How much does an electric baseboard heater cost to run?

The formula

cost = watts × hours ÷ 1,000 × price per kWh

Worked example: 1,500 W × 8 h ÷ 1,000 = 12 kWh a day. 12 kWh × $0.1816 = $2.18 a day, or about $65.38 over 30 days.

How many watts does an electric baseboard heater use?

Most are rated 500 to 2,000 W. The exact figure is on the label on the back or bottom.

• Cadet's F-Series specification sheet lists standard 240/208 V baseboards from a 24-inch 350 W unit to a 96-inch 2,000 W unit, at 250 W per foot on 240 V: 500 W at 30 inches, 1,000 W at 48 inches, 1,500 W at 72 inches. A high-density 96-inch model is rated 2,500 W (312 W per foot).
• The same heater draws less on a 208 V circuit, common in apartment buildings: the 72-inch 1,500 W model is rated 1,125 W at 208 V, and the 96-inch 2,000 W model 1,500 W. Check the label on the heater for its rated watts and voltage.
• DOE says electric resistance heating, which includes baseboard heaters, turns all of the electricity it uses into heat, so one kWh in gives one kWh (3,412 BTU) of heat out. A 1,500 W heater puts out about 5,118 BTU an hour while it runs.
• For sizing, Cadet recommends 6 to 10 W per square foot of room, depending on the home's construction, the climate, and whether the heater is the only source of heat. A 100 to 150 sq ft bedroom therefore usually gets a 1,000 to 1,500 W heater.

Cost at different electricity prices

Per month (30 days) and per year (12 such months). Real use is usually seasonal. Average residential prices for August 2026 from the same EIA table. Your utility's rate, including delivery charges, may differ. Check the price per kWh on your bill.

Ways to pay less

1. Heat the rooms you use Each baseboard has its own thermostat, which makes it easy to keep spare rooms cool. DOE says this kind of zone heating can save more than 20% compared with heating the whole house. On a 1,500 W heater that runs 8 hours a day, 20% is about $13.08 a month. Keep unused rooms well above freezing so pipes don't freeze.
2. Turn it down at night and when you're out DOE says turning the thermostat down 7 to 10°F for 8 hours a day can save as much as 10% a year on heating. Unlike a heat pump, a baseboard heater has no backup heat to trigger, so setbacks are safe to use. Baseboards need a line-voltage thermostat; programmable ones are sold for 120 V and 240 V circuits.
3. Move the thermostat off the heater DOE notes that thermostats built into the heater often don't sense the room temperature accurately. A wall-mounted line-voltage thermostat on an interior wall reads the room, not the heater, which helps stop it running longer than needed.
4. Keep the fins clear and clean DOE advises cleaning baseboard heaters as needed and making sure furniture, carpeting and drapes don't block them. The heater works by drawing cool air in at the bottom, and it should sit at least 3/4 inch above the floor or carpet so that air can flow.
5. Seal drafts before adding heat Baseboards usually sit under windows, where heat loss is highest. DOE estimates sealing air leaks can save 10 to 20% on heating and cooling bills, which is cheaper than running a heater longer.

Safety. Keep furniture, beds, bedding and curtains at least 12 inches in front of a baseboard heater and 6 inches to the sides and above (Cadet). In a CPSC study of fixed electric heater fires, 28 of 40 baseboard cases were blamed on combustibles too close to the heater.