Heating · US average
How Much Does It Cost to Run an Electric Blanket?
The short answer
A typical 100W electric blanket costs about $0.02 per hour to run at the US average electricity rate, or $4.46 a month at 8 hours a day.
Based on the US average residential rate of 18.3¢/kWh (EIA, July 2026). Costs range from $3.10/month in Louisiana to $11.68/month in Hawaii — pick your state below for an exact figure.
Source: U.S. EIA, July 2026 data · Updated
Electric Blanket running cost at the US average rate
| Daily use | kWh/month | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour/day | 3.0 | $0.02 | $0.56 | $6.68 |
| 2 hours/day | 6.1 | $0.04 | $1.11 | $13.37 |
| 4 hours/day | 12.2 | $0.07 | $2.23 | $26.73 |
| 8 hours/day | 24.3 | $0.15 | $4.46 | $53.47 |
| 12 hours/day | 36.5 | $0.22 | $6.68 | $80.20 |
| 24 hours/day | 73.0 | $0.44 | $13.37 | $160 |
Cost to run an electric blanket in every state
At 8 hours a day and each state’s average residential rate. Select a state for its full breakdown.
| Alabama | 16.4¢ | $0.02 | $3.99 | $47.89 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 28.8¢ | $0.03 | $7.02 | $84.18 |
| Arizona | 15.4¢ | $0.02 | $3.74 | $44.91 |
| Arkansas | 14.3¢ | $0.01 | $3.49 | $41.84 |
| California | 33.6¢ | $0.03 | $8.18 | $98.14 |
| Colorado | 17.0¢ | $0.02 | $4.14 | $49.64 |
| Connecticut | 24.2¢ | $0.02 | $5.88 | $70.55 |
| Delaware | 18.5¢ | $0.02 | $4.50 | $53.96 |
| District of Columbia | 25.2¢ | $0.03 | $6.14 | $73.61 |
| Florida | 15.0¢ | $0.02 | $3.66 | $43.89 |
| Georgia | 16.3¢ | $0.02 | $3.96 | $47.51 |
| Hawaii | 48.0¢ | $0.05 | $11.68 | $140 |
| Idaho | 13.7¢ | $0.01 | $3.34 | $40.09 |
| Illinois | 19.2¢ | $0.02 | $4.68 | $56.12 |
| Indiana | 16.7¢ | $0.02 | $4.07 | $48.85 |
| Iowa | 16.0¢ | $0.02 | $3.89 | $46.69 |
| Kansas | 15.3¢ | $0.02 | $3.72 | $44.59 |
| Kentucky | 13.8¢ | $0.01 | $3.36 | $40.33 |
| Louisiana | 12.7¢ | $0.01 | $3.10 | $37.14 |
| Maine | 32.4¢ | $0.03 | $7.89 | $94.64 |
| Maryland | 21.4¢ | $0.02 | $5.21 | $62.52 |
| Massachusetts | 30.5¢ | $0.03 | $7.42 | $89.03 |
| Michigan | 23.1¢ | $0.02 | $5.61 | $67.31 |
| Minnesota | 17.5¢ | $0.02 | $4.25 | $50.95 |
| Mississippi | 14.5¢ | $0.01 | $3.54 | $42.46 |
| Missouri | 16.1¢ | $0.02 | $3.92 | $46.98 |
| Montana | 15.0¢ | $0.01 | $3.65 | $43.77 |
| Nebraska | 13.8¢ | $0.01 | $3.35 | $40.24 |
| Nevada | 12.8¢ | $0.01 | $3.11 | $37.29 |
| New Hampshire | 26.6¢ | $0.03 | $6.47 | $77.67 |
| New Jersey | 25.2¢ | $0.03 | $6.13 | $73.55 |
| New Mexico | 16.1¢ | $0.02 | $3.92 | $46.98 |
| New York | 29.9¢ | $0.03 | $7.28 | $87.31 |
| North Carolina | 15.2¢ | $0.02 | $3.69 | $44.27 |
| North Dakota | 13.4¢ | $0.01 | $3.26 | $39.16 |
| Ohio | 19.5¢ | $0.02 | $4.73 | $56.79 |
| Oklahoma | 14.4¢ | $0.01 | $3.49 | $41.90 |
| Oregon | 16.0¢ | $0.02 | $3.89 | $46.63 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.7¢ | $0.02 | $5.29 | $63.42 |
| Rhode Island | 28.3¢ | $0.03 | $6.88 | $82.61 |
| South Carolina | 15.5¢ | $0.02 | $3.76 | $45.17 |
| South Dakota | 15.4¢ | $0.02 | $3.74 | $44.88 |
| Tennessee | 13.7¢ | $0.01 | $3.34 | $40.03 |
| Texas | 15.9¢ | $0.02 | $3.86 | $46.37 |
| Utah | 13.1¢ | $0.01 | $3.19 | $38.31 |
| Vermont | 23.8¢ | $0.02 | $5.78 | $69.35 |
| Virginia | 17.6¢ | $0.02 | $4.27 | $51.25 |
| Washington | 14.7¢ | $0.01 | $3.58 | $42.95 |
| West Virginia | 15.8¢ | $0.02 | $3.84 | $46.08 |
| Wisconsin | 19.1¢ | $0.02 | $4.64 | $55.66 |
| Wyoming | 14.4¢ | $0.01 | $3.49 | $41.93 |
How much electricity does an electric blanket use?
An electric blanket uses about 100W — less than a tenth of a typical space heater.
Electric blankets and heated mattress pads warm your body directly instead of the air in the room, which is why they use so little power. Most queen-size blankets draw 50–200W on high and much less on low settings. Because you are only heating a few square feet, an electric blanket combined with a lower thermostat setting overnight is one of the cheapest ways to stay warm in winter.
Ways to cut the cost
- Pre-warm the bed for 20–30 minutes, then switch to low or use the auto-off timer.
- Turn the house thermostat down a few degrees at night — the blanket keeps you comfortable.
- Choose a dual-control model so each side only heats as much as needed.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run an electric blanket per month?
At 8 hours a day, a typical electric blanket costs about $4.46 a month at the US average rate of 18.3¢/kWh. Depending on your state, the same usage costs between $3.10 and $11.68.
How many watts does an electric blanket use?
Electric blankets typically draw 50W–200W, with 100W a common figure. An electric blanket uses about 100W — less than a tenth of a typical space heater.
Which state is cheapest to run an electric blanket in?
Louisiana is currently the cheapest at about $37.14 a year for typical use, and Hawaii the most expensive at about $140 a year.
Is it cheaper to use an electric blanket or a space heater?
An electric blanket is far cheaper — about 100W versus 1,500W, so roughly 15 times less electricity per hour.
Related appliances
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).