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

Heating · Hawaii

How Much Does It Cost to Run a Space Heater in Hawaii?

The short answer

In Hawaii, a space heater drawing 1,500W costs about $0.72 per hour — roughly $175 a month if it runs 8 hours a day.

Hawaii’s average residential rate was 48.0¢ per kWh in July 2026 (EIA), 162% above the US average.

Source: U.S. EIA, July 2026 data · Updated

Space Heater cost by daily use in Hawaii

Cost at 48.0¢/kWh, the Hawaii average (EIA, Jul 2026)
Daily usekWh/monthPer dayPer monthPer year
1 hour/day 45.6 $0.72 $21.90 $263
2 hours/day 91.3 $1.44 $43.80 $526
4 hours/day 182.5 $2.88 $87.61 $1,051
8 hours/day 365.0 $5.76 $175 $2,102
12 hours/day 547.6 $8.64 $263 $3,154
24 hours/day 1,095.1 $17.28 $526 $6,307

Hawaii vs other states

Hawaii has the most expensive electricity in the country, so running a space heater here costs $1,545 more a year than in Louisiana at the same usage.

Hawaii has the most expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC. electricity prices in Hawaii · all states ranked

Electricity price trend in Hawaii

48.0¢/kWh in July 2026 — ▲ +22.0% 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.
  • Heating seasons in Hawaii are short, so most households only run a space heater for a few weeks a year.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to run a space heater for 24 hours in Hawaii?

Running a 1,500W space heater for 24 hours uses about 36.0 kWh, which costs about $17.28 at Hawaii’s average rate of 48.0¢/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 Hawaii that costs $175.

Is it expensive to run a space heater in Hawaii?

Hawaii has the most expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC at 48.0¢/kWh — one of the most expensive. Running a space heater here costs about $2,102 a year at typical use, compared with $802 at the national average rate.

What is the electricity rate in Hawaii right now?

The average residential electricity rate in Hawaii was 48.0¢ per kWh in July 2026, according to the latest EIA data — up 22.0% 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.

Sources & method