How much does an infrared heater cost to run per month?

A 1,500W infrared heater running 8 hrs/day uses 360 kWh and costs about $66.38/month at the US average of 18.44¢/kWh (EIA Electric Power Monthly, May 2026). A 750W model at the same hours costs about $33.19/month.

Are infrared heaters cheaper to run than convection heaters?

Per kWh the cost is identical — both convert essentially all of the electricity they draw into heat. Infrared feels warmer faster so you may use it for fewer hours, and fewer hours is what reduces the bill.

How much electricity does a 1500W infrared heater use?

A 1,500W infrared heater uses 1.5 kWh per hour, 12 kWh per day at 8 hours, and 360 kWh per month.

Is infrared heating good for a garage?

Yes, for spot heating. Infrared warms the people and objects in its path rather than the whole air volume, so a garage can be made comfortable to work in without bringing the entire space up to temperature — useful where the air changes over constantly anyway. It draws no less electricity per hour than any other heater of the same wattage; the saving comes from heating only where and when you need it.

Updated August 22, 2026

Infrared Heater Cost Calculator

Find out exactly what your infrared heater costs to run per hour, day and month. Free US tool.

Ad Unit — leaderboard

Calculate Your Infrared Heater Running Cost

Wattage (watts)Common infrared heaters: 750W–3,000W. Check the label on your unit.

Hours Per Day

Electricity Rate ($/kWh)US average 18.44¢/kWh (EIA, May 2026).

Days Per Month

Infrared Heater Monthly Cost by Wattage (US average rate)

Wattage	Cost/Hour	Cost/Day (8 hrs)	Cost/Month
750W	$0.14	$1.11	$33.19
1000W	$0.18	$1.48	$44.26
1500W	$0.28	$2.21	$66.38
2000W	$0.37	$2.95	$88.51
3000W	$0.55	$4.43	$132.77

US average 18.44¢/kWh (EIA Electric Power Monthly, May 2026). 8 hrs/day, 30 days/month, at rated wattage throughout. Costs are identical for any electric heater of the same wattage.

How Much Does an Infrared Heater Cost to Run?

Infrared heaters cost exactly the same per kWh as any other electric heater of equal wattage. A 1,500W infrared heater costs about $0.28/hour and about $66/month at 8 hrs/day, using the US average electricity rate of 18.44¢/kWh (EIA Electric Power Monthly, May 2026). Use the space heater cost calculator to compare with other heater types.

The advantage of infrared heating is in perceived warmth, not energy use. Infrared heats people and objects directly rather than warming air, so you feel warm sooner and may choose to run the heater for fewer hours — which is what reduces the bill. It does not extract more heat from a kWh: no electric heater can, because all of them already convert essentially all of the electricity they draw into heat. Radiant share does vary between products — IEC 60675-3 sets a 40% floor for a device to be sold as an infrared heater, and around 65% is realistic for a good panel — but that governs how the heat reaches you, not how much of it there is.

Infrared heaters are ideal for spot heating garages, workshops, patios, and single rooms. Running one infrared heater for a specific occupied area costs significantly less than heating an entire home with central heating systems. See our garage heater cost calculator for garage-specific estimates.

Ad Unit — in-article