Space Heater vs Electric Blanket: Which Costs More to Run? (2026)
For staying warm in bed, the electric blanket is no contest: it uses a tenth to a fifteenth of the electricity because it heats you rather than the air in the room. The space heater only wins when you need the whole room warm, for example when working at a desk or when others share the space.
At the hours shown, Space Heater costs about $591.30 per year and Electric Blanket about $52.56 in United States (average).
| Appliance | Typical watts | Hours / day | Per hour | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Space Heater | 1,500 W | $0.27 | $48.60 | $591.30 | |
| Electric Blanket | 100 W | $0.018 | $4.32 | $52.56 |
Edit the hours to match your own use. Costs use the typical wattage of each appliance.
When the space heater makes sense
- You need the whole room warm, not just yourself
- Several people share the room
- You are up and moving around
When the electric blanket makes sense
- You are in bed or on the sofa under a blanket anyway
- You want to turn the house thermostat down at night
- You want the cheapest possible way to feel warm
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