What a 240 V garage heater costs to run in every state
Last updated · Prices: U.S. EIA, August 2026
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A 5,000 W garage heater costs $0.91 an hour at the U.S. average electricity price, $2.36 in Hawaii and $0.64 in Nevada. The wattages come from the maker's spec tables; the prices are the residential averages the U.S. Energy Information Administration published for August 2026.
Quick answers at the U.S. average of 18.16¢ per kWh
Each wattage is from the manufacturer's published spec table, linked in Sources.
| Heater | Per hour | Per 8 h | Month, 8 h/day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2,400 W (QMark GH48RPQ, low, 240 V) | $0.44 | $3.49 | $104.60 |
| 4,800 W (QMark GH48RPQ, high, 240 V) | $0.87 | $6.97 | $209.20 |
| 5,000 W (QMark MWUH5004APQ, 240 V) | $0.91 | $7.26 | $217.92 |
| 7,500 W (QMark MWUH7504, 240 V) | $1.36 | $10.90 | $326.88 |
With the element on the whole time. The thermostat cycles it off once the space is warm, so real costs are lower.
Cost in every state
For a 5,000 W heater, most expensive first.
| State | Price/kWh | Per hour | Per 8 h | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HawaiiHawaii electricity bill & rates | 47.18¢ | $2.36 | $18.87 | $566.16 |
| MaineMaine electricity bill & rates | 32.11¢ | $1.61 | $12.84 | $385.32 |
| Massachusetts | 30.48¢ | $1.52 | $12.19 | $365.76 |
| CaliforniaCalifornia electricity bill & rates | 29.75¢ | $1.49 | $11.90 | $357.00 |
| Alaska | 29.41¢ | $1.47 | $11.76 | $352.92 |
| New York | 28.65¢ | $1.43 | $11.46 | $343.80 |
| Rhode Island | 28.18¢ | $1.41 | $11.27 | $338.16 |
| New Hampshire | 27.64¢ | $1.38 | $11.06 | $331.68 |
| District of Columbia | 25.98¢ | $1.30 | $10.39 | $311.76 |
| New Jersey | 24.61¢ | $1.23 | $9.84 | $295.32 |
| Connecticut | 24.51¢ | $1.23 | $9.80 | $294.12 |
| Vermont | 23.84¢ | $1.19 | $9.54 | $286.08 |
| Michigan | 22.99¢ | $1.15 | $9.20 | $275.88 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.77¢ | $1.09 | $8.71 | $261.24 |
| Maryland | 21.40¢ | $1.07 | $8.56 | $256.80 |
| Wisconsin | 19.41¢ | $0.97 | $7.76 | $232.92 |
| OhioOhio electricity bill & rates | 19.38¢ | $0.97 | $7.75 | $232.56 |
| Illinois | 19.32¢ | $0.97 | $7.73 | $231.84 |
| Delaware | 18.70¢ | $0.94 | $7.48 | $224.40 |
| Virginia | 17.64¢ | $0.88 | $7.06 | $211.68 |
| Minnesota | 17.20¢ | $0.86 | $6.88 | $206.40 |
| Colorado | 17.17¢ | $0.86 | $6.87 | $206.04 |
| Iowa | 17.06¢ | $0.85 | $6.82 | $204.72 |
| Indiana | 17.02¢ | $0.85 | $6.81 | $204.24 |
| New Mexico | 16.51¢ | $0.83 | $6.60 | $198.12 |
| Alabama | 16.33¢ | $0.82 | $6.53 | $195.96 |
| West Virginia | 16.31¢ | $0.82 | $6.52 | $195.72 |
| Missouri | 16.02¢ | $0.80 | $6.41 | $192.24 |
| Oregon | 15.92¢ | $0.80 | $6.37 | $191.04 |
| TexasTexas electricity bill & rates | 15.91¢ | $0.80 | $6.36 | $190.92 |
| Georgia | 15.90¢ | $0.80 | $6.36 | $190.80 |
| South Carolina | 15.76¢ | $0.79 | $6.30 | $189.12 |
| Montana | 15.57¢ | $0.78 | $6.23 | $186.84 |
| Kansas | 15.47¢ | $0.77 | $6.19 | $185.64 |
| South Dakota | 15.15¢ | $0.76 | $6.06 | $181.80 |
| Arizona | 15.05¢ | $0.75 | $6.02 | $180.60 |
| FloridaFlorida electricity bill & rates | 14.99¢ | $0.75 | $6.00 | $179.88 |
| North CarolinaNorth Carolina electricity bill & rates | 14.95¢ | $0.75 | $5.98 | $179.40 |
| OklahomaOklahoma electricity bill & rates | 14.82¢ | $0.74 | $5.93 | $177.84 |
| WashingtonWashington electricity bill & rates | 14.63¢ | $0.73 | $5.85 | $175.56 |
| Mississippi | 14.43¢ | $0.72 | $5.77 | $173.16 |
