Is it worth getting an electric heater?
Using a space heater to target rooms you're using instead of heating the entire house is a surefire way to trim money off of your monthly energy spend. Space heaters cost about 20 cents per hour to operate, give or take, which is a whole lot cheaper than central heat for a home of almost any size. Bigger homes and those in colder climates cost even more to heat, and the net savings you'll see using a space heater is even greater. In short: The higher your typical monthly heating bill is, the more you can save by smartly dispatching a space heater this winter.
To find out exactly how much you can save using a space heater this winter, we did the math. While there are loads of variables -- fuel cost in your region, climate, house size, preferred temperature -- we relied on some national averages, and it turns out you can save hundreds, even into the thousands if you're heating a bigger home with pricey oil.
For more ways to save money this winter, check out five tips to save money on your heating bill, where you should move your thermostat to cut down heating costs and the best energy-saving smart gadgets that will help you cut down your bills.
How much does it cost to run a space heater?
The cost to run a space heater depends on the type of heater that you've got, including its size and wattage. A small personal heater can be purchased as cheaply as $20, whereas a full-room heater can run you up to $300, depending on the model and heating capacity. Larger heaters cover more area and are more effective (while smaller heaters in big spaces are inefficient), but also cost more to run.
You'll want to consider energy efficiency. This is tricky when it comes to space heaters because they are not currently evaluated by the Environmental Protection Agency's EnergyStar program. As a result, you'll have to take the word of the manufacturer.
Finally, you'll need to take into account your state or municipality's electricity rates. This will determine the cost per hour that you can expect to incur by running your space heater. These prices might also dictate how long you'd like to run your space heater.
On average, you can expect to pay about 20 cents per hour to run an average space heater that's 1,500 watts and can heat a standard room. If you run it for eight hours per day, you'll pay about $1.60 per day. That comes out to just under $50 per month.
How much does it cost to heat the average home?
Comparatively, the cost to heat a house varies widely, based largely on home size and fuel type. Below is what the US Energy Information Association predicts US households will spend on heating this winter, from Oct. 1 through March 31 or 181 days. The chart of anticipated costs for various fuel types to heat a home in a climate 10% colder than the national average for winter 2022-23.
Projected US heating costs for winter 2022-23
Cost per US household (Oct. '22 - Mar. '23)Average price per dayAverage price per hourIncrease from previous year Natural gas $1,096$6.05$0.2528%Heating oil $2,605$14.39$0.6027%Electricity $1,482$8.16$0.3410%Propane $2,157$11.90$0.505%
Can you save on heating by using a space heater?
This chimney-style space heater adds warmth and ambiance.
While $50 per month sounds like a steal for heating, a space heater is not a full substitute for heating an entire home. But there are plenty of ways to save money using a space heater to supplement your monthly warming and slash your utility bill. If you think about it, home heating isn't efficient since you're not in all rooms at all times. A natural foil for a bloated heating bill is to crank the thermostat down and use a space heater to warm a room you know you'll be in for an extended period such as your home office during the day or living room in the evening. For this exercise, we'll calculate how much you could save using a space heater for a third of the day, or eight hours.
Using the figures in the first chart, I've calculated the average cost of running a space heater for eight hours versus the cost of running the heat for the entire home using each of the four most popular fuel types. I then multiplied the cost of each eight-hour total by 181 days (Oct. 1 to Mar. 31). From that, you can get a snapshot of the delta between the cost of running a space heater versus central heat, along with potential savings for using a space heater for a portion of the day.
How much you'll save using a space heater
Cost per 8 hoursSavings using space heater, 8 hoursSavings with space heater, Oct-Mar Natural gas $2.00$0.40$72Heating oil $4.80$2.80$506Electricity $2.72$0.72$130Propane $4.00$2.00$434
For those using oil or propane as fuel, the savings are significant: $434 for propane and $506 for oil just through the winter season alone. Those with natural gas and electric heat save less -- $72 and $130, respectively -- but, as you'll see in the next section, these numbers don't tell the entire story. Space heater savings are much greater for those with large apartments or freestanding homes and those who live in colder parts of the country.
