How much does it cost to run an electric blanket?
An electric blanket drawing 150 watts, used 8 hours a day, uses about 1.20 kWh per day and costs about $0.23 per day, $7.09 per month, and $85.02 per year at the US average residential rate of 19.4¢/kWh. Enter your own wattage, hours, and state below for an exact figure.
Estimates only — based on typical wattages and average state rates, not your actual bill.
What drives the cost
An electric blanket draws roughly 150 watts on high and cycles with its thermostat, making it one of the cheapest ways to stay warm at night. Heating a person directly is far more efficient than heating a whole room.
Cost at different daily usage
Same electric blanket at 150 watts, run for different amounts of time, at 19.4¢/kWh.
| Usage | kWh/day | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 h/day | 0.60 kWh | $0.12 | $3.55 | $42.51 |
| 8 h/day | 1.20 kWh | $0.23 | $7.09 | $85.02 |
| 12 h/day | 1.80 kWh | $0.35 | $10.64 | $127.52 |
| 16 h/day | 2.40 kWh | $0.47 | $14.18 | $170.03 |
Cost by model power draw
Not all models are equal. At 8 h/day, here is what the range costs.
| Model | Power | kWh/day | Per day | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low-draw model | 60 W | 0.48 kWh | $0.09 | $2.84 |
| Typical | 150 W | 1.20 kWh | $0.23 | $7.09 |
| High-draw model | 200 W | 1.60 kWh | $0.31 | $9.45 |
Cost by state
An electric blanket at 150 W for 8 h/day, priced at each state's average residential rate.
| State | Rate | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.8¢ | $0.20 | $6.13 | $73.45 |
| Alaska | 28.2¢ | $0.34 | $10.31 | $123.65 |
| Arizona | 15.2¢ | $0.18 | $5.56 | $66.71 |
| Arkansas | 14.4¢ | $0.17 | $5.25 | $62.90 |
| California | 33.2¢ | $0.40 | $12.15 | $145.64 |
| Colorado | 16.2¢ | $0.19 | $5.90 | $70.78 |
| Connecticut | 27.4¢ | $0.33 | $10.00 | $119.88 |
| Delaware | 19.4¢ | $0.23 | $7.08 | $84.88 |
| District of Columbia | 25.4¢ | $0.30 | $9.28 | $111.25 |
| Florida | 15.2¢ | $0.18 | $5.54 | $66.44 |
| Georgia | 15.8¢ | $0.19 | $5.79 | $69.38 |
| Hawaii | 52.0¢ | $0.62 | $18.99 | $227.76 |
| Idaho | 12.3¢ | $0.15 | $4.51 | $54.09 |
| Illinois | 23.9¢ | $0.29 | $8.71 | $104.46 |
| Indiana | 18.1¢ | $0.22 | $6.63 | $79.50 |
| Iowa | 14.1¢ | $0.17 | $5.17 | $61.93 |
| Kansas | 15.1¢ | $0.18 | $5.53 | $66.27 |
| Kentucky | 15.0¢ | $0.18 | $5.47 | $65.61 |
| Louisiana | 14.2¢ | $0.17 | $5.17 | $61.98 |
| Maine | 28.6¢ | $0.34 | $10.46 | $125.40 |
| Maryland | 21.8¢ | $0.26 | $7.95 | $95.35 |
| Massachusetts | 28.8¢ | $0.35 | $10.53 | $126.23 |
| Michigan | 22.0¢ | $0.26 | $8.04 | $96.40 |
| Minnesota | 16.9¢ | $0.20 | $6.19 | $74.24 |
| Mississippi | 16.2¢ | $0.19 | $5.90 | $70.78 |
| Missouri | 13.7¢ | $0.16 | $5.00 | $59.92 |
| Montana | 14.7¢ | $0.18 | $5.36 | $64.25 |
| Nebraska | 13.6¢ | $0.16 | $4.96 | $59.52 |
| Nevada | 13.6¢ | $0.16 | $4.97 | $59.57 |
| New Hampshire | 27.3¢ | $0.33 | $9.98 | $119.71 |
| New Jersey | 23.3¢ | $0.28 | $8.50 | $101.92 |
| New Mexico | 14.1¢ | $0.17 | $5.16 | $61.85 |
| New York | 29.9¢ | $0.36 | $10.93 | $131.09 |
| North Carolina | 15.1¢ | $0.18 | $5.51 | $66.09 |
| North Dakota | 13.6¢ | $0.16 | $4.97 | $59.61 |
| Ohio | 19.5¢ | $0.23 | $7.13 | $85.50 |
| Oklahoma | 13.4¢ | $0.16 | $4.89 | $58.60 |
| Oregon | 16.3¢ | $0.20 | $5.94 | $71.26 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.6¢ | $0.26 | $7.87 | $94.39 |
| Rhode Island | 29.5¢ | $0.35 | $10.76 | $129.03 |
| South Carolina | 16.2¢ | $0.19 | $5.91 | $70.87 |
| South Dakota | 15.7¢ | $0.19 | $5.75 | $68.90 |
| Tennessee | 14.5¢ | $0.17 | $5.29 | $63.38 |
| Texas | 16.4¢ | $0.20 | $6.01 | $72.01 |
| Utah | 13.0¢ | $0.16 | $4.73 | $56.76 |
| Vermont | 24.9¢ | $0.30 | $9.09 | $109.02 |
| Virginia | 17.6¢ | $0.21 | $6.43 | $77.13 |
| Washington | 14.9¢ | $0.18 | $5.46 | $65.48 |
| West Virginia | 16.8¢ | $0.20 | $6.14 | $73.58 |
| Wisconsin | 19.7¢ | $0.24 | $7.21 | $86.46 |
| Wyoming | 14.8¢ | $0.18 | $5.41 | $64.82 |
How to cut the cost
- Preheat the bed, then switch to low or off once you're in it.
- Use it to justify lowering the overnight thermostat setting — that's where the real saving is.
- Choose a model with a timer or auto-off.
Compare with related appliances
Monthly cost at typical usage and 19.4¢/kWh.
Questions
Is an electric blanket cheaper than heating the room?
Far cheaper. A blanket uses a small fraction of a space heater's power and warms you directly rather than warming the air around you.
How do you calculate what an electric blanket costs to run?
Multiply its wattage by the hours it runs per day, divide by 1,000 to get kilowatt-hours, then multiply by your electricity rate. For an electric blanket: 150 W × 8 h ÷ 1,000 = 1.20 kWh per day, which at 19.4¢/kWh is $0.23 per day.
How many watts does an electric blanket use?
Typically 150 watts, with most models falling between 60 and 200 watts. The label on the appliance or its power supply gives the figure for your specific unit.