Heating · Montana
How Much Does It Cost to Run an Electric Baseboard Heater in Montana?
The short answer
A typical 1,500W electric baseboard heater costs about $0.22 per hour to run in Montana, or $54.72 a month at 8 hours a day.
That’s based on Montana’s average residential rate of 15.0¢/kWh (EIA, July 2026), 18% below the US average.
Source: U.S. EIA, July 2026 data · Updated
Electric Baseboard Heater cost by daily use in Montana
| Daily use | kWh/month | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour/day | 45.6 | $0.22 | $6.84 | $82.07 |
| 2 hours/day | 91.3 | $0.45 | $13.68 | $164 |
| 4 hours/day | 182.5 | $0.90 | $27.36 | $328 |
| 8 hours/day | 365.0 | $1.80 | $54.72 | $657 |
| 12 hours/day | 547.6 | $2.70 | $82.08 | $985 |
| 24 hours/day | 1,095.1 | $5.40 | $164 | $1,970 |
Montana vs other states
At typical use, an electric baseboard heater costs $657 a year in Montana — $1,446 less than in Hawaii and $99.43 more than in Louisiana.
Montana has the 14th-cheapest residential electricity of the 50 states and DC. electricity prices in Montana · all states ranked
Electricity price trend in Montana
15.0¢/kWh in July 2026 — ▲ +5.0% 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 Montana 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 Montana?
Running a 1,500W electric baseboard heater for 24 hours uses about 36.0 kWh, which costs about $5.40 at Montana’s average rate of 15.0¢/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 Montana that costs $54.72.
Is it expensive to run an electric baseboard heater in Montana?
Montana has the 14th-cheapest residential electricity of the 50 states and DC at 15.0¢/kWh — cheaper than most. Running an electric baseboard heater here costs about $657 a year at typical use, compared with $802 at the national average rate.
What is the electricity rate in Montana right now?
The average residential electricity rate in Montana was 15.0¢ per kWh in July 2026, according to the latest EIA data — up 5.0% 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 Montana
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).