Folks with larger homes save more with a space heater
One big caveat to these numbers for estimated heating costs is that they account for all homes and home types in the US including smaller apartments and condos. To heat an average freestanding home with natural gas, for instance, with a 75,000-BTU furnace, you're probably looking at a number closer to 40 cents an hour, according to PickHvac's heating cost calculator. And this is a yearly average; zeroing in on the winter season only would bounce that hourly cost more. The larger your home, the more it costs to heat and the greater your savings will be if you employ a space heater.
Those in colder climates will also save more, on average
Keeping the thermostat set at or below 68 degrees in winter is another way to trim costs from your energy bill.
The figures provided by the Energy Information Association are based on climates just 10% colder than the national average. The EIA numbers represent something of a rough estimate of US heating costs, but ask anyone in North Dakota, Maine or New Hampshire, and they'll tell you these numbers are decidedly low. Anecdotally, we spoke with Deb Barber from Wakefield, Rhode Island, who uses oil to heat a 2,000-square-foot home and reported monthly winter heating bills regularly over $400.
If we use a lowball estimate of 60 cents per hour for heating a freestanding home of about 2,000 square feet with natural gas during the winter months in a colder climate, the savings for using a space heater for eight hours in place of central heat would jump to over $500 for the season. Swap in more expensive oil or propane and prorate for the same scenario above (a larger home or apartment and colder climate) and you're talking about savings well into the thousands.
If you're looking to add a space heater to cut energy costs, we've done some digging to find the best space heaters for 2023, including a budget pick, compact models and the best space heater for large rooms.
How do costs vary based on space heater settings?
The cost to run a space heater varies depending on its size and power.
On most space heaters, you'll see an option to adjust the level of heat that the appliance provides. Most have some form of a "low," "medium" and "high" setting. Typically what these settings translate to is the amount of the wattage capacity that is in use to heat your room.
Let's say you have a space heater that can produce up to 1,500 watts and you place it on the "low" setting, it may only use 750 watts of its capacity. This does have an impact on the overall energy consumption that your space heater will require. It can cut the daily cost in half. However, it may limit the heating ability of the space heater. It might be best to use the low setting to maintain warmth and only use the medium or high settings to provide additional heat to save on cost.
Space heaters are handy appliances to have, especially as the weather outside gets frightful and you need to start layering your clothes. But you'll want to prepare yourself for the cost of using a space heater. An additional $50 per month of utility costs can significantly impact your budget if you aren't prepared for it. Consider how to best balance your budget and your heating needs to make it through the winter in comfort and without breaking the bank.
How to pick the right space heater
If you're looking for some extra heat in the winter or to warm up your cubicle in a particularly cold office building, a space heater can be an excellent option. But not all space heaters are made the same. You'll want to take into account the amount of space that you're trying to heat, the way they heat the space, and the amount of energy they consume to perform the task.
For most people, a standard space heater that covers an average room will do the job. These cover about 200 square feet and are usually around 1,500 watts. If you're looking to heat under a desk or a smaller space, a personal space heater with about 400 or 500 watts will do the job.
Most space heaters fall into one of two types when it comes to generating heat. There are convection heaters, which work by heating coils that help to heat the air and spread it through the room with a fan. Then there are radiant heaters, which emit infrared radiation to help heat an area. Radiant heaters are faster but more focused, whereas a convection heater provides more even heat throughout an area. In small bursts, radiant heaters are more efficient -- but in a space that needs to be heated for an extended period, convection can prove to be more effective.
Whichever space heater you choose, make sure to check out our space heater safety guide.
If your utility relies on a time-of-use plan, learn more about peak and off-peak hours to save money. For more, check out the small home upgrade you can make that will save you big money on heating costs, and more easy ways to save money around the house.
Space heaters are, as their name suggests, designed to heat a small space in your home or possibly business. Many people will use them if they spend much of their time in one room or sometimes by their desks at work. They can be a great option to keep you warm, but they’re not always the most sensible choice. Space heaters generally run on electricity, which can reduce heating cost if you’re only using one. However, if you’re using space heaters in several areas of your home, you could be wasting money, instead of saving it. It’s a common misconception that space heaters will always save you money. If you’re using several of them, central heating could be the much better option.
