How Much Does It Cost to Run an Electric Patio Heater in West Virginia? (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 $0.31 per hour, or about $27.81 per month at 3 hours a day in West Virginia. Average running cost
| Wattage | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low 1,500 W | $0.23 | $0.70 | $20.86 | $104.29 |
| Typical 2,000 W | $0.31 | $0.93 | $27.81 | $139.05 |
| High 3,000 W | $0.46 | $1.39 | $41.71 | $208.57 |
Formula: watts ÷ 1000 × hours × price per kWh. Typical use is 3 h/day for about 150 days a year (the heating season) ≈ 900 kWh per year.
One hour of an electric patio heater (2.0 kWh) is the same electricity as
- 11km in an electric car
- 20hours of TV
- 44hours of a laptop
- 222hours of an LED bulb
In West Virginia, with electricity at 15.4¢ per kWh (source: EIA Table 5.6.A, 2026-06), a typical electric patio heater costs $0.31 per hour and about $139.05 per year at 3 hours a day. That is about 16% less than the national average for the US ($33.01 per month), because electricity in West Virginia costs 15.4¢ per kWh against 18.3¢ nationally. Each $1.00 of electricity buys roughly 3.2 hours of use.
How to lower the cost of running an 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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Related appliances
- Electric Lawn Mower (Corded or Battery)1,200 W typical
- Electric Pressure Washer1,800 W typical
- Electric Sauna Heater6,000 W typical
- Infrared Sauna1,800 W typical
Use the generic electricity cost calculator · Which uses more? Take the quiz