How much does it cost to run an electric blanket?
Short answer: An electric blanket drawing 100 watts costs about $0.02 per hour at the U.S. average residential price of 18.31¢ per kWh. Used 8 hours a day, 30 days a month, that is about $4.39 per month and $52.73 per year. In Louisiana, the cheapest state, the same use costs $3.05 a month; in Hawaii, the most expensive, $11.52.
Electric blanket cost calculator
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Hours per night the blanket is switched on. After warming up, the controller cycles the heat, so the average draw is below the label rating.
Uses 24.0 kWh per month. The starting price is the U.S. residential average; choose your state or type the price from your own bill.
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| Appliance | Usage | Per month | Remove |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | |||
| Per year |
An electric blanket warms the person rather than the room, which makes it one of the cheapest ways to stay warm. A queen-size blanket draws around 100 watts on a medium setting, about one fifteenth of a space heater.
Cost by size and setting
Costs below use the U.S. average price and 8 hours a day, 30 days a month.
| Type | Power | Per hour | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heated throw | 60 W | $0.01 | $2.64 |
| Full or queen blanket on medium | 100 W | $0.02 | $4.39 |
| King blanket, dual control, on high | 200 W | $0.04 | $8.79 |
Heating the person, not the room
A 1,500-watt space heater running overnight uses 12 kWh. An electric blanket on for the same eight hours uses under 1 kWh. The blanket works because it puts a small amount of heat exactly where it is needed, under the covers, instead of trying to raise the temperature of all the air in a bedroom.
The real saving comes from turning the thermostat down. If a heated blanket lets you lower the whole-house setting by several degrees overnight, the reduction in furnace or heat pump run time is worth far more than the blanket costs to run.
Blanket, mattress pad or throw
A heated mattress pad sits under you and loses less heat upward, so it can feel as warm on a lower setting. A heated throw is smaller and typically draws 50 to 70 watts. All of them cost little; the choice is about comfort.
How to lower the cost
- Use the preheat function, then drop to a low setting for the night.
- Use the timer so it switches off after you fall asleep.
- Put a regular blanket or duvet on top to hold the heat in.
- Lower the room thermostat a few degrees; that is where the saving is.
How an electric blanket compares with other appliances
Typical power and use for each appliance, at the U.S. average price of 18.31¢ per kWh. Follow a link for that appliance's own calculator, or compare two side by side.
| Appliance | Power | Typical use | Energy per month | Cost per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric blanket | 100 W | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | 24.0 kWh | $4.39 |
| Space heater | 1,500 W | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | 360.0 kWh | $65.92 |
| Heat pump | 3,000 W | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | 720.0 kWh | $131.83 |
| Ceiling fan | 50 W | 12 hours a day, 30 days a month | 18.0 kWh | $3.30 |
| TV | 100 W | 5 hours a day, 30 days a month | 15.0 kWh | $2.75 |
The math behind the numbers
100 watts ÷ 1,000 = 0.1 kW. 0.1 kW × 8 hours = 0.8 kWh per day. 0.8 kWh × $0.1831 = $0.15 per day. Over 30 days that is 24.0 kWh and $4.39 a month.
Your own figure will differ if your appliance has a different wattage, if you use it more or less, or if your price per kWh is not the national average. Change any of those in the calculator at the top of this page. Our step-by-step guide explains where to find each number.
Cost to run an electric blanket in every state
Based on 100 watts for 8 hours a day, 30 days a month, at each state's average residential electricity price for July 2026.
