On September 24, 2026, the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) published July data showing the average US residential electricity price at 18.31 cents per kilowatt-hour, up from 17.45 cents a year earlier, a rise of about 5%. At that price, a 1,500-watt space heater on its high setting costs about 27.5 cents for every hour its element runs. Below: the monthly cost, when a heater saves money, and how to use one safely.
Key takeaways
- At 18.31 cents per kWh, a 1,500 W heater costs about $33 a month at 4 hours a day and about $66 at 8 hours a day; a 750 W setting costs half as much for the same hours.
- A heater is likely to save money only when the thermostat for the rest of the home comes down; if it doesn't, the heater raises the total bill.
- The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates portable heaters were involved in about 1,600 fires and 70 deaths a year in 2020–2022. Its core rules: 3 feet of clearance, a wall outlet instead of an extension cord or power strip, and the heater off when you sleep.
- Kerosene and propane heaters add carbon monoxide to the risk.
What it means for you
- Heating one room: it can cost less than heating the whole home, but only if the main thermostat goes down; see the cost table and the next section.
- Homes with infants or young children: supervision and never leaving a heater running unattended in a small room matter most; see the safety rules.
- Working from home all day: 8 hours on high is the costliest row in the table, and a tripped breaker means an overloaded circuit; see the FAQ.
- Considering kerosene or propane: read the CO section first.
What a space heater costs to run
An electric resistance heater turns electricity into heat directly. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources Division of Energy, a state agency, says in its space heater fact sheet that all electric resistance heaters are considered 100% efficient because there is no heat loss through ducts or combustion. So a resistance heater sold as "energy saving" makes the same heat per kilowatt-hour as any other; the bill depends on wattage and running time.
kWh per month = watts ÷ 1,000 × hours per day × days
cost = kWh × price per kWh
The price used below is the EIA's July 2026 U.S. average for residential customers, 18.31 cents per kWh, from Electric Power Monthly table 5.6.A. The EIA marks it preliminary, the next monthly update is scheduled for October 23, 2026, and your own rate depends on your state and utility, so check your bill.
Illustrative example: a 30-day month, with the heating element on for all of the stated hours.
| Setting and daily use | kWh per month | Cost per month |
|---|---|---|
| 1,500 W (high), 4 hours a day | 180 | $32.96 |
| 1,500 W (high), 8 hours a day | 360 | $65.92 |
| 750 W (low), 4 hours a day | 90 | $16.48 |
| 750 W (low), 8 hours a day | 180 | $32.96 |
Per hour, that is about 27.5 cents on high and 13.7 cents on 750 W. Treat these as upper bounds: a heater with a thermostat switches its element off once the room reaches the set temperature, so it usually runs for less time than it is switched on.
To test your own wattage, hours and rate, use the Running Cost Calculator.
When a space heater saves money
The Missouri fact sheet sets the condition: if you turn the central heating system down a few degrees and supplement the heat in a small area with a space heater, you will probably save money. If you do not turn the thermostat down, it warns, the heater will increase your total bill. It adds that heating an entire house with electric resistance heat is generally more expensive than using other systems, such as a natural gas furnace or a heat pump.
In numbers: at 4 hours a day on high the heater costs $32.96 a month, so it pays off only if the lower thermostat saves the central system at least that much.
Using heaters in several rooms works against you: three 1,500 W heaters running the same hours cost three times as much as one, which moves toward the whole-home electric resistance heating the Missouri sheet calls generally more expensive.
Fire data and a recent recall
CPSC's January 23, 2026 release estimates that portable heaters, including electric space heaters, were involved in an average of 1,600 fires a year from 2020 to 2022, resulting in an average of 70 deaths and 150 injuries a year.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) counts all home heating equipment, not only portable units. Its Home Structure Fires report (August 2025) ranks heating equipment as the second leading cause of home fires and home fire deaths in 2019–2023: an average of 65,000 fires and 430 deaths a year, or 20% of home fires and 17% of home fire deaths. Portable heaters are the deadly share: the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) says that in 2017–2019 they were only 3% of home heating fires but 41% of fatal ones.
Recall example: Vornado SRTH, June 2026
On June 4, 2026, CPSC announced recall 26-532 of about 255,000 Vornado SRTH Small Room Tower Heaters sold from August 2013 through May 2026. The fan blade can separate from the motor shaft, slowing or stopping the fan, which can lead to overheating and melting of the enclosure and internal parts. Vornado had received 32 reports of overheating, including eight reports of fire and one of smoke inhalation. Owners are told to stop using the heaters immediately and contact Vornado, which asks for photos of the heater and proof of destruction before issuing a full refund. Check any heater you own, especially a secondhand one, at cpsc.gov/recalls.
Safety rules for electric heaters
- Clearance. CPSC's 2026 release says to keep portable heaters at least 3 feet from drapes, furniture, bedding and other combustible materials. An archived 2017 CPSC OnSafety post adds front, sides and rear, on a stable, flat surface where it cannot be knocked over. USFA applies the 3-foot rule to all heat sources.
