Space Heater vs Central Heating: Compare Your Costs

Compare one room-heater estimate with a central-heating cost you enter

Quick Answer

There is no universal winner. Enter your actual central-heating cost for the same 30-day period, then compare it with the electricity estimate for one portable heater in one room. The heating-type selector is descriptive only because this tool does not model fuel price, AFUE, COP, whole-home area, or central-system runtime.

Electricity rates: U.S. EIA, May 2026

WattItCost is an independent appliance energy-cost calculator project.

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Summary

There is no universal winner. Enter your actual central-heating cost for the same 30-day period, then compare it with the electricity estimate for one portable heater in one room. The heating-type selector is descriptive only because this tool does not model fuel price, AFUE, COP, whole-home area, or central-system runtime.

Formula

(heater watts / 1,000) x hours per day x electricity rate x 30 days

Data used

Calculator results use user-entered wattage and usage hours, combined with residential electricity rates for the selected U.S. state or the rate entered from a utility bill.

Sources

EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A residential

EIA data period: May 2026EIA source release date: WattItCost site update date:

Limits

These estimates do not reproduce a utility bill. Actual costs depend on your tariff, taxes, appliance cycling, efficiency, and how you use the appliance.

Electricity cost by state

Browse vs Central Heating estimates for every U.S. state and the District of Columbia.

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