| State | Price per kWh | Per hour | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.40¢ | $0.02 | $3.94 | $47.23 |
| Alaska | 28.83¢ | $0.03 | $6.92 | $83.03 |
| Arizona | 15.38¢ | $0.02 | $3.69 | $44.29 |
| Arkansas | 14.33¢ | $0.01 | $3.44 | $41.27 |
| California | 33.61¢ | $0.03 | $8.07 | $96.80 |
| Colorado | 17.00¢ | $0.02 | $4.08 | $48.96 |
| Connecticut | 24.16¢ | $0.02 | $5.80 | $69.58 |
| Delaware | 18.48¢ | $0.02 | $4.44 | $53.22 |
| District of Columbia | 25.21¢ | $0.03 | $6.05 | $72.60 |
| Florida | 15.03¢ | $0.02 | $3.61 | $43.29 |
| Georgia | 16.27¢ | $0.02 | $3.90 | $46.86 |
| Hawaii | 48.00¢ | $0.05 | $11.52 | $138.24 |
| Idaho | 13.73¢ | $0.01 | $3.30 | $39.54 |
| Illinois | 19.22¢ | $0.02 | $4.61 | $55.35 |
| Indiana | 16.73¢ | $0.02 | $4.02 | $48.18 |
| Iowa | 15.99¢ | $0.02 | $3.84 | $46.05 |
| Kansas | 15.27¢ | $0.02 | $3.66 | $43.98 |
| Kentucky | 13.81¢ | $0.01 | $3.31 | $39.77 |
| Louisiana | 12.72¢ | $0.01 | $3.05 | $36.63 |
| Maine | 32.41¢ | $0.03 | $7.78 | $93.34 |
| Maryland | 21.41¢ | $0.02 | $5.14 | $61.66 |
| Massachusetts | 30.49¢ | $0.03 | $7.32 | $87.81 |
| Michigan | 23.05¢ | $0.02 | $5.53 | $66.38 |
| Minnesota | 17.45¢ | $0.02 | $4.19 | $50.26 |
| Mississippi | 14.54¢ | $0.01 | $3.49 | $41.88 |
| Missouri | 16.09¢ | $0.02 | $3.86 | $46.34 |
| Montana | 14.99¢ | $0.01 | $3.60 | $43.17 |
| Nebraska | 13.78¢ | $0.01 | $3.31 | $39.69 |
| Nevada | 12.77¢ | $0.01 | $3.06 | $36.78 |
| New Hampshire | 26.60¢ | $0.03 | $6.38 | $76.61 |
| New Jersey | 25.19¢ | $0.03 | $6.05 | $72.55 |
| New Mexico | 16.09¢ | $0.02 | $3.86 | $46.34 |
| New York | 29.90¢ | $0.03 | $7.18 | $86.11 |
| North Carolina | 15.16¢ | $0.02 | $3.64 | $43.66 |
| North Dakota | 13.41¢ | $0.01 | $3.22 | $38.62 |
| Ohio | 19.45¢ | $0.02 | $4.67 | $56.02 |
| Oklahoma | 14.35¢ | $0.01 | $3.44 | $41.33 |
| Oregon | 15.97¢ | $0.02 | $3.83 | $45.99 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.72¢ | $0.02 | $5.21 | $62.55 |
| Rhode Island | 28.29¢ | $0.03 | $6.79 | $81.48 |
| South Carolina | 15.47¢ | $0.02 | $3.71 | $44.55 |
| South Dakota | 15.37¢ | $0.02 | $3.69 | $44.27 |
| Tennessee | 13.71¢ | $0.01 | $3.29 | $39.48 |
| Texas | 15.88¢ | $0.02 | $3.81 | $45.73 |
| Utah | 13.12¢ | $0.01 | $3.15 | $37.79 |
| Vermont | 23.75¢ | $0.02 | $5.70 | $68.40 |
| Virginia | 17.55¢ | $0.02 | $4.21 | $50.54 |
| Washington | 14.71¢ | $0.01 | $3.53 | $42.36 |
| West Virginia | 15.78¢ | $0.02 | $3.79 | $45.45 |
| Wisconsin | 19.06¢ | $0.02 | $4.57 | $54.89 |
| Wyoming | 14.36¢ | $0.01 | $3.45 | $41.36 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does an electric blanket cost to run all night?
A 100-watt blanket on for 8 hours uses 0.8 kWh, about $0.15 at the U.S. average electricity price.
Is an electric blanket cheaper than a space heater?
Much cheaper. It draws around 100 watts against 1,500 for a typical space heater.
How much does an electric blanket add to a bill per month?
About $4.39 a month if used every night at the U.S. average price.
Sources
- U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Saver: Small Space Heaters
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly (state electricity prices)
- U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Saver: Appliances and Electronics
Electricity prices are the EIA figures for July 2026. Wattages are typical values; check the label on your own appliance.