How much does it cost to run a electric shower heater?
A typical electric shower heater draws about 8000 watts. Used 0.25 hours a day, that works out to roughly $0.34 per day, $10.34 per month, and $124.10 per year on an average electricity rate of 17¢ per kWh. Electric shower heaters draw 7-9 kW and are among the highest-power home appliances when running.
Electric Shower Heater running cost calculator
- Per day
- $0.34
- Per month
- $10.34
- Per year
- $124.10
- CO₂ / year
- 292 kg
Based on 730 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 shower 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.
As a bathroom device, the electric shower heater sits in the middle of most household energy budgets. The number that moves your bill is total run time, so the usage hours in the calculator above matter as much as the wattage.
At 8000 watts, the electric shower 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 shower heater uses about 730 kWh of electricity and is responsible for roughly 292 kg of CO₂ emissions on an average grid. Because it runs more or less year-round, even a small reduction in daily use carries straight through to a lower annual total.
To put the draw in everyday terms, one hour of running this electric shower heater uses about as much electricity as charging a smartphone 667 times. It is a rough comparison, but it makes an abstract wattage figure easier to picture.
If this electric shower heater is one you use daily, even small efficiency gains compound. Cutting its usage or wattage by 20% would save around $24.82 every year — money that an efficient replacement can recover over its lifetime.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does it cost to run a electric shower heater per hour?
- At 8000 watts and a 17¢/kWh rate, a electric shower heater costs about $1.36 per hour to run.
- How much electricity does a electric shower heater use per month?
- Running 0.25 hours a day, a electric shower heater uses roughly 60.8 kWh per month, costing about $10.34.
- How many kWh does a electric shower heater use per year?
- Used 0.25 hours a day for 365 days a year, a electric shower heater consumes about 730 kWh annually — that is the figure your electricity rate is multiplied by to get the $124.10 yearly cost.
- Is a electric shower heater expensive to run?
- Not particularly — at around $124.10 per year, a electric shower heater is a relatively minor part of most electricity bills.
- How much CO₂ does a electric shower heater produce?
- On an average grid, a electric shower heater used this much is responsible for roughly 292 kg of CO₂ per year. The exact figure depends on how clean your local electricity supply is.
- How can I reduce my electric shower 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 shower heater, which uses less power for the same job.