Running a 1,500-watt space heater 8 hours a day in Arkansas costs about $50.16 a month — $0.21 an hour on full power at Arkansas's average 13.74¢/kWh.
At 13.74¢/kWh — Arkansas average, Jan–Aug 2026 (EIA). That is 24% below the U.S. average of 18.19¢.
| Period | kWh | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Per hour of use | 1.5 | $0.21 |
| Per day | 12 | $1.65 |
| Per month | 365 | $50.16 |
| Per season (5 mo) | 1,825 | $251 |
Normal mean temperature (NOAA, population-weighted). Highlighted months average below 60°F.
| Heat source | $ per million Btu | This much heat |
|---|---|---|
| Heat pump (ENERGY STAR avg) | $16.28 | $20.28 |
| Gas furnace, 95% AFUE | $19.56 | $24.36 |
| Gas furnace, 80% AFUE | $23.23 | $28.93 |
| Propane furnace, 95% AFUE | $29.88 | $37.22 |
| Space heater / baseboard | $40.27 | $50.16 |
In Arkansas resistance heat costs 2.1× as much as gas heat from a 95% furnace. A space heater only saves money when it lets you turn the whole-house thermostat down several degrees and heat just the room you're in. A heat pump delivers the same heat for about $20.28 a month.
| Heater | Per hour | 8 h/day, month | 24 h/day, month | Season (5 mo, 8 h) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 750 W | $0.10 | $25.08 | $75.23 | $125 |
| 900 W | $0.12 | $30.09 | $90.28 | $150 |
| 1,500 W | $0.21 | $50.16 | $150.47 | $251 |
1.5 kW × 8 h = 12 kWh a day; × 30.42 days = 365 kWh a month; × 13.74¢ (Arkansas average, Jan–Aug 2026, EIA) = $50.16.
Because resistance heat costs 2.1× as much as gas heat in Arkansas, a space heater saves money only if it lets you turn the whole-house thermostat down and heat just the room you're in. If your home heats with electric baseboards or furnace strips, a space heater costs the same per Btu — the saving comes only from heating fewer rooms.
The average Arkansas home used 1,074 kWh a month in 2025 (EIA); this heater adds 34% to that while it runs.
The full method, material data and tips are on the main space heater cost calculator page.