Side-by-side running cost
Space Heater vs Heat Pump: Which Costs Less to Run?
The short answer
Per hour of use, a space heater ($0.27/hr) costs about 50% less to run than a heat pump ($0.55/hr) at the US average rate of 18.3¢/kWh. At typical use (8 hours a day vs 8 hours a day), that’s $66.84 vs $134 a month.
Source: U.S. EIA, July 2026 data · Updated
Space Heater
- Typical power
- 1,500W
- Per hour
- $0.27
- Per month
- $66.84
- Per year
- $802
- Typical use
- 8 hours a day
Heat Pump
- Typical power
- 3,000W
- Per hour
- $0.55
- Per month
- $134
- Per year
- $1,604
- Typical use
- 8 hours a day
Space Heater vs Heat Pump in the 10 largest states
Monthly cost at typical use and each state’s average residential rate.
| State | Space Heater | Heat Pump | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $123 | $245 | $123 |
| Texas | $57.97 | $116 | $57.97 |
| Florida | $54.87 | $110 | $54.87 |
| New York | $109 | $218 | $109 |
| Pennsylvania | $79.29 | $159 | $79.29 |
| Illinois | $70.16 | $140 | $70.16 |
| Ohio | $71.00 | $142 | $71.00 |
| Georgia | $59.39 | $119 | $59.39 |
| North Carolina | $55.34 | $111 | $55.34 |
| Michigan | $84.14 | $168 | $84.14 |
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Is a space heater cheaper to run than a heat pump?
Per hour of use, a space heater ($0.27/hr) costs about 50% less to run than a heat pump ($0.55/hr) at the US average rate of 18.3¢/kWh. At typical use (8 hours a day vs 8 hours a day), that’s $66.84 vs $134 a month.
How much power does a space heater use compared with a heat pump?
A space heater typically draws 1,500W, while a heat pump draws about 3,000W.
More comparisons
Sources & method
- Electricity rates: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly — average residential retail price, July 2026 (latest available). Retrieved .
- CO₂: EIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024 emissions rate of in-state power generation.
- Formulas, duty cycles and limitations: methodology. Data download: open data (CC BY 4.0).