How much does it cost to run a oil-filled radiator?
A 1,500-watt oil-filled radiator costs about $0.27 an hour in the U.S. on average, or about $65.48 a month at 8 hours a day.
The thermostat cycles the element off once the room is warm, so real use is often lower.
Your cost
Cost by wattage
| Wattage | Hour | Day | Month | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low (600 W) | $0.11 | $0.87 | $26.19 | $319 |
| Typical (1,500 W) | $0.27 | $2.18 | $65.48 | $797 |
Day, month and year assume 8 hours of use a day.
Other heating costs
| Appliance | Typical | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Space heater | 1,500 W | $65.48 |
| Baseboard heater | 1,500 W | $65.48 |
| Electric blanket | 100 W | $4.37 |
| Heated mattress pad | 90 W | $3.93 |
| Electric fireplace | 1,500 W | $32.74 |
| Heat pump (whole house) | 3,500 W | $153 |
Ways to spend less
- Heat the room you're in, not the house: a space heater beats raising the thermostat only if you turn the central heat down.
- Use the low setting once the room is warm; it halves the cost per hour.
- Close doors and curtains to keep the heat in the room.
Monthly cost in every state
| State | Rate | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | 12.36¢ | $44.50 |
| Nebraska | 12.90¢ | $46.44 |
| Idaho | 12.96¢ | $46.66 |
| Utah | 13.16¢ | $47.38 |
| Louisiana | 13.35¢ | $48.06 |
| Nevada | 13.53¢ | $48.71 |
| Oklahoma | 13.58¢ | $48.89 |
| Arkansas | 13.61¢ | $49.00 |
| Tennessee | 13.87¢ | $49.93 |
| Montana | 13.95¢ | $50.22 |
| Wyoming | 13.95¢ | $50.22 |
| Missouri | 13.96¢ | $50.26 |
| Iowa | 14.20¢ | $51.12 |
| Kentucky | 14.27¢ | $51.37 |
| Washington | 14.40¢ | $51.84 |
| South Dakota | 14.50¢ | $52.20 |
| North Carolina | 14.94¢ | $53.78 |
| New Mexico | 15.08¢ | $54.29 |
| Mississippi | 15.19¢ | $54.68 |
| Kansas | 15.21¢ | $54.76 |
| Florida | 15.30¢ | $55.08 |
| Georgia | 15.40¢ | $55.44 |
| Oregon | 15.40¢ | $55.44 |
| Arizona | 15.44¢ | $55.58 |
| West Virginia | 15.47¢ | $55.69 |
| South Carolina | 15.93¢ | $57.35 |
| Texas | 16.06¢ | $57.82 |
| Minnesota | 16.25¢ | $58.50 |
| Alabama | 16.54¢ | $59.54 |
| Colorado | 16.72¢ | $60.19 |
| Virginia | 16.83¢ | $60.59 |
| Indiana | 17.04¢ | $61.34 |
| Delaware | 17.86¢ | $64.30 |
| Ohio | 18.70¢ | $67.32 |
| Wisconsin | 19.00¢ | $68.40 |
| Illinois | 19.22¢ | $69.19 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.04¢ | $75.74 |
| Maryland | 21.30¢ | $76.68 |
| Michigan | 21.53¢ | $77.51 |
| Vermont | 23.95¢ | $86.22 |
| New Jersey | 23.98¢ | $86.33 |
| District of Columbia | 24.66¢ | $88.78 |
| New Hampshire | 26.79¢ | $96.44 |
| Alaska | 27.09¢ | $97.52 |
| Connecticut | 27.97¢ | $101 |
| Rhode Island | 29.22¢ | $105 |
| New York | 29.38¢ | $106 |
| Maine | 29.99¢ | $108 |
| Massachusetts | 30.14¢ | $109 |
| California | 33.25¢ | $120 |
| Hawaii | 46.28¢ | $167 |
At 1,500 watts for 8 hours a day, 30 days a month. Rates are average residential prices from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, January–July 2026 (EIA Electric Power Monthly). Your bill's rate may differ, so enter your own in the calculator.