Heating · California
How Much Does It Cost to Run a Space Heater in California?
The short answer
In California, a space heater drawing 1,500W costs about $0.50 per hour — roughly $123 a month if it runs 8 hours a day.
The estimate uses California’s average residential electricity price of 33.6¢/kWh from EIA (July 2026) — 84% above the national average.
Source: U.S. EIA, July 2026 data · Updated
Space Heater cost by daily use in California
| Daily use | kWh/month | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour/day | 45.6 | $0.50 | $15.34 | $184 |
| 2 hours/day | 91.3 | $1.01 | $30.67 | $368 |
| 4 hours/day | 182.5 | $2.02 | $61.34 | $736 |
| 8 hours/day | 365.0 | $4.03 | $123 | $1,472 |
| 12 hours/day | 547.6 | $6.05 | $184 | $2,208 |
| 24 hours/day | 1,095.1 | $12.10 | $368 | $4,416 |
California vs other states
At typical use, a space heater costs $1,472 a year in California — $630 less than in Hawaii and $915 more than in Louisiana.
California has the 2nd-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC. California electricity rates · all states ranked
Electricity price trend in California
33.6¢/kWh in July 2026 — ▲ +2.9% from a year earlier.
How to lower the cost of running a space heater
A space heater is a resistance heater: virtually every watt it draws becomes heat, so a 1,500W model uses 1.5 kWh for every hour it runs on high. The low setting on most models is around 750W. Ceramic, oil-free fan heaters and infrared models all have the same electricity cost for the same wattage — the difference is how the heat is delivered, not efficiency. A built-in thermostat lowers the real-world cost because the heater cycles off once the room reaches temperature; our estimate assumes it runs at full power for the hours you enter, which gives you a safe upper bound.
- Heat the room you are in, not the whole house — lower your central thermostat a few degrees while the space heater runs.
- Use a model with a thermostat and an eco mode so it cycles off when the room is warm.
- Close doors and block drafts so the heat stays where you need it.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a space heater for 24 hours in California?
Running a 1,500W space heater for 24 hours uses about 36.0 kWh, which costs about $12.10 at California’s average rate of 33.6¢/kWh.
How many kWh does a space heater use per month?
At 8 hours a day, a typical space heater uses about 365 kWh a month. In California that costs $123.
Is it expensive to run a space heater in California?
California has the 2nd-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC at 33.6¢/kWh — one of the most expensive. Running a space heater here costs about $1,472 a year at typical use, compared with $802 at the national average rate.
What is the electricity rate in California right now?
The average residential electricity rate in California was 33.6¢ per kWh in July 2026, according to the latest EIA data — up 2.9% from a year earlier.
Is it cheaper to run a space heater or central heat?
Heating one small room with a 1,500W space heater is usually cheaper than heating the whole house with an electric furnace. A modern heat pump, however, delivers 2–4 units of heat per unit of electricity, so it can heat a room far more cheaply than any space heater.
Do ceramic or infrared space heaters use less electricity?
No. All electric resistance heaters turn about 100% of their electricity into heat. A 1,500W ceramic heater and a 1,500W infrared heater cost the same per hour.
Space Heater costs in nearby states
Other appliances in California
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 space heater: 8 hours a day. Typical power 1,500W.
- Formulas, duty cycles and limitations: methodology. Data download: open data (CC BY 4.0).