Electric Baseboard Heater running cost, by state
A electric baseboard heater drawing 1250W costs about $469 a year at the US average electricity rate — but that average hides a fourfold spread. Pick your state for a real figure.
At the US average rate
1250W at a 70% duty cycle, 8 hours a day, at 18.34¢/kWh.
About this appliance
Baseboard heaters are resistance heating with per-room thermostats. The per-room control is the saving grace: heating two rooms rather than eight is what makes them tolerable in a high-rate state.
- Nameplate wattage is not running cost. This electric baseboard heater draws about 1250W when active, but cycles roughly 70% of the time it is switched on, so effective consumption is near 875W.
- At typical use this is a major load - around 2,555 kWh a year. Efficiency upgrades here pay back faster than on any small appliance.
- Models vary widely, from about 750W to 2000W. Check the nameplate on your own unit rather than assuming an average, because the spread is more than 2x.
- Insulation and air sealing reduce runtime, which lowers cost more reliably than adjusting the thermostat by a degree.
- If your utility offers time-of-use pricing, shifting this load off-peak can cut its cost substantially without using any less energy.
Annual cost in every state
Sorted cheapest first. Click any state for the full calculation with that state’s rate loaded.
| State | Rate /kWh | Per month | Per year | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | 13.11¢ | $27.93 | $335 | |
| Nebraska | 13.25¢ | $28.23 | $339 | |
| Utah | 13.37¢ | $28.49 | $342 | |
| Louisiana | 13.49¢ | $28.74 | $345 | |
| Tennessee | 14.07¢ | $29.98 | $359 | |
| Arkansas | 14.12¢ | $30.09 | $361 | |
| North Dakota | 14.12¢ | $30.09 | $361 | |
| Kentucky | 14.26¢ | $30.39 | $364 | |
| Oklahoma | 14.33¢ | $30.53 | $366 | |
| Idaho | 14.37¢ | $30.62 | $367 | |
| North Carolina | 14.74¢ | $31.41 | $377 | |
| Mississippi | 14.88¢ | $31.71 | $380 | |
| Washington | 14.91¢ | $31.77 | $381 | |
| New Mexico | 15.06¢ | $32.09 | $385 | |
| Florida | 15.10¢ | $32.18 | $386 | |
| Montana | 15.14¢ | $32.26 | $387 | |
| Arizona | 15.18¢ | $32.35 | $388 | |
| Wyoming | 15.24¢ | $32.47 | $389 | |
| South Dakota | 15.36¢ | $32.73 | $392 | |
| West Virginia | 15.45¢ | $32.92 | $395 | |
| South Carolina | 15.55¢ | $33.13 | $397 | |
| Kansas | 15.71¢ | $33.47 | $401 | |
| Iowa | 15.93¢ | $33.94 | $407 | |
| Texas | 15.94¢ | $33.96 | $407 | |
| Missouri | 16.22¢ | $34.56 | $414 | |
| Oregon | 16.32¢ | $34.77 | $417 | |
| Georgia | 16.36¢ | $34.86 | $418 | |
| Alabama | 16.40¢ | $34.95 | $419 | |
| Colorado | 17.13¢ | $36.50 | $438 | |
| Virginia | 17.22¢ | $36.69 | $440 | |
| Indiana | 17.51¢ | $37.31 | $447 | |
| Minnesota | 17.52¢ | $37.33 | $448 | |
| Ohio | 19.19¢ | $40.89 | $490 | |
| Delaware | 19.29¢ | $41.10 | $493 | |
| Wisconsin | 19.56¢ | $41.68 | $500 | |
| Illinois | 19.89¢ | $42.38 | $508 | |
| Pennsylvania | 21.73¢ | $46.30 | $555 | |
| Maryland | 21.84¢ | $46.54 | $558 | |
| Michigan | 22.99¢ | $48.99 | $587 | |
| Connecticut | 24.32¢ | $51.82 | $621 | |
| District of Columbia | 24.39¢ | $51.97 | $623 | |
| Vermont | 24.44¢ | $52.08 | $624 | |
| New Jersey | 24.95¢ | $53.16 | $637 | |
| New Hampshire | 27.01¢ | $57.55 | $690 | |
| Alaska | 28.21¢ | $60.11 | $721 | |
| Rhode Island | 29.23¢ | $62.28 | $747 | |
| New York | 29.49¢ | $62.84 | $753 | |
| Maine | 29.59¢ | $63.05 | $756 | |
| Massachusetts | 29.61¢ | $63.09 | $757 | |
| California | 34.74¢ | $74.02 | $888 | |
| Hawaii | 52.72¢ | $112 | $1,347 |
Common questions
How many watts does a electric baseboard heater use?
A typical electric baseboard heater draws about 1250 watts while running, with most models falling between 750W and 2000W. Check the nameplate label or manual for your specific unit - the range is wide enough that averages can mislead.
How much electricity does a electric baseboard heater use per day?
At around 8 hours of use a day and a 70% duty cycle, that works out to roughly 7 kWh per day, or about 210 kWh a month. Your actual figure depends on your usage and model.
Why does the cost differ so much between states?
Residential electricity rates across the US range from about 12.35 cents per kWh in North Dakota to 46.62 cents in Hawaii - nearly a fourfold difference. The same electric baseboard heater, used identically, therefore costs almost four times as much to run in the most expensive state as in the cheapest.
Is it cheaper to run a electric baseboard heater at night?
Only if you are on a time-of-use or variable tariff. On a flat rate, the time of day makes no difference to cost. If you are on time-of-use pricing, off-peak hours are typically materially cheaper, and shifting this load can reduce its cost without reducing usage.