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

How Much Does It Cost to Run an Oil-Filled Radiator in Minnesota?

The short answer

In Minnesota, an oil-filled radiator drawing 1,500W costs about $0.18 per hour — roughly $44.59 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

Oil-Filled Radiator 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 31.9 $0.18 $5.57 $66.88
2 hours/day 63.9 $0.37 $11.15 $134
4 hours/day 127.8 $0.73 $22.29 $268
8 hours/day 255.5 $1.47 $44.59 $535
12 hours/day 383.3 $2.20 $66.88 $803
24 hours/day 766.6 $4.40 $134 $1,605

Minnesota vs other states

At typical use, an oil-filled radiator costs $535 a year in Minnesota — $937 less than in Hawaii and $145 more than in Louisiana.

Minnesota has the 21st-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC. Minnesota electricity rates · 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 oil-filled radiator

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.

  • 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.
  • 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 oil-filled radiator for 24 hours in Minnesota?

Running a 1,500W oil-filled radiator for 24 hours uses about 25.2 kWh, which costs about $4.40 at Minnesota’s average rate of 17.5¢/kWh.

How many kWh does an oil-filled radiator use per month?

At 8 hours a day, a typical oil-filled radiator uses about 256 kWh a month. In Minnesota that costs $44.59.

Is it expensive to run an oil-filled radiator 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 oil-filled radiator here costs about $535 a year at typical use, compared with $561 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.

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.

Oil-Filled Radiator costs in nearby states

Cheapest and priciest states

Comparisons

Sources & method