How much does it cost per year?

With 4 hours a day for 120 days a year it uses about 960 kWh a year: about $173 · £250 at $0.18/kWh and £0.26/kWh.

Use it to heat one room for a short time, not the whole house: for that it costs far more than a boiler or heat pump. Pick a model with a thermostat and timer, and close the room door.

♨️ Electric heater

How much does an electric heater cost to run? Fan heater, oil radiator and more

Hourly and monthly running cost of fan heaters, oil-filled radiators and other electric heaters, and what’s cheaper.

Typical power

2,000 W

Cost per hour

$0.36 · £0.52

Per year · 960 kWh

$173 · £250

With 4 hours a day for 120 days a year, electricity at $0.18/kWh and £0.26/kWh all-in.

All resistive electric heaters are equally efficient: 1 kWh of electricity = 1 kWh of heat. A 2,000 W fan heater running for an hour uses 2 kWh, whatever the brand.

Only the way heat is delivered changes: a fan heater warms the air quickly, an oil radiator heats slowly and holds it, infrared warms people and nearby objects. A heat pump air conditioner uses about a third of the energy for the same heat.

Consumption compared

Type	Usage	kWh/year	Cost/year
Fan heater	2,000 W	960	$173 · £250
Oil-filled radiator (average with thermostat)	1,200 W	576	$104 · £150
Halogen heater	1,200 W	576	$104 · £150
Infrared panel	600 W	288	$52 · £75
Heat pump air conditioner, for comparison	650 W	312	$56 · £81

Yearly cost with 4 hours a day for 120 days a year.

Work out your cost

PowerWHours a dayhoursDays used per yeardaysElectricity price$/kWh

Per hour: $0.36
Per month: $14.40
Per year: $173
Energy per year: 960 kWh

The price is a typical all-in figure for your country: replace it with yours (bill total ÷ kWh).

How to use less

Use it to heat one room for a short time, not the whole house: for that it costs far more than a boiler or heat pump.
Pick a model with a thermostat and timer, and close the room door.
Be wary of “miracle low-energy heaters”: for the same heat they use as much as any other.

Lower-energy modelsCompare prices and energy labels on AmazonAmazon ↗

FAQ

How much does an electric heater cost to run?: About 2,000 W, or 2 kWh for each hour of use; from 400 to 2,500 W depending on the model.
How much does it cost per year?: With 4 hours a day for 120 days a year it uses about 960 kWh a year: about $173 · £250 at $0.18/kWh and £0.26/kWh.
How can I reduce it?: Use it to heat one room for a short time, not the whole house: for that it costs far more than a boiler or heat pump. Pick a model with a thermostat and timer, and close the room door.

🌀GuideHeat pump vs gas boiler: which is cheaper to run?

And what does your whole home use?

The calculator estimates heating, hot water and appliances and tells you what to change first.

Run the free calculator →

Consumption compared

How to use less

FAQ

Other appliances