The short answer
A 1,500 W space heater costs about 27 cents an hour at the U.S. average electricity rate of 18.31¢ per kWh (July 2026). Run 8 hours a day, that's about $65.92 a month, from $45.79 in Louisiana to $172.80 in Hawaii.
The same cost in every state
A 1,500 W appliance running 8 hours a day, 30 days a month, at each state's average residential rate (July 2026).
| Alabama | $59.04 | $0.25 | 16.40¢ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $103.79 | $0.43 | 28.83¢ |
| Arizona | $55.37 | $0.23 | 15.38¢ |
| Arkansas | $51.59 | $0.21 | 14.33¢ |
| California | $121.00 | $0.50 | 33.61¢ |
| Colorado | $61.20 | $0.26 | 17.00¢ |
| Connecticut | $86.98 | $0.36 | 24.16¢ |
| Delaware | $66.53 | $0.28 | 18.48¢ |
| District of Columbia | $90.76 | $0.38 | 25.21¢ |
| Florida | $54.11 | $0.23 | 15.03¢ |
| Georgia | $58.57 | $0.24 | 16.27¢ |
| Hawaii | $172.80 | $0.72 | 48.00¢ |
| Idaho | $49.43 | $0.21 | 13.73¢ |
| Illinois | $69.19 | $0.29 | 19.22¢ |
| Indiana | $60.23 | $0.25 | 16.73¢ |
| Iowa | $57.56 | $0.24 | 15.99¢ |
| Kansas | $54.97 | $0.23 | 15.27¢ |
| Kentucky | $49.72 | $0.21 | 13.81¢ |
| Louisiana | $45.79 | $0.19 | 12.72¢ |
| Maine | $116.68 | $0.49 | 32.41¢ |
| Maryland | $77.08 | $0.32 | 21.41¢ |
| Massachusetts | $109.76 | $0.46 | 30.49¢ |
| Michigan | $82.98 | $0.35 | 23.05¢ |
| Minnesota | $62.82 | $0.26 | 17.45¢ |
| Mississippi | $52.34 | $0.22 | 14.54¢ |
| Missouri | $57.92 | $0.24 | 16.09¢ |
| Montana | $53.96 | $0.22 | 14.99¢ |
| Nebraska | $49.61 | $0.21 | 13.78¢ |
| Nevada | $45.97 | $0.19 | 12.77¢ |
| New Hampshire | $95.76 | $0.40 | 26.60¢ |
| New Jersey | $90.68 | $0.38 | 25.19¢ |
| New Mexico | $57.92 | $0.24 | 16.09¢ |
| New York | $107.64 | $0.45 | 29.90¢ |
| North Carolina | $54.58 | $0.23 | 15.16¢ |
| North Dakota | $48.28 | $0.20 | 13.41¢ |
| Ohio | $70.02 | $0.29 | 19.45¢ |
| Oklahoma | $51.66 | $0.22 | 14.35¢ |
| Oregon | $57.49 | $0.24 | 15.97¢ |
| Pennsylvania | $78.19 | $0.33 | 21.72¢ |
| Rhode Island | $101.84 | $0.42 | 28.29¢ |
| South Carolina | $55.69 | $0.23 | 15.47¢ |
| South Dakota | $55.33 | $0.23 | 15.37¢ |
| Tennessee | $49.36 | $0.21 | 13.71¢ |
| Texas | $57.17 | $0.24 | 15.88¢ |
| Utah | $47.23 | $0.20 | 13.12¢ |
| Vermont | $85.50 | $0.36 | 23.75¢ |
| Virginia | $63.18 | $0.26 | 17.55¢ |
| Washington | $52.96 | $0.22 | 14.71¢ |
| West Virginia | $56.81 | $0.24 | 15.78¢ |
| Wisconsin | $68.62 | $0.29 | 19.06¢ |
| Wyoming | $51.70 | $0.22 | 14.36¢ |
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, average residential price, July 2026. Your utility's rate may differ.
How it works
The formula
cost = kWh × rate ($ per kWh)
month = day × days per month; year = month × 12
Assumptions
- A month is the days you enter (30 by default) and a year is 12 such months; enter 30.4 days for something that runs every day of the year.
- The appliance draws the watts you enter the whole time it runs. Many have lower settings, so the nameplate watts are a maximum.
- Refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners and water heaters switch on and off. Enter the hours they actually run: a refrigerator runs about a third of the time, so 8 hours a day.
- The state rate is the EIA's average residential price: all residential revenue divided by kWh sold, including delivery charges and fees. Fixed monthly charges, tiers and time-of-use pricing can make your rate different.
- Typical wattages come from U.S. Department of Energy and ENERGY STAR figures. Your model may use more or less.
Worked example: a space heater
A 1,500 W space heater, 8 hours a day, at 18.31¢ per kWh
- Energy per day: 1,500 × 8 ÷ 1,000 = 12 kWh
- Cost per day: 12 × $0.1831 = $2.20
- Cost per month: 12 kWh × 30 days = 360 kWh × $0.1831 = $65.92
- Cost per hour: 1.5 kWh × $0.1831 = $0.27
Ways to cut the cost
- Measure, don't guess. A plug-in usage monitor (about $25 to $50) shows what an appliance really uses, including standby power.
- Cut the hours first. A timer or smart plug that switches a heater or fan off when you leave saves more than a slightly more efficient model.
- Switch to LED. Swapping a 60 W bulb for a 9 W LED that's on 5 hours a day saves about $16.81 a year per bulb at the U.S. average rate.
- Check for a time-of-use plan. If your utility charges less at night, run the dryer, dishwasher and EV charger then.
- Kill standby power. Put the TV, console and speakers on a switched power strip and turn it off at night.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to run a space heater?
A 1,500 W space heater costs about 27 cents an hour at the U.S. average rate of 18.31¢ per kWh (EIA, July 2026). Running it 8 hours a day for a month costs about $65.92. The same heater costs $45.79 a month in Louisiana and $172.80 in Hawaii.
How do I calculate the cost to run an appliance?
Multiply the watts by the hours it runs and divide by 1,000 to get kilowatt-hours (kWh), then multiply by your rate. A 1,500 W heater for 8 hours uses 1,500 × 8 ÷ 1,000 = 12 kWh; at 18.31¢ per kWh that's $2.20 a day.
How do I find my electricity rate?
Divide the total on your electric bill by the kWh you used that month. That gives your average cost per kWh, including delivery charges and fees. EIA state averages leave out taxes, so a rate from your bill may run a few percent higher. If you have a time-of-use plan, your rate changes by hour, so use the rate for the hours the appliance runs.
How many watts does my appliance use?
Look for the label on the back or bottom, or in the manual. If it lists amps instead, multiply amps by volts: most U.S. outlets are 120 volts, so a 10 amp appliance uses about 1,200 watts. The label shows the maximum; a plug-in usage monitor (about $25 to $50) measures what it really draws.
Do appliances use electricity when they are turned off?
Many do. TVs, game consoles, chargers and anything with a clock or remote draw a few watts on standby. A device drawing 5 W around the clock uses 43 kWh a year, about $7.91 at the U.S. average rate. A power strip with a switch cuts it to zero.