Looking to Reduce Heating Cost? Learn the Real Cost of Running a Space Heater
If you want to work out whether running space heaters is really going to save you money, you need to know how much they cost to run. According to Lyon Coffey Electric Coop, a single 600-watt space heater could cost you over $60 a month to run, while a 1500 watt heater could rack up more than $150 a month. This is based on running them 24 hours a day, which isn’t recommended but people often do. This could be on top of any other costs you have to heat your home, whether you use central heat at the same time or use other methods to try and keep warm. Not forgetting that you have other electricity costs to take care of.
Meanwhile, the cost of other types of heating should be compared to work out whether running a space heater or several of them, can save you money. Other heating options use different types of fuel, including oil, gas, electric furnaces, and renewable options, such as heat pumps and solar heating. The most popular way to heat homes depends on the region, although almost half of the country uses natural gas to fuel their heating. In the Midwest, gas is by far the most popular choice, with electricity coming next, followed by propane. In winter 2014-15 (October 1 to March 31), the average spend across the country on gas heating was $642, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The cost of electricity primarily heating a home in the same winter was $960. That works out at $107 a month for gas or $160 a month for electricity.
As you can see from the numbers, even comparing a single space heater to using gas to heat your home could mean you’re saving a lot of money. If you were to use two or more powerful space heaters instead of or even on top of your central heating system, you could be wasting a whole lot of money. Even two low-wattage space heaters run 24-hours a day for a month would cost more than heating your home using a gas furnace. One space heater might save you money if you only want to heat one room, but they’re not a permanent solution.
Central Heating Options
So if space heaters could end up costing you a lot of money, what are your alternatives to heat your home? Well, even using an electric central system could reduce heating cost in comparison to several space heaters. However, if you want to get maximum efficiency and save money, it’s best to explore other options. A gas furnace is a popular choice, and if you choose the right one, you can get the best efficiency for the best price. With our knowledge and expertise in gas furnaces, we can help you choose the best one for your home or business. If you already have a gas furnace, you could be saving money right now by using it instead of turning on a space heater. Gas is the most popular choice in the Midwest and in fact in other regions with a similar climate. The areas that are deemed cold or very cold tend to favor gas over other fuels, as well as central furnaces over other heating equipment. The use of space heaters is also significant, but most people don’t use a secondary heat source – they stick to their primary method of heating instead.
There are other options to explore if you don’t want to stick with a gas furnace. If you want an efficient option, heat pumps are becoming popular. You can switch them between heating and cooling, so they’re good for the summer too. There are also renewable energy options, from ground or air-source heat pumps to solar panels, wood burners, and biofuel heating systems. When you’re thinking about what will work for your home, consider its size and your budget for installation and running it.
If you’re considering a new central heat system, you should remember that you need to pay the cost of installation too. You can make some savings on the running of your new system, but you need to think about the overall cost. If need to replace the system anyway, because it’s on its last legs, you might not worry about this so much. You need to install a new system anyway, so spending a little more doesn’t have to be a big deal. But if you’re replacing a system that still works well in the hope of saving money in the long-term, consider how long it might take to break even in savings.
How to Get the Best Energy/Fuel Deal
No matter which type of central heat system you choose, you’ll need to pay the costs of running it. Being able to find a good deal can help to ease your mind and reassure you that you’re not paying any more than you need to. When it comes to choosing your utilities, you can usually stick with the state supplier, or you can choose another energy company. Not all states have energy choice – for example, Alaska and Washington don’t – but Illinois does. If you want to compare prices for electricity and natural gas, you can use one of a number of websites that make it quick and easy. This should help you find the best price. If you use another fuel, such as oil or wood, you will have to shop around for the best places to buy or source your fuel.
