Is an electric furnace expensive to run?

If you heat with an electric furnace, a heat pump retrofit typically pays for itself faster than any other upgrade. At typical use it adds about $150.38 to a monthly electric bill at the US-average rate, but that swings from $105.03 in the cheapest states to $391.10 in the most expensive.

How many watts does an electric furnace use?

Electric Furnace typically draws about 10,000 running watts. It's a resistive load, so its startup and running wattage are the same. Check the nameplate or label on your specific unit for its exact rating.

How much electricity (kWh) does an electric furnace use?

At typical use (10,000 W for 3 hours a day), an electric furnace uses about 30 kWh per day — roughly 913 kWh per month, or about 106% of what the average US home uses in a month (863 kWh). Energy used doesn't depend on your electricity rate — only the bill does.

How can I lower the cost of running an electric furnace?

If you heat with an electric furnace, a heat pump retrofit typically pays for itself faster than any other upgrade. You can also cut the cost by lowering your electricity rate — many utilities offer cheaper off-peak hours — or simply by running it fewer hours. The calculator on this page shows how changing hours per day or your electricity rate moves the number.

How Much Does It Cost to Run an Electric Furnace?

An electric furnace's strip elements draw 10,000+ watts — the most expensive common way to heat a home, several times a heat pump's cost per degree. At the US-average rate of 16.5¢/kWh, running an electric furnace costs about $150.38/month ($1,804.56/year) at typical use. Adjust the watts, hours, and your rate below for your exact number.

Power (watts)

Hours per day: 3

Days per week: 7

Your state (sets the rate)

Electricity rate ($/kWh)

Cost to run an electric furnace

$1,805/yr

Per day: $4.94
Per month: $150.38
Energy per year: 10,950 kWh

Cost = power (kW) × hours × days × your rate. Defaults are typical values — enter your appliance's actual watts (often on a label) and your real rate for a precise figure.

How much electricity does an electric furnace use?

At 10,000 W for 3 hours a day, an electric furnace uses about 30 kWh per day — roughly 913 kWh per month and 10,950 kWh per year. That's about 106% of the 863 kWh the average US home uses in a month. Energy use is the same everywhere — only the price per kWh changes your bill.

Wondering about the circuit instead? See how many amps an electric furnace draws.

Cost to run an electric furnace by electricity rate

Same 10,000 W appliance, 3 h/day — the bill changes with where you live.

Scenario	Rate	Per month	Per year
Cheapest states (North Dakota)	11.5¢	$105.03	$1,260.35
US average	16.5¢	$150.38	$1,804.56
Most expensive (Hawaii)	42.9¢	$391.10	$4,693.17

Find your state's rate on the electricity rates by state page, or see the appliance wattage chart for more devices.

Frequently asked questions

At the US-average residential rate of 16.5¢/kWh, an electric furnace drawing 10,000 watts for about 3 hours a day costs roughly $4.94 per day, $150.38 per month, and $1,804.56 per year. Your actual cost depends on your electricity rate and how much you use it, and the calculator on this page adjusts for both.

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