Heating · Virginia
How Much Does It Cost to Run a Space Heater in Virginia?
The short answer
Running a 1,500W space heater in Virginia costs about $0.26 an hour. At 8 hours a day, that’s roughly $64.06 a month and $769 a year.
That’s based on Virginia’s average residential rate of 17.6¢/kWh (EIA, July 2026), 4% below the US average.
Source: U.S. EIA, July 2026 data · Updated
Space Heater cost by daily use in Virginia
| Daily use | kWh/month | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour/day | 45.6 | $0.26 | $8.01 | $96.09 |
| 2 hours/day | 91.3 | $0.53 | $16.02 | $192 |
| 4 hours/day | 182.5 | $1.05 | $32.03 | $384 |
| 8 hours/day | 365.0 | $2.11 | $64.06 | $769 |
| 12 hours/day | 547.6 | $3.16 | $96.10 | $1,153 |
| 24 hours/day | 1,095.1 | $6.32 | $192 | $2,306 |
Virginia vs other states
At typical use, a space heater costs $769 a year in Virginia — $1,334 less than in Hawaii and $212 more than in Louisiana.
Virginia has the 20th-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC. Virginia electricity rates · all states ranked
Electricity price trend in Virginia
17.6¢/kWh in July 2026 — ▲ +11.2% 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 Virginia?
Running a 1,500W space heater for 24 hours uses about 36.0 kWh, which costs about $6.32 at Virginia’s average rate of 17.6¢/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 Virginia that costs $64.06.
Is it expensive to run a space heater in Virginia?
Virginia has the 20th-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC at 17.6¢/kWh — pricier than most. Running a space heater here costs about $769 a year at typical use, compared with $802 at the national average rate.
What is the electricity rate in Virginia right now?
The average residential electricity rate in Virginia was 17.6¢ per kWh in July 2026, according to the latest EIA data — up 11.2% 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 Virginia
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).