Running a 1,500-watt space heater 8 hours a day in Colorado costs about $61.33 a month — $0.25 an hour on full power at Colorado's average 16.80¢/kWh.
At 16.80¢/kWh — Colorado average, Jan–Aug 2026 (EIA). That is 8% below the U.S. average of 18.19¢.
| Period | kWh | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Per hour of use | 1.5 | $0.25 |
| Per day | 12 | $2.02 |
| Per month | 365 | $61.33 |
| Per season (9 mo) | 3,285 | $552 |
Normal mean temperature (NOAA, population-weighted). Highlighted months average below 60°F.
| Heat source | $ per million Btu | This much heat |
|---|---|---|
| Gas furnace, 95% AFUE | $11.35 | $14.13 |
| Gas furnace, 80% AFUE | $13.48 | $16.78 |
| Heat pump (ENERGY STAR avg) | $19.91 | $24.79 |
| Propane furnace, 95% AFUE | $27.19 | $33.86 |
| Space heater / baseboard | $49.24 | $61.33 |
In Colorado resistance heat costs 4.3× 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 $24.79 a month.
| Heater | Per hour | 8 h/day, month | 24 h/day, month | Season (9 mo, 8 h) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 750 W | $0.13 | $30.66 | $91.99 | $276 |
| 900 W | $0.15 | $36.80 | $110.39 | $331 |
| 1,500 W | $0.25 | $61.33 | $183.98 | $552 |
1.5 kW × 8 h = 12 kWh a day; × 30.42 days = 365 kWh a month; × 16.80¢ (Colorado average, Jan–Aug 2026, EIA) = $61.33.
Because resistance heat costs 4.3× as much as gas heat in Colorado, 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 Colorado home used 678 kWh a month in 2025 (EIA); this heater adds 54% to that while it runs.
The full method, material data and tips are on the main space heater cost calculator page.