Heating · California
How Much Does It Cost to Run an Electric Baseboard Heater in California?
The short answer
A typical 1,500W electric baseboard heater costs about $0.50 per hour to run in California, or $123 a month at 8 hours a day.
That’s based on California’s average residential rate of 33.6¢/kWh (EIA, July 2026), 84% above the US average.
Source: U.S. EIA, July 2026 data · Updated
Electric Baseboard Heater cost by daily use in California
| Daily use | kWh/month | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour/day | 45.6 | $0.50 | $15.34 | $184 |
| 2 hours/day | 91.3 | $1.01 | $30.67 | $368 |
| 4 hours/day | 182.5 | $2.02 | $61.34 | $736 |
| 8 hours/day | 365.0 | $4.03 | $123 | $1,472 |
| 12 hours/day | 547.6 | $6.05 | $184 | $2,208 |
| 24 hours/day | 1,095.1 | $12.10 | $368 | $4,416 |
California vs other states
At typical use, an electric baseboard heater costs $1,472 a year in California — $630 less than in Hawaii and $915 more than in Louisiana.
California has the 2nd-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC. California price per kWh · all states ranked
Electricity price trend in California
33.6¢/kWh in July 2026 — ▲ +2.9% from a year earlier.
How to lower the cost of running an electric baseboard heater
Baseboard heaters are wall-mounted resistance heaters wired into a 240V circuit. Like space heaters, they convert electricity to heat at about 100%, and size determines cost: roughly 250 watts per linear foot. A home heated entirely by baseboards may have several units per room, so multiply by the number of units running. Enter the hours per day the heater is actually on — line-voltage thermostats cycle them on and off to hold the set temperature.
- Install programmable line-voltage thermostats to lower temperatures when rooms are empty.
- Keep furniture and curtains at least 6 inches away so heat can circulate.
- Heating a whole home with baseboards? A ductless mini-split heat pump can cut heating costs by half or more.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run an electric baseboard heater for 24 hours in California?
Running a 1,500W electric baseboard heater for 24 hours uses about 36.0 kWh, which costs about $12.10 at California’s average rate of 33.6¢/kWh.
How many kWh does an electric baseboard heater use per month?
At 8 hours a day, a typical electric baseboard heater uses about 365 kWh a month. In California that costs $123.
Is it expensive to run an electric baseboard heater in California?
California has the 2nd-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC at 33.6¢/kWh — one of the most expensive. Running an electric baseboard heater here costs about $1,472 a year at typical use, compared with $802 at the national average rate.
What is the electricity rate in California right now?
The average residential electricity rate in California was 33.6¢ per kWh in July 2026, according to the latest EIA data — up 2.9% from a year earlier.
How many watts does a baseboard heater use per foot?
About 250 watts per linear foot, so a 4-foot heater is about 1,000W and an 8-foot heater about 2,000W.
Electric Baseboard Heater costs in nearby states
Other appliances in California
Cheapest and priciest states
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.
- Default usage for electric baseboard heater: 8 hours a day. Typical power 1,500W.
- Formulas, duty cycles and limitations: methodology. Data download: open data (CC BY 4.0).