How much does it cost to run a personal space heater?
A typical personal space heater draws about 800 watts. Used 6 hours a day, that works out to roughly $0.82 per day, $8.16 per month, and $97.92 per year on an average electricity rate of 17¢ per kWh. A personal space heater typically draws 750-1500 watts for localized heating.
Personal Space Heater running cost calculator
- Per day
- $0.82
- Per month
- $8.16
- Per year
- $97.92
- CO₂ / year
- 230.4 kg
Based on 576 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 personal space 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 personal space 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 800 watts, the personal space heater is a moderate load: not the largest item on your bill, but enough that long daily use is noticeable over a year. It is a good candidate for an efficiency upgrade if your current unit is old.
Over a full year this personal space heater uses about 576 kWh of electricity and is responsible for roughly 230.4 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 personal space heater uses about as much electricity as charging a smartphone 67 times. It is a rough comparison, but it makes an abstract wattage figure easier to picture.
If this personal space heater is one you use daily, even small efficiency gains compound. Cutting its usage or wattage by 20% would save around $19.58 every year — money that an efficient replacement can recover over its lifetime.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does it cost to run a personal space heater per hour?
- At 800 watts and a 17¢/kWh rate, a personal space heater costs about $0.14 per hour to run.
- How much electricity does a personal space heater use per month?
- Running 6 hours a day, a personal space heater uses roughly 48.0 kWh per month, costing about $8.16.
- How many kWh does a personal space heater use per year?
- Used 6 hours a day for 120 days a year, a personal space heater consumes about 576 kWh annually — that is the figure your electricity rate is multiplied by to get the $97.92 yearly cost.
- Is a personal space heater expensive to run?
- Not particularly — at around $97.92 per year, a personal space heater is a relatively minor part of most electricity bills.
- How much CO₂ does a personal space heater produce?
- On an average grid, a personal space heater used this much is responsible for roughly 230.4 kg of CO₂ per year. The exact figure depends on how clean your local electricity supply is.
- How can I reduce my personal space 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 personal space heater, which uses less power for the same job.