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

Space Heater cost by daily use in Iowa

Iowa vs other states

At typical use, a space heater costs $700 a year in Iowa — $1,402 less than in Hawaii and $143 more than in Louisiana.

Iowa has the 24th-cheapest residential electricity of the 50 states and DC. Iowa price per kWh · all states ranked

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.
• Winters in Iowa are long, so heating appliances often run more hours here than the national default — adjust the hours above to match your home.