How Much Does It Cost to Run a Baseboard Heater?
Electric baseboard is pure resistance heat — every watt becomes heat, but that's 3–4× the cost per degree of a heat pump. At the US-average rate of 16.5¢/kWh, running a baseboard heater costs about $45.11/month ($541.37/year) at typical use. Adjust the watts, hours, and your rate below for your exact number.
Cost to run a baseboard heater
$541/yr
- Per day
- $1.48
- Per month
- $45.11
- Energy per year
- 3,285 kWh
Cost = power (kW) × hours × days × your rate. Defaults are typical values — enter your appliance's actual watts (often on a label) and your real rate for a precise figure.
How much electricity does a baseboard heater use?
At 1,500 W for 6 hours a day, a baseboard heater uses about 9.0 kWh per day — roughly 274 kWh per month and 3,285 kWh per year. That's about 32% of the 863 kWh the average US home uses in a month. Energy use is the same everywhere — only the price per kWh changes your bill.
Wondering about the circuit instead? See how many amps a baseboard heater draws.
Cost to run a baseboard heater by electricity rate
Same 1,500 W appliance, 6 h/day — the bill changes with where you live.
| Scenario | Rate | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheapest states (North Dakota) | 11.5¢ | $31.51 | $378.10 |
| US average | 16.5¢ | $45.11 | $541.37 |
| Most expensive (Hawaii) | 42.9¢ | $117.33 | $1,407.95 |
Find your state's rate on the electricity rates by state page, or see the appliance wattage chart for more devices.
Measure what a baseboard heater really costs you
The estimate above uses typical wattage and hours. This load is usually hardwired or on a 240 V circuit, so a plug-in meter won't fit it; a whole-home monitor's sensors clip onto the circuit's wires inside the panel and log its real kilowatt-hours. That means working in a live panel — hire an electrician if that isn't you.
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Whole-home energy monitor
Emporia Vue 3 Home Energy Monitor (16 circuit sensors)
Best for: Measuring hardwired and 240 V loads, or every circuit at once
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