| WyomingWyoming electricity bill & rates | 14.43¢ | $0.72 | $5.77 | $173.16 |
| Arkansas | 14.37¢ | $0.72 | $5.75 | $172.44 |
| Kentucky | 13.80¢ | $0.69 | $5.52 | $165.60 |
| Nebraska | 13.54¢ | $0.68 | $5.42 | $162.48 |
| Tennessee | 13.42¢ | $0.67 | $5.37 | $161.04 |
| Idaho | 13.37¢ | $0.67 | $5.35 | $160.44 |
| North Dakota | 13.31¢ | $0.67 | $5.32 | $159.72 |
| Utah | 13.31¢ | $0.67 | $5.32 | $159.72 |
| Louisiana | 12.87¢ | $0.64 | $5.15 | $154.44 |
| Nevada | 12.72¢ | $0.64 | $5.09 | $152.64 |
Monthly figures assume 8 hours a day for 30 days with the element always on. Prices are EIA's average residential figures for August 2026; your utility's rate may differ.
Why 240 volts costs more per hour, not per unit of heat
A garage heater is an electric resistance heater, the same as a plug-in space heater. The U.S. Department of Energy puts it this way: Electric resistance heating is 100% energy efficient in the sense that all the incoming electric energy is converted to heat.
So a kWh of electricity makes the same amount of heat at 120 or 240 volts. What 240 volts allows is a bigger heater: 5,000 watts is about 3.3 times a 1,500 W plug-in space heater, and it costs about that many times more per hour. A 7,500 W heater costs $1.36 an hour at the U.S. average.
How the numbers are worked out
- Energy: watts divided by 1,000 gives kilowatts; times hours gives kWh.
- Cost: kWh times your state's average residential price.
Use the wattage for your voltage and setting. Many 240 V heaters are also rated for 208 V at a lower wattage, and some have high and low settings. If you know your own rate, multiply 5.0 by it for the cost per hour at 5,000 watts. For smaller loads, see what a space heater costs to run; to keep garage pipes from freezing, see what heat tape costs per foot.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How much does it cost to run a 240 volt garage heater?
- A 5,000 watt garage heater costs $0.91 an hour at 18.16¢ per kWh, the August 2026 U.S. average, or $7.26 for 8 hours with the element on the whole time. A 7,500 watt heater costs $1.36 an hour. The built-in thermostat cycles the element off once the space is warm, so these are ceilings.
- Is a 240V heater cheaper to run than a 120V heater?
- No. Electricity is billed per kilowatt-hour, and a kWh costs the same at either voltage. A 240 volt heater costs more per hour because it draws more watts: 5,000 watts is about 3.3 times a 1,500 watt plug-in heater. It also puts out that much more heat, which is why it suits a garage or shop.
- How much does a 5,000 watt garage heater cost per month?
- Up to $217.92 at 18.16¢ per kWh, the August 2026 U.S. average, if the element ran 8 hours a day for 30 days. In Hawaii, the most expensive state, the same use costs up to $566.16; in Nevada, the cheapest, $152.64.
- How do I find my garage heater’s wattage?
- It is on the rating plate and in the manual. Many 240 volt heaters list a different, lower wattage at 208 volts, and some have a high and a low setting, so use the figure for your voltage and setting. Watts divided by 1,000 times your price per kWh is the cost per hour.
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Sources
- Marley Engineered Products: QMark GH48R Series Electric Garage Heater (spec table)
- Marley Engineered Products: QMark MWUH Series Horizontal/Downflow Unit Heater (spec table)
- U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Saver: Electric resistance heating (archived Jan 1, 2026)
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A (August 2026, residential)