U.S. residential electricity EIA data: July 2026 US average 18.3¢/kWh Updated

Heating · Minnesota

How Much Does It Cost to Run an Electric Baseboard Heater in Minnesota?

The short answer

In Minnesota, an electric baseboard heater drawing 1,500W costs about $0.26 per hour — roughly $63.70 a month if it runs 8 hours a day.

Minnesota’s average residential rate was 17.5¢ per kWh in July 2026 (EIA), 5% below the US average.

Source: U.S. EIA, July 2026 data · Updated

Electric Baseboard Heater cost by daily use in Minnesota

Cost at 17.5¢/kWh, the Minnesota average (EIA, Jul 2026)
Daily usekWh/monthPer dayPer monthPer year
1 hour/day 45.6 $0.26 $7.96 $95.54
2 hours/day 91.3 $0.52 $15.92 $191
4 hours/day 182.5 $1.05 $31.85 $382
8 hours/day 365.0 $2.09 $63.70 $764
12 hours/day 547.6 $3.14 $95.55 $1,146
24 hours/day 1,095.1 $6.28 $191 $2,293

Minnesota vs other states

At typical use, an electric baseboard heater costs $764 a year in Minnesota — $1,338 less than in Hawaii and $207 more than in Louisiana.

Minnesota has the 21st-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC. electricity prices in Minnesota · all states ranked

Electricity price trend in Minnesota

17.5¢/kWh in July 2026 — ▲ +3.1% 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.
  • Winters in Minnesota are long, so heating appliances often run more hours here than the national default — adjust the hours above to match your home.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to run an electric baseboard heater for 24 hours in Minnesota?

Running a 1,500W electric baseboard heater for 24 hours uses about 36.0 kWh, which costs about $6.28 at Minnesota’s average rate of 17.5¢/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 Minnesota that costs $63.70.

Is it expensive to run an electric baseboard heater in Minnesota?

Minnesota has the 21st-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC at 17.5¢/kWh — close to the middle of the pack. Running an electric baseboard heater here costs about $764 a year at typical use, compared with $802 at the national average rate.

What is the electricity rate in Minnesota right now?

The average residential electricity rate in Minnesota was 17.5¢ per kWh in July 2026, according to the latest EIA data — up 3.1% 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.

Sources & method