Running a 1,500-watt space heater 8 hours a day in Virginia costs about $61.87 a month — $0.25 an hour on full power at Virginia's average 16.95¢/kWh.
At 16.95¢/kWh — Virginia average, Jan–Aug 2026 (EIA). That is 7% below the U.S. average of 18.19¢.
| Period | kWh | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Per hour of use | 1.5 | $0.25 |
| Per day | 12 | $2.03 |
| Per month | 365 | $61.87 |
| Per season (7 mo) | 2,555 | $433 |
Normal mean temperature (NOAA, population-weighted). Highlighted months average below 60°F.
| Heat source | $ per million Btu | This much heat |
|---|---|---|
| Gas furnace, 95% AFUE | $17.06 | $21.25 |
| Heat pump (ENERGY STAR avg) | $20.08 | $25.01 |
| Gas furnace, 80% AFUE | $20.26 | $25.24 |
| Propane furnace, 95% AFUE | $43.28 | $53.90 |
| Space heater / baseboard | $49.68 | $61.87 |
| Oil furnace, 80% AFUE | $54.18 | $67.48 |
In Virginia resistance heat costs 2.9× 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 $25.01 a month.
| Heater | Per hour | 8 h/day, month | 24 h/day, month | Season (7 mo, 8 h) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 750 W | $0.13 | $30.94 | $92.81 | $217 |
| 900 W | $0.15 | $37.12 | $111.37 | $260 |
| 1,500 W | $0.25 | $61.87 | $185.62 | $433 |
1.5 kW × 8 h = 12 kWh a day; × 30.42 days = 365 kWh a month; × 16.95¢ (Virginia average, Jan–Aug 2026, EIA) = $61.87.
Because resistance heat costs 2.9× as much as gas heat in Virginia, 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 Virginia home used 1,067 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.