Using electric heating daily for six hours? Your monthly bill could surprise you

Appliance expert Ángel Blázquez has attracted attention with a simple calculation that anyone can check against their own electric heater.

But electricity prices differ from country to country. British households could pay around £95, while in the Netherlands, the same heater could cost more than €110 a month. In the US, the average works out considerably lower.

And according to Blázquez, there's another thing worth knowing before buying a heater that promises unusually low running costs.

How much does a 2,000-watt heater actually cost?

The calculation is straightforward. A 2,000-watt heater uses 2 kWh of electricity for every hour it runs at full power. Leave it running for six hours a day, every day for 30 days, and the total is 360 kWh.

Multiply that figure by your electricity price per kWh, and you have the monthly running cost.

Across the US, the average residential electricity rate was 18.16 cents per kWh in August 2026, according to EIA figures. That's approximately $65.38 a month. In Hawaii, where electricity averaged 47.18 cents per kWh, the same usage would cost nearly $170.

In Great Britain, Ofgem's electricity price cap for October to December 2026 puts the average unit rate at 26.32p per kWh for households paying by Direct Debit. That works out to £94.75 for 360 kWh, excluding standing charges. The rate reflects the temporary removal of VAT on domestic electricity.

According to Kenniscentrum Duurzaam Leven, Dutch households were paying approximately €0.27 per kWh in January 2026. At that price, the heater would cost €97.20 a month. However, ANWB Energie reports an average advertised electricity price of €0.31 per kWh for October 2026, bringing the monthly cost to €111.60.

These are examples based on continuous full-power operation. Your actual cost depends on your electricity contract and how often the heater switches off.

Why some electric heater efficiency claims are misleading

Blázquez also questions advertisements suggesting that certain electric radiators achieve 200 percent efficiency.

As reported by La Vanguardia, his point is that ordinary electric heaters convert essentially all the electricity they consume into heat. An oil-filled radiator, fan heater, or convector cannot magically produce twice as much heat from the same electricity.

An infrared panel also converts electricity into heat, but it warms people and surfaces directly rather than primarily heating the surrounding air. That can make it useful for shorter periods.

Heat pumps are different. An air conditioner operating in heating mode can deliver roughly three to five units of heat for every unit of electricity it consumes, because it transfers heat rather than simply generating it.

Is an electric heater cheaper than central heating?

Not necessarily. Although a plug-in heater allows you to warm one room without heating the entire house, the cost per unit of heat can be higher.

Dutch heating specialist Instalpunt compares electricity at €0.30 per kWh with natural gas at €1.35 per cubic metre. Using those prices, heat from a modern gas boiler costs approximately €0.15 per kWh, compared with €0.30 from a direct electric heater. That means electric heating costs roughly twice as much for the same amount of heat.

However, briefly warming a home office or bathroom can still make sense if it allows you to lower the central heating elsewhere. Whether you actually save money depends on how long the heater runs and how much gas you avoid using.

These settings can make a noticeable difference

Fortunately, the wattage printed on an electric heater is generally its maximum power, not necessarily what it consumes throughout the day.

A thermostat switches the heating element on and off once the room reaches the selected temperature. Instalpunt estimates that an oil-filled radiator rated at 2,000 to 2,500 watts can cost €0.60 to €0.75 per hour at full power, but around €0.30 per hour on average when controlled by a thermostat.

Using a 1,000-watt setting instead of 2,000 watts also halves electricity consumption while the element is running, although it may take longer to warm the room.

A timer, a closed door and a moderate temperature setting can help prevent unnecessary heating. For a bathroom, even ten minutes of targeted warmth may be enough.

Blázquez's warning is simple: the temperature you choose and the number of hours the heater actually runs have a major influence on the bill.

Before leaving a heater running all evening, check its wattage, look up the electricity price on your bill, and do the calculation. The result may be considerably higher than expected.