Running a 1,500-watt space heater 8 hours a day in West Virginia costs about $56.87 a month — $0.23 an hour on full power at West Virginia's average 15.58¢/kWh.
At 15.58¢/kWh — West Virginia average, Jan–Aug 2026 (EIA). That is 14% below the U.S. average of 18.19¢.
| Period | kWh | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Per hour of use | 1.5 | $0.23 |
| Per day | 12 | $1.87 |
| Per month | 365 | $56.87 |
| Per season (7 mo) | 2,555 | $398 |
Normal mean temperature (NOAA, population-weighted). Highlighted months average below 60°F.
| Heat source | $ per million Btu | This much heat |
|---|---|---|
| Gas furnace, 95% AFUE | $14.02 | $17.46 |
| Gas furnace, 80% AFUE | $16.65 | $20.74 |
| Heat pump (ENERGY STAR avg) | $18.46 | $22.99 |
| Space heater / baseboard | $45.66 | $56.87 |
In West Virginia resistance heat costs 3.3× 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 $22.99 a month.
| Heater | Per hour | 8 h/day, month | 24 h/day, month | Season (7 mo, 8 h) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 750 W | $0.12 | $28.44 | $85.31 | $199 |
| 900 W | $0.14 | $34.12 | $102.37 | $239 |
| 1,500 W | $0.23 | $56.87 | $170.62 | $398 |
1.5 kW × 8 h = 12 kWh a day; × 30.42 days = 365 kWh a month; × 15.58¢ (West Virginia average, Jan–Aug 2026, EIA) = $56.87.
Because resistance heat costs 3.3× as much as gas heat in West 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 West Virginia home used 1,073 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.