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How Much Does It Cost to Run a Electric Patio Heater? (2026)
Infrared patio heaters warm people directly rather than the air, but at 1,500 to 3,000 watts they still cost as much as two space heaters. Outdoors there is nothing to retain heat, so cost is purely hours multiplied by wattage.
A typical electric patio heater (2,000 W) costs $0.36 per hour, or about $32.40 per month at 3 hours a day in United States (average). Expensive to run
| Wattage | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low (1,500 W) | $0.27 | $0.81 | $24.30 | $295.65 |
| Typical (2,000 W) | $0.36 | $1.08 | $32.40 | $394.20 |
| High (3,000 W) | $0.54 | $1.62 | $48.60 | $591.30 |
Formula: watts ÷ 1000 × hours × price per kWh. Typical use is 3 h/day ≈ 2,190 kWh per year.
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How to lower the cost of running a electric patio heater
- Mount heaters close to seating. Distance wastes most of the output.
- Use a heater with multiple power settings and step down once seated.
- Blankets and a windbreak cut the hours needed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a patio heater for an evening?
A 2 kW heater for 3 hours uses 6 kWh. Pick your region for the price.
Electric or gas patio heater: which is cheaper?
Electric infrared is usually cheaper per hour and far more efficient than gas mushroom heaters.
Do patio heaters use a lot of electricity?
Yes. They are among the highest-draw appliances you can plug into a normal socket.
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Cost by region
- United States (average)
- California
- Texas
- New York
- Florida
- Canada (average)
- United Kingdom
- Germany
- France
- Australia
- India