Running a 1,500-watt space heater 8 hours a day in Indiana costs about $62.20 a month — $0.26 an hour on full power at Indiana's average 17.04¢/kWh.
At 17.04¢/kWh — Indiana average, Jan–Aug 2026 (EIA). That is 6% below the U.S. average of 18.19¢.
| Period | kWh | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Per hour of use | 1.5 | $0.26 |
| Per day | 12 | $2.04 |
| Per month | 365 | $62.20 |
| Per season (7 mo) | 2,555 | $435 |
Normal mean temperature (NOAA, population-weighted). Highlighted months average below 60°F.
| Heat source | $ per million Btu | This much heat |
|---|---|---|
| Gas furnace, 95% AFUE | $11.67 | $14.54 |
| Gas furnace, 80% AFUE | $13.86 | $17.27 |
| Heat pump (ENERGY STAR avg) | $20.19 | $25.15 |
| Propane furnace, 95% AFUE | $29.45 | $36.69 |
| Space heater / baseboard | $49.94 | $62.20 |
| Oil furnace, 80% AFUE | $54.63 | $68.04 |
In Indiana 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 $25.15 a month.
| Heater | Per hour | 8 h/day, month | 24 h/day, month | Season (7 mo, 8 h) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 750 W | $0.13 | $31.10 | $93.30 | $218 |
| 900 W | $0.15 | $37.32 | $111.97 | $261 |
| 1,500 W | $0.26 | $62.20 | $186.61 | $435 |
1.5 kW × 8 h = 12 kWh a day; × 30.42 days = 365 kWh a month; × 17.04¢ (Indiana average, Jan–Aug 2026, EIA) = $62.20.
Because resistance heat costs 4.3× as much as gas heat in Indiana, 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 Indiana home used 957 kWh a month in 2025 (EIA); this heater adds 38% to that while it runs.
The full method, material data and tips are on the main space heater cost calculator page.