Heating & Cooling · Northeast
Cost to run a electric baseboard heater in Maryland
At Maryland’s average residential rate of 21.77¢ per kWh, a electric baseboard heater drawing 1250W for 8 hours a day costs about $46.39 a month. Change the numbers below to match how you actually use yours.
Winters in Maryland are cold enough that a electric baseboard heater will carry real load from late autumn through early spring, then sit idle for the rest of the year. Spreading the annual cost evenly across twelve months therefore flatters the summer months and understates the winter bill.
Quick answer
Based on 1250W at a 70% duty cycle (this equipment cycles on and off rather than drawing full power continuously) and 21.77¢/kWh, the Maryland average for May 2026.
Calculate your own cost
Everything is worked out in your browser. Your numbers are never sent to our server.
— per year
Why the cost differs in Maryland
Maryland has the 37th cheapest residential electricity of the 51 US states and territories we track, at 21.77¢ per kWh against a national average of 18.44¢. That is +18.1% compared with the national figure. Maryland saw significant increases through 2025-26 driven by PJM capacity auction results rather than fuel costs. Retail choice is available, so your contracted supply rate may differ substantially from the state average. Data-center growth in the broader region is adding demand. Both heating and cooling seasons contribute, with humid summers driving the sharper peak.
For this appliance specifically, the difference works out to an extra $85.08 a year over what the same electric baseboard heater would cost at the national average rate. Run the identical appliance in Hawaii and it would cost $1,329 a year; in Idaho it would cost $316. That spread of $1,013 is entirely down to location.
That is about 24% of a typical Maryland household's annual electricity bill from this one appliance, which is enough to be worth optimising.
Maryland sits above the national average, so the running cost of this electric baseboard heater is modestly higher than a typical US household would pay. Usage habits still matter more than location at this rate level.
Because Maryland has retail supplier choice, the state average blends many different contracted rates. If you have shopped for a plan, your own price per kWh is the number to put in the calculator.
| Location | Rate | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland this page | 21.77¢ | $46.39 | $556 |
| US average | 18.44¢ | $39.29 | $471 |
| Idaho cheapest state | 12.35¢ | $26.32 | $316 |
| Hawaii most expensive | 52.00¢ | $111 | $1,329 |
Maryland electricity rate trend
Rates in Maryland have moved from 19.29¢ to 21.77¢ per kWh over the last twelve months of published data. Nationally, residential rates rose about 6.2% year over year.
2025-06 to 2026-05 · cents per kWh
About running a electric baseboard heater
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.
What actually changes the cost
- 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.
How we worked this out
The arithmetic is simple and we would rather show it than hide it. Divide watts by 1,000 to get kilowatts, multiply by hours of use and by the duty cycle to get kilowatt-hours, then multiply by your rate:
1250W ÷ 1000 × 8h × 70% = 7.000 kWh/day × 21.77¢ = $1.524 per day
One honest caveat: Maryland’s figure is a state average published by the EIA. Your own utility’s tariff, any time-of-use pricing, fixed monthly service charges and local taxes all shift the real number. Put your actual per-kWh rate into the calculator above for a figure that reflects your bill.
Questions about electric baseboard heater running costs
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.