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

Heating · Wisconsin

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

The short answer

A typical 1,500W space heater costs about $0.29 per hour to run in Wisconsin, or $69.58 a month at 8 hours a day.

That’s based on Wisconsin’s average residential rate of 19.1¢/kWh (EIA, July 2026), 4% above the US average.

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

Space Heater cost by daily use in Wisconsin

Cost at 19.1¢/kWh, the Wisconsin average (EIA, Jul 2026)
Daily usekWh/monthPer dayPer monthPer year
1 hour/day 45.6 $0.29 $8.70 $104
2 hours/day 91.3 $0.57 $17.39 $209
4 hours/day 182.5 $1.14 $34.79 $417
8 hours/day 365.0 $2.29 $69.58 $835
12 hours/day 547.6 $3.43 $104 $1,252
24 hours/day 1,095.1 $6.86 $209 $2,504

Wisconsin vs other states

At typical use, a space heater costs $835 a year in Wisconsin — $1,268 less than in Hawaii and $278 more than in Louisiana.

Wisconsin has the 18th-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC. electricity prices in Wisconsin · all states ranked

Electricity price trend in Wisconsin

19.1¢/kWh in July 2026 — ▲ +4.4% 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.
  • Winters in Wisconsin 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 a space heater for 24 hours in Wisconsin?

Running a 1,500W space heater for 24 hours uses about 36.0 kWh, which costs about $6.86 at Wisconsin’s average rate of 19.1¢/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 Wisconsin that costs $69.58.

Is it expensive to run a space heater in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin has the 18th-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC at 19.1¢/kWh — pricier than most. Running a space heater here costs about $835 a year at typical use, compared with $802 at the national average rate.

What is the electricity rate in Wisconsin right now?

The average residential electricity rate in Wisconsin was 19.1¢ per kWh in July 2026, according to the latest EIA data — up 4.4% 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