How much does it cost to run an electric furnace?
Short answer: An electric furnace drawing 15,000 watts costs about $2.75 per hour at the U.S. average residential price of 18.31¢ per kWh. Used 6 hours a day, 30 days a month, that is about $494.37 per month and $5,932 per year. In Louisiana, the cheapest state, the same use costs $343.44 a month; in Hawaii, the most expensive, $1,296.
Electric furnace cost calculator
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Hours per day the heating elements are on. In a cold month this can be 6 to 10; in mild weather, one or two.
Uses 2,700.0 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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Add each appliance you use to estimate this part of your bill. The list is kept only in this browser.
| Appliance | Usage | Per month | Remove |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | |||
| Per year |
An electric furnace is the largest electrical load most homes will ever have. A typical unit draws 10,000 to 20,000 watts while its elements are on, which is ten times the power of a space heater, and in a cold month it can account for most of the bill.
Cost by size and setting
Costs below use the U.S. average price and 6 hours a day, 30 days a month.
| Type | Power | Per hour | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 kW, small home | 10,000 W | $1.83 | $329.58 |
| 15 kW, average home | 15,000 W | $2.75 | $494.37 |
| 20 kW, large home | 20,000 W | $3.66 | $659.16 |
Why the numbers are so large
An electric furnace is a set of large resistance heating coils and a blower. Like a space heater, it turns each kilowatt-hour into one kilowatt-hour of heat; it simply does so on the scale of a whole house. Six hours a day at 15 kW is 90 kWh, roughly three times what an average U.S. home uses in a day for everything else.
Electric furnace or heat pump
A heat pump moves heat instead of making it, delivering two to three units of heat per unit of electricity. The U.S. Department of Energy says a heat pump can reduce electricity use for heating by up to 75 percent compared with electric resistance heating such as a furnace or baseboard heaters. For a home that heats with an electric furnace, replacing it with a heat pump is usually the single largest saving available.
How to lower the cost
- Lower the thermostat a few degrees, especially overnight and when the house is empty.
- Change the air filter regularly; a clogged filter makes the furnace run longer.
- Seal leaky ducts and add attic insulation.
- Use a space heater in one occupied room and turn the main thermostat down, rather than heating the whole house.
How an electric furnace 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 furnace | 15,000 W | 6 hours a day, 30 days a month | 2700.0 kWh | $494.37 |
| Heat pump | 3,000 W | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | 720.0 kWh | $131.83 |
| Baseboard heater | 1,500 W | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | 360.0 kWh | $65.92 |
| Space heater | 1,500 W | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | 360.0 kWh | $65.92 |
| Central air conditioner | 3,500 W | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | 840.0 kWh | $153.80 |
The math behind the numbers
15,000 watts ÷ 1,000 = 15 kW. 15 kW × 6 hours = 90 kWh per day. 90 kWh × $0.1831 = $16.48 per day. Over 30 days that is 2700.0 kWh and $494.37 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 furnace in every state
Based on 15,000 watts for 6 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¢ | $2.46 | $442.80 | $5,314 |
| Alaska | 28.83¢ | $4.32 | $778.41 | $9,341 |
| Arizona | 15.38¢ | $2.31 | $415.26 | $4,983 |
| Arkansas | 14.33¢ | $2.15 | $386.91 | $4,643 |
| California | 33.61¢ | $5.04 | $907.47 | $10,890 |
| Colorado | 17.00¢ | $2.55 | $459.00 | $5,508 |
| Connecticut | 24.16¢ | $3.62 | $652.32 | $7,828 |
| Delaware | 18.48¢ | $2.77 | $498.96 | $5,988 |
| District of Columbia | 25.21¢ | $3.78 | $680.67 | $8,168 |
| Florida | 15.03¢ | $2.25 | $405.81 | $4,870 |
| Georgia | 16.27¢ | $2.44 | $439.29 | $5,271 |
| Hawaii | 48.00¢ | $7.20 | $1,296 | $15,552 |
| Idaho | 13.73¢ | $2.06 | $370.71 | $4,449 |
| Illinois | 19.22¢ | $2.88 | $518.94 | $6,227 |
| Indiana | 16.73¢ | $2.51 | $451.71 | $5,421 |
| Iowa | 15.99¢ | $2.40 | $431.73 | $5,181 |
| Kansas | 15.27¢ | $2.29 | $412.29 | $4,947 |
| Kentucky | 13.81¢ | $2.07 | $372.87 | $4,474 |
| Louisiana | 12.72¢ | $1.91 | $343.44 | $4,121 |
| Maine | 32.41¢ | $4.86 | $875.07 | $10,501 |
| Maryland | 21.41¢ | $3.21 | $578.07 | $6,937 |
| Massachusetts | 30.49¢ | $4.57 | $823.23 | $9,879 |
| Michigan | 23.05¢ | $3.46 | $622.35 | $7,468 |
| Minnesota | 17.45¢ | $2.62 | $471.15 | $5,654 |
| Mississippi | 14.54¢ | $2.18 | $392.58 | $4,711 |
| Missouri | 16.09¢ | $2.41 | $434.43 | $5,213 |
| Montana | 14.99¢ | $2.25 | $404.73 | $4,857 |
| Nebraska | 13.78¢ | $2.07 | $372.06 | $4,465 |
| Nevada | 12.77¢ | $1.92 | $344.79 | $4,137 |
| New Hampshire | 26.60¢ | $3.99 | $718.20 | $8,618 |
| New Jersey | 25.19¢ | $3.78 | $680.13 | $8,162 |
| New Mexico | 16.09¢ | $2.41 | $434.43 | $5,213 |
| New York | 29.90¢ | $4.49 | $807.30 | $9,688 |
| North Carolina | 15.16¢ | $2.27 | $409.32 | $4,912 |
| North Dakota | 13.41¢ | $2.01 | $362.07 | $4,345 |
| Ohio | 19.45¢ | $2.92 | $525.15 | $6,302 |
| Oklahoma | 14.35¢ | $2.15 | $387.45 | $4,649 |
| Oregon | 15.97¢ | $2.40 | $431.19 | $5,174 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.72¢ | $3.26 | $586.44 | $7,037 |
| Rhode Island | 28.29¢ | $4.24 | $763.83 | $9,166 |
| South Carolina | 15.47¢ | $2.32 | $417.69 | $5,012 |
| South Dakota | 15.37¢ | $2.31 | $414.99 | $4,980 |
| Tennessee | 13.71¢ | $2.06 | $370.17 | $4,442 |
| Texas | 15.88¢ | $2.38 | $428.76 | $5,145 |
| Utah | 13.12¢ | $1.97 | $354.24 | $4,251 |
| Vermont | 23.75¢ | $3.56 | $641.25 | $7,695 |
| Virginia | 17.55¢ | $2.63 | $473.85 | $5,686 |
| Washington | 14.71¢ | $2.21 | $397.17 | $4,766 |
| West Virginia | 15.78¢ | $2.37 | $426.06 | $5,113 |
| Wisconsin | 19.06¢ | $2.86 | $514.62 | $6,175 |
| Wyoming | 14.36¢ | $2.15 | $387.72 | $4,653 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does an electric furnace cost to run per month?
About $494.37 a month at 15 kW for 6 hours a day, at the U.S. average electricity price. Mild months cost far less; a very cold month can cost more.
How much does an electric furnace cost per hour?
About $2.75 for each hour the elements are on, for a 15 kW furnace.
Is an electric furnace cheaper than a heat pump?
No. A heat pump delivers two to three times as much heat for the same electricity.
Sources
- U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Saver: Heat Pump Systems
- 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.