Making More from Your Heating with Insulation
Whether you choose to have a gas furnace or another heating system, you can make the most of it by changing how you use it too. Making changes to your home and to your behavior can make your use of energy more efficient. One of the things that can help you conserve energy at home is to make sure it is properly insulated. Insulating the roof, wall cavities, and other spaces helps to make sure heat doesn’t escape, and you don’t waste energy. It’s also useful to ensure that there are no air leaks, especially around doors and windows, and in the roof. Replace weatherstripping that has worn away to ensure that it’s adequate and keeps out the cold. You could also consider double-glazed windows, which are gaining popularity in the US. They offer extra insulation for a warmer home and better protection against the elements. As an alternative, you can cover windows with plastic film.
Other Ways to Save on Central Heat
Making sure your home is well-insulated isn’t the only way you save on your central heating. Rather than turning off your heating completely and switching on some space heaters, you can try turning your thermostat down a little. If you’re walking around your home wearing only a thin T-shirt and you feel perfectly comfortable in the middle of winter, you can probably afford to adjust the temperature. Put on another layer instead, or perhaps even wrap yourself in a blanket if you’re just sitting around. You can also turn down the heat at night or even turn it off completely if the house has warmed up through the day. It should be fairly cool in your bedroom to help you sleep, so don’t make it too warm. Even just turning down your thermostat by a couple of degrees could make a huge difference to your energy bills.
You can also save heat by stopping air from escaping inside, as well as outside. If there are large gaps underneath your doors, you could be losing air in any room. By adjusting your door thresholds, you could keep your home warm more efficiently. Sometimes, you can raise the threshold yourself, or you can use a draft excluder. Drafts can also come from the smallest places, from keyholes to electrical boxes. Covering up even tiny holes can contribute to more efficient heating.
If your home has a chimney, make sure you’re not letting warm air escape up it or cold air to get in. Close the flue when you’re not using the fireplace, to begin with. You could still be losing some heat with the flue closed, so you can also consider using a chimney balloon. These balloons blow up to give better coverage to block air going through the chimney. If you forget to take it out before using the fire, it will deflate. But it’s still a good idea to remove them because they can pick up soot and become an obstruction.
Making sure that your furnace or other heating equipment is in good working order is essential too. Start by purchasing an efficient one, then make sure you maintain it. Your furnace could benefit from a good tune-up. It’s best to have a professional hvac contractor come out and do it for you. They’ll inspect your furnace and do some preventative maintenance.
Finally, consider getting high-tech with your thermostat. Having a programmable or smart thermostat can save you a lot of money. You can program your thermostat to turn down when you’re not at home. With a smart thermostat, you can use your phone or another device to turn the heating on or off, or up and down, when you’re not even at home.
Can Space Heaters Ever Save You Money?
Now that you know that you can save money by using central heat instead of space heaters, you might be wondering if it’s ever worth using a space heater. The truth is that space heaters aren’t entirely useless for saving money, but they will only help you up to a point. Space heaters are best when you only want to heat one room or small space, either using the heater on its own or to supplement the heating you already have running. If you want to try to make sure you save as much energy as possible, choose an energy-efficient portable heater. If you have your thermostat on, turn it down while you’re using the space heater too. And don’t forget to put on a sweater or use a blanket. Once you need to heat more than one room, it’s best to forget about using space heaters.
The Dangers of Space Heaters
Another point to keep in mind is that you shouldn’t use a space heater all the time. Ideally, you should only run it for a few hours a day. They’re not designed to be on 24 hours a day, and it could even be dangerous to have them running for too long. The most important thing is that you shouldn’t leave them unattended. You should also make sure that they are not obstructed in any way, and that nothing is leaning on them. Space heaters can be a fire risk, causing an estimated 22,000 fires in the US each year, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. These fires cause around 300 deaths annually, plus thousands more injuries. If you do decide to use a space heater, you need to extra careful when you use it. Turn it off when you leave the room for a long period, go to bed, or leave your home.
Space heaters have their place in the home, but they’re not the best solution if you want to save money. Use them for one room at a time, and rely on central heating for anything else.
You might be interested to read “2 Stage vs Variable Speed Air Conditioner – Which One Should You Choose?“.