Garage heater: electricity cost calculator
Quick answer: a typical garage heater costs about $112/month while in use at the U.S. average electricity price (18.44¢/kWh) across a 4-month season (about $449/year). Your number depends on wattage, runtime and your state — calculate it below.
Hard-wired 240 V garage heaters draw 5,000–7,500 W. In a typical uninsulated garage much of that heat leaks straight out — insulating the door often halves the runtime needed.
20.00 kWh/day used · 609 kWh/month in use · 2435 kWh/year at 18.44¢ per kWh (4 months of use per year)
Low, typical and heavy use
Monthly cost while in use, at the U.S. average price of 18.44¢/kWh.
| Scenario | Watts | Hours/day | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light use | 1,500 W | 2.4 h | $20.21 |
| Typical | 5,000 W | 4.0 h | $112.25 |
| Heavy use | 7,500 W | 6.0 h | $252.57 |
Common questions
What does heating my garage workshop cost?
A 5 kW heater running 4 hours per workday costs around $44 per month at the U.S. average price. Zone heating just the workbench area with a smaller unit is far cheaper.
Cost in every state
Monthly cost of a typical garage heater (5,000 W, 4h/day) at each state's average residential price, May 2026.
| State | Avg price | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.77¢ | $102.09 |
| Alaska | 28.23¢ | $171.85 |
| Arizona | 15.23¢ | $92.71 |
| Arkansas | 14.36¢ | $87.42 |
| California | 33.25¢ | $202.41 |
| Colorado | 16.16¢ | $98.37 |
| Connecticut | 27.37¢ | $166.61 |
| Delaware | 19.38¢ | $117.98 |
| District of Columbia | 25.40¢ | $154.62 |
| Florida | 15.17¢ | $92.35 |
| Georgia | 15.84¢ | $96.43 |
| Hawaii | 52.00¢ | $316.55 |
| Idaho | 12.35¢ | $75.18 |
| Illinois | 23.85¢ | $145.19 |
| Indiana | 18.15¢ | $110.49 |
| Iowa | 14.14¢ | $86.08 |
| Kansas | 15.13¢ | $92.10 |
| Kentucky | 14.98¢ | $91.19 |
| Louisiana | 14.15¢ | $86.14 |
| Maine | 28.63¢ | $174.29 |
| Maryland | 21.77¢ | $132.52 |
| Massachusetts | 28.82¢ | $175.44 |
| Michigan | 22.01¢ | $133.99 |
| Minnesota | 16.95¢ | $103.18 |
| Mississippi | 16.16¢ | $98.37 |
| Missouri | 13.68¢ | $83.28 |
| Montana | 14.67¢ | $89.30 |
| Nebraska | 13.59¢ | $82.73 |
| Nevada | 13.60¢ | $82.79 |
| New Hampshire | 27.33¢ | $166.37 |
| New Jersey | 23.27¢ | $141.66 |
| New Mexico | 14.12¢ | $85.96 |
| New York | 29.93¢ | $182.20 |
| North Carolina | 15.09¢ | $91.86 |
| North Dakota | 13.61¢ | $82.85 |
| Ohio | 19.52¢ | $118.83 |
| Oklahoma | 13.38¢ | $81.45 |
| Oregon | 16.27¢ | $99.04 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.55¢ | $131.19 |
| Rhode Island | 29.46¢ | $179.34 |
| South Carolina | 16.18¢ | $98.50 |
| South Dakota | 15.73¢ | $95.76 |
| Tennessee | 14.47¢ | $88.09 |
| Texas | 16.44¢ | $100.08 |
| Utah | 12.96¢ | $78.89 |
| Vermont | 24.89¢ | $151.52 |
| Virginia | 17.61¢ | $107.20 |
| Washington | 14.95¢ | $91.01 |
| West Virginia | 16.80¢ | $102.27 |
| Wisconsin | 19.74¢ | $120.17 |
| Wyoming | 14.80¢ | $90.09 |
Related calculators
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~3,000 W · 3h/day →
Electric sauna A big heater used in short sessions.
~6,000 W · 1h/day →
Heated floor About 12 watts per square foot, every hour it's on.
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Aquarium Heater, filter, lights — a small but constant load.
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Grow lights Long photoperiods make wattage really matter.
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Methodology & sources
Cost = watts ÷ 1,000 × hours × price per kWh. Electricity prices are average residential prices by state from the EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A (May 2026). EIA averages include delivery charges and taxes but are not any specific utility tariff — for an exact figure, use the rate from your own bill. Wattage presets reflect common product ranges; check your appliance's nameplate or a plug-in power meter for its true draw.
Last verified: July 30, 2026. Prices refresh automatically each month when EIA publishes new data.