How much does it cost to run a electric garage heater?
A typical electric garage heater draws about 5000 watts. Used 5 hours a day, that works out to roughly $4.25 per day, $53.13 per month, and $637.50 per year on an average electricity rate of 17¢ per kWh. Garage heaters draw high power and run frequently in winter to maintain working temperatures in uninsulated spaces.
Electric Garage Heater running cost calculator
- Per day
- $4.25
- Per month
- $53.13
- Per year
- $637.50
- CO₂ / year
- 1500 kg
Based on 3750 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 garage heater 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.
Heating appliances like the electric garage heater are usually seasonal, so your real annual cost depends heavily on your climate and how many months you run it. The figures here assume average year-round use — if you only switch it on during the coldest part of the year, scale the monthly cost by the number of months you actually use it.
At 5000 watts, the electric garage heater is a high-draw appliance — the kind that can briefly become the single biggest load in your home while it runs. On a time-of-use tariff, shifting it to off-peak hours is often the easiest way to cut its cost without using it any less.
Over a full year this electric garage heater uses about 3750 kWh of electricity and is responsible for roughly 1500 kg of CO₂ emissions on an average grid. Since it is used only part of the year, your real footprint scales with the season — the annual figure assumes a typical usage pattern.
To put the draw in everyday terms, one hour of running this electric garage heater uses about as much electricity as charging a smartphone 417 times. It is a rough comparison, but it makes an abstract wattage figure easier to picture.
If this electric garage heater is one you use daily, even small efficiency gains compound. Cutting its usage or wattage by 20% would save around $127.50 every year — money that an efficient replacement can recover over its lifetime.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does it cost to run a electric garage heater per hour?
- At 5000 watts and a 17¢/kWh rate, a electric garage heater costs about $0.85 per hour to run.
- How much electricity does a electric garage heater use per month?
- Running 5 hours a day, a electric garage heater uses roughly 312.5 kWh per month, costing about $53.13.
- How many kWh does a electric garage heater use per year?
- Used 5 hours a day for 150 days a year, a electric garage heater consumes about 3750 kWh annually — that is the figure your electricity rate is multiplied by to get the $637.50 yearly cost.
- Is a electric garage heater expensive to run?
- Yes — at around $637.50 per year, a electric garage heater is one of the more costly appliances to run, so efficiency upgrades pay off quickly.
- How much CO₂ does a electric garage heater produce?
- On an average grid, a electric garage heater used this much is responsible for roughly 1500 kg of CO₂ per year. The exact figure depends on how clean your local electricity supply is.
- How can I reduce my electric garage heater 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 garage heater, which uses less power for the same job.