lower my heating bill?
It can, if you turn the thermostat down at night. Lowering it 7 to 10°F for 8 hours saves up to about 10% of a year's heating, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, and a blanket costs about $21.79 for a 150-night winter at the U.S. average rate.