How much does it cost to run a electric blanket?
A typical electric blanket draws about 100 watts. Used 8 hours a day, that works out to roughly $0.14 per day, $1.36 per month, and $16.32 per year on an average electricity rate of 17¢ per kWh. Heating a body instead of a room makes electric blankets cheap to run.
Electric Blanket running cost calculator
- Per day
- $0.14
- Per month
- $1.36
- Per year
- $16.32
- CO₂ / year
- 38.4 kg
Based on 96 kWh per year. Adjust the price per kWh to match your latest electricity bill for an exact figure.
The number that matters most is your own electricity rate. Rates range from under 11¢ per kWh in some regions to over 30¢ in others, so the same electric blanket can cost two or three times as much depending on where you live. Enter your exact rate in the calculator above to get a figure tailored to your bill.
Over a full year this electric blanket uses about 96 kWh of electricity and is responsible for roughly 38.4 kg of CO₂ emissions on an average grid. Reducing run time, or switching to a more efficient model, lowers both the cost and the footprint.
If this electric blanket is one you use daily, even small efficiency gains compound. Cutting its usage or wattage by 20% would save around $3.26 every year — money that an efficient replacement can recover over its lifetime.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does it cost to run a electric blanket per hour?
- At 100 watts and a 17¢/kWh rate, a electric blanket costs about $0.02 per hour to run.
- How much electricity does a electric blanket use per month?
- Running 8 hours a day, a electric blanket uses roughly 8.0 kWh per month, costing about $1.36.
- Is a electric blanket expensive to run?
- Not particularly — at around $16.32 per year, a electric blanket is a relatively minor part of most electricity bills.
- How can I reduce my electric blanket running costs?
- Use it during off-peak hours if your utility offers time-of-use pricing, reduce daily run time, and consider an ENERGY STAR rated electric blanket, which uses less power for the same job.