- Plug it into the wall. CPSC says to plug electric space heaters directly into a wall outlet, never into an extension cord or power strip.
- Turn it off. USFA says to turn space heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed; CPSC says to turn heaters off when sleeping.
- Tip-over and overheat protection. CPSC's eight-point checklist (October 2011) advises a heater with thermostat control and an automatic device that turns it off if it tips over. The Vornado notice shows why overheat protection matters too: melted parts can ignite if the thermal cutoff or fuse does not activate in time.
- Look for a lab mark. CPSC advises a heater tested to the latest safety standards and certified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory (December 2003), noting that older heaters may not meet newer standards. The archived 2017 post names UL as one such lab.
Children and overheating
CPSC's January 2023 release warns against leaving a portable heater running unattended in a confined space around infants or people with reduced physical, sensory or mental capabilities: heaters can cause hyperthermia (dangerous body overheating), particularly for children, people with disabilities and senior citizens, and it can be fatal. The 2011 checklist adds that young children should be carefully supervised near a space heater.
Smoke alarms
CPSC's 2026 release calls for smoke alarms on every level and inside each bedroom, tested monthly; interconnected alarms are best.
Kerosene, propane and CO
CPSC's 2026 release notes that fuel-burning heating systems can produce carbon monoxide (CO), an odorless, colorless and deadly gas. Kerosene and propane heaters burn fuel; electric heaters do not.
- CO alarms. CPSC says CO alarms belong on each level of the home and outside sleeping areas, and not in attics or basements unless they include a sleeping area (CPSC CO alarm guidance). The Missouri fact sheet says never to operate a gas space heater in a room without a working CO alarm.
- Propane. A CPSC release dated December 22, 2009 says not to use portable propane space heaters indoors or in any confined space unless they are specifically designed for indoor use, and to follow the manufacturer's directions. The same release says an unvented gas space heater that meets current safety standards will shut off if oxygen levels fall too low.
- Kerosene. The same release says never to use gasoline in a kerosene heater. CPSC's 2026 release says never to refuel a fuel-burning portable heater while in use; turn it off and let it cool first.
- Local rules. Ask your landlord or local fire department whether unvented fuel-burning heaters are allowed before buying one.
Frequently asked questions
Can a space heater trip my breaker, and what should I do?
Yes. The Missouri fact sheet warns that space heaters can overload electrical circuits and says a blown fuse or tripped breaker means the circuit is overloaded and you need to contact an electrician. Simple arithmetic shows why: 1,500 W at 120 volts draws 12.5 amps, which on a circuit rated 15 amps leaves 2.5 amps for everything else on it.
Is a 750 W setting always half the cost of 1,500 W?
For the same running time, yes. But it also delivers half the heat, so in a cold, drafty room it may need to run longer or may not keep up. With a thermostat, the bill depends on how long the element actually runs.
What should I do if my heater has been recalled?
Follow the remedy in the recall notice; in the Vornado case, stop using the heater and contact the company. CPSC's 2026 release says to check products at cpsc.gov/recalls, so search the brand and model before the heater goes back into use.
When do home fires peak?
NFPA's report finds that in 2019–2023, 46% of home structure fires and 53% of home fire deaths happened from November to March. Fires reported between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. were 19% of home fires but 48% of home fire deaths, one reason the turn-it-off-at-bedtime rule matters.
Can I use a heater in the bathroom?
CPSC's 2011 checklist says to use special caution with an electric heater in the bathroom and never to place it near a tub or sink where it could fall into the water.
A checklist for the first cold week
- Rerun the cost example with the rate on your bill.
- Heat one room and turn the main thermostat down while the heater runs.
- Search the make and model at cpsc.gov/recalls, and check the label for a testing-lab mark and for tip-over protection.
- Clear 3 feet on every side and plug straight into a wall outlet. If a breaker trips, stop and call an electrician.
- Test smoke alarms and, if anything in the home burns fuel, CO alarms. Switch the heater off when you leave the room or go to bed.
This article is general educational information, not a substitute for the manufacturer's instructions or an electrician's advice about your wiring.
Sources
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A (July 2026 data, released September 24, 2026)
- Missouri Department of Natural Resources Division of Energy (state agency), Space Heaters, PUB2849 (April 2020)
- CPSC, Keep Warm and Safe This Winter (January 23, 2026)
- CPSC, Vornado Air Recalls SRTH Small Room Tower Heaters (June 4, 2026)
- NFPA, Home Structure Fires, Shelby Hall and Tucker McGree (August 2025)
- U.S. Fire Administration, Heating Fire Safety
- CPSC, CPSC Warns Consumers to Be Cautious When Using Space Heaters, Furnaces and Fireplaces This Winter (January 5, 2023)
- CPSC, Space heater eight-point safety checklist (October 6, 2011)
- CPSC, CPSC Offers Tips to Prevent Home Fires From Space Heaters (December 16, 2003)
- CPSC, Your Space Heater Needs Space (OnSafety, January 2017, archived)
- CPSC, CPSC Urges Caution with Heating as Winter Weather Arrives (December 22, 2009)
- CPSC, CO Alarms
