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How Much Does It Cost to Run a 1500 Watt Electric Heater?

Last Updated on January 11, 2024

Written by Rachael Gilpin

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Staying warm through cold nights can be a challenge, particularly if you live in an old building or a historical home without insulation. Bundling up can help, however, doing so regularly can feel inconvenient and uncomfortable.

In this analysis, we’ll talk about using an electric space heater to answer your thermostat prayers; as well as how you can use a space heater that runs on 1,500 watts to turn your home into a cozy room you enjoy spending time in. Customers rarely enjoy a hidden cost or high electric bill, so we’ll also discuss how much money you can expect to spend, and how to minimize your heater energy cost as well.

How Much Space Can a 1500 W Heater Heat?

A supplemental space heater can be a lifesaver, but it can also be tricky to figure how much you need without blowing up your electricity bill. A good rule of thumb to determine how many watts you need to heat your space is to remember, 10 watts per square foot.

500 watts is great for up to 50 square feet, spaces like a desktop, cubicle, or bathroom. Think personal room use.

750 watts works well for a small office, small bedroom, or bathroom.

1000 watts should warm up large bathrooms, small living rooms, or a small room.

1500 watts will heat spaces up to about 150 square feet and can help you stay warm and toasty in a medium-sized room, office, kitchen, or modest-sized living room.

Check Out Our Guide: Best Space Heater for Large Room

The Difference Between Convection and Infrared Heater

Convection heaters heat the air. They have a heating element inside that gets hot, and the heaters then disperse the warmth using natural airflow or a fan.

Infrared heaters warm up objects and people. Think of a cool spring day when it’s freezing in the shade but as soon as you step foot into the sunlight it’s warm. Infrared heaters work like this; it’s the kind of heat the sun provides. These types of heaters use infrared radiation, and this radiation feels warm because it is absorbed by objects in its path. Heaters that range up to 1,500 watts are also considered to be fairly safe options.

How Much Electricity Does a 1500 Watt Space Heater Use?

Predicting the rate and cost a space heater will use over a period of time includes a few variables like wattage, kilowatt-hours, rate, and more. You’ll want to think about where you’ll be using it (if it’s a small space you may not need it on continually) and how much time you estimate it’ll actively be in use.

A 1500 watt heater uses exactly this, 1500 watts per hour, relative to 24 hours, heating a modest-sized room.

Many household products use just as much if not more than 1500 watts, so, relatively speaking, heaters are fairly reasonable in terms of energy required. A coffee maker could use anywhere from 600 to 1200 watts, and a waffle iron uses about 800 to 1500 or more. Many refrigerators cost about the same per kilowatt-hours; meaning, other common items use a similar amount of energy.

Want to know more? Check out our complete guide for most efficient space heaters.

Calculate How Much Will a 1500 Watt Heater Cost to Run

Planning ahead can be helpful when considering electronic products and your energy rate. Let’s say you plan to use your heater for eight hours to keep you warm through the night.

Take the number of watts and multiple that by the hours the space heater will be in use.

1500 watts x 8 hours = 12000

Divide this number by 1000

12000/1000 = 12

Let’s say your energy company charges you $0.25 for electricity. So we need to multiple the electricity usage by the energy costs to get our final figure.

12 x $0.25 =$3 rate per 8 hours

How to Cut Space Heater Costs?

A space heater may sound like a great idea, but you might be nervous wondering how much does it cost. You can cut your appliances costs by buying a heater with a digital thermostat, this way you can see exactly how warm you’ll be getting ahead of time; instead of switching a heater on to full blast and dripping sweat from the heat 30 minutes later.

You can also purchase a heater that features an “eco mode” which means that once the thermostat setpoint has been reached, the heater will par down heat production.

A good rule of thumb is to remember, 10 watts per square foot. So, if you have a small 50 square foot bathroom, 500 watts should keep you toasty.

Conclusion

Going to bed at night in a chilly room without a heater or furnace could have you calculating potential cents per kilowatt-hour, carry the 9… as you drift off, desperate for relief. Many folks are often surprised by their low electric heater cost. The energy and cost to run these coil heaters often employ a moderate wattage, reducing the need for a furnace. You can set the thermostat and walk away, confident without question you’ll soon be toasty warm.

Rachael Gilpin

Rachael Gilpin

Content Writer

About Author

Rachael is a content writer for Sleep Advisor who loves combining her enthusiasm for writing and wellness.

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