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How Much Does It Cost to Run a Electric Blanket? (2026)
An electric blanket warms you directly instead of the whole room, which is why it costs a small fraction of a space heater. Single blankets draw around 50 watts, doubles up to 200 on the highest setting, and most cycle down once warm.
A typical electric blanket (100 W) costs $0.018 per hour, or about $4.32 per month at 8 hours a day in United States (average). Average running cost
| Wattage | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low (50 W) | $0.009 | $0.072 | $2.16 | $26.28 |
| Typical (100 W) | $0.018 | $0.14 | $4.32 | $52.56 |
| High (200 W) | $0.036 | $0.29 | $8.64 | $105.12 |
Formula: watts ÷ 1000 × hours × price per kWh. Typical use is 8 h/day ≈ 292 kWh per year.
How to lower the cost of running a electric blanket
- Turn the room thermostat down a few degrees at night and let the blanket make up the difference.
- Preheat the bed for 20 minutes, then switch to the lowest setting or off.
- Use a timer model so it does not run all night on high.
Frequently asked questions
Is an electric blanket cheaper than a space heater?
Yes, by roughly ten to fifteen times. A 100 watt blanket for 8 hours uses under 1 kWh, while a 1,500 watt heater uses 12 kWh.
How much does it cost to leave an electric blanket on all night?
At 100 watts for 8 hours, under 1 kWh, so a few cents in most regions.
Do electric blankets use a lot of electricity on low?
No. On low most blankets draw 20 to 40 watts, similar to a bright LED bulb.
Compare with
Cost by region
- United States (average)
- California
- Texas
- New York
- Florida
- Canada (average)
- United Kingdom
- Germany
- France
- Australia
- India