Heating · US average
How Much Does It Cost to Run an Oil-Filled Radiator?
The short answer
A typical 1,500W oil-filled radiator costs about $0.19 per hour to run at the US average electricity rate, or $46.79 a month at 8 hours a day.
Based on the US average residential rate of 18.3¢/kWh (EIA, July 2026). Costs range from $32.50/month in Louisiana to $123/month in Hawaii — pick your state below for an exact figure.
Source: U.S. EIA, July 2026 data · Updated
Oil-Filled Radiator running cost at the US average rate
| Daily use | kWh/month | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour/day | 31.9 | $0.19 | $5.85 | $70.17 |
| 2 hours/day | 63.9 | $0.38 | $11.70 | $140 |
| 4 hours/day | 127.8 | $0.77 | $23.39 | $281 |
| 8 hours/day | 255.5 | $1.54 | $46.79 | $561 |
| 12 hours/day | 383.3 | $2.31 | $70.18 | $842 |
| 24 hours/day | 766.6 | $4.61 | $140 | $1,684 |
Cost to run an oil-filled radiator 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¢ | $0.17 | $41.91 | $503 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 28.8¢ | $0.30 | $73.67 | $884 |
| Arizona | 15.4¢ | $0.16 | $39.30 | $472 |
| Arkansas | 14.3¢ | $0.15 | $36.62 | $439 |
| California | 33.6¢ | $0.35 | $85.88 | $1,030 |
| Colorado | 17.0¢ | $0.18 | $43.44 | $521 |
| Connecticut | 24.2¢ | $0.25 | $61.74 | $741 |
| Delaware | 18.5¢ | $0.19 | $47.22 | $567 |
| District of Columbia | 25.2¢ | $0.26 | $64.42 | $773 |
| Florida | 15.0¢ | $0.16 | $38.41 | $461 |
| Georgia | 16.3¢ | $0.17 | $41.57 | $499 |
| Hawaii | 48.0¢ | $0.50 | $123 | $1,472 |
| Idaho | 13.7¢ | $0.14 | $35.08 | $421 |
| Illinois | 19.2¢ | $0.20 | $49.11 | $589 |
| Indiana | 16.7¢ | $0.18 | $42.75 | $513 |
| Iowa | 16.0¢ | $0.17 | $40.86 | $490 |
| Kansas | 15.3¢ | $0.16 | $39.02 | $468 |
| Kentucky | 13.8¢ | $0.15 | $35.29 | $423 |
| Louisiana | 12.7¢ | $0.13 | $32.50 | $390 |
| Maine | 32.4¢ | $0.34 | $82.82 | $994 |
| Maryland | 21.4¢ | $0.22 | $54.71 | $656 |
| Massachusetts | 30.5¢ | $0.32 | $77.91 | $935 |
| Michigan | 23.1¢ | $0.24 | $58.90 | $707 |
| Minnesota | 17.5¢ | $0.18 | $44.59 | $535 |
| Mississippi | 14.5¢ | $0.15 | $37.15 | $446 |
| Missouri | 16.1¢ | $0.17 | $41.11 | $493 |
| Montana | 15.0¢ | $0.16 | $38.30 | $460 |
| Nebraska | 13.8¢ | $0.14 | $35.21 | $422 |
| Nevada | 12.8¢ | $0.13 | $32.63 | $392 |
| New Hampshire | 26.6¢ | $0.28 | $67.97 | $816 |
| New Jersey | 25.2¢ | $0.26 | $64.37 | $772 |
| New Mexico | 16.1¢ | $0.17 | $41.11 | $493 |
| New York | 29.9¢ | $0.31 | $76.40 | $917 |
| North Carolina | 15.2¢ | $0.16 | $38.74 | $465 |
| North Dakota | 13.4¢ | $0.14 | $34.27 | $411 |
| Ohio | 19.5¢ | $0.20 | $49.70 | $596 |
| Oklahoma | 14.4¢ | $0.15 | $36.67 | $440 |
| Oregon | 16.0¢ | $0.17 | $40.81 | $490 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.7¢ | $0.23 | $55.50 | $666 |
| Rhode Island | 28.3¢ | $0.30 | $72.29 | $867 |
| South Carolina | 15.5¢ | $0.16 | $39.53 | $474 |
| South Dakota | 15.4¢ | $0.16 | $39.27 | $471 |
| Tennessee | 13.7¢ | $0.14 | $35.03 | $420 |
| Texas | 15.9¢ | $0.17 | $40.58 | $487 |
| Utah | 13.1¢ | $0.14 | $33.53 | $402 |
| Vermont | 23.8¢ | $0.25 | $60.69 | $728 |
| Virginia | 17.6¢ | $0.18 | $44.85 | $538 |
| Washington | 14.7¢ | $0.15 | $37.59 | $451 |
| West Virginia | 15.8¢ | $0.17 | $40.32 | $484 |
| Wisconsin | 19.1¢ | $0.20 | $48.70 | $584 |
| Wyoming | 14.4¢ | $0.15 | $36.69 | $440 |
How much electricity does an oil-filled radiator use?
Oil-filled radiators draw up to 1,500W like other space heaters, but their thermostat cycles them off more often because the oil keeps radiating heat.
An oil-filled radiator heats sealed-in oil, which then releases heat slowly through the fins. It is not more efficient than a fan heater — electricity to heat is still about 1:1 — but the stored heat means the thermostat switches the element off for longer stretches once the room is warm. We assume the element is on about 70% of the time, so a 1,500W radiator averages roughly 1.05 kWh per hour of use. Expect the real number to be higher in a cold, drafty room and lower in a well-insulated one.
Ways to cut the cost
- Set the thermostat dial to the lowest comfortable setting and let the oil do the work.
- Place it near the coldest wall or under a window, away from furniture that blocks the fins.
- Switch to the lower power setting (600–900W) once the room is up to temperature.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run an oil-filled radiator per month?
At 8 hours a day, a typical oil-filled radiator costs about $46.79 a month at the US average rate of 18.3¢/kWh. Depending on your state, the same usage costs between $32.50 and $123.
How many watts does an oil-filled radiator use?
Oil-filled radiators typically draw 600W–1,500W, with 1,500W a common figure. Oil-filled radiators draw up to 1,500W like other space heaters, but their thermostat cycles them off more often because the oil keeps radiating heat.
Which state is cheapest to run an oil-filled radiator in?
Louisiana is currently the cheapest at about $390 a year for typical use, and Hawaii the most expensive at about $1,472 a year.
Are oil-filled heaters cheaper to run than fan heaters?
Per watt, no — both convert electricity to heat at about 100%. In practice an oil-filled radiator often uses a little less because its thermostat cycles off for longer once the oil is hot.
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).