How much does it cost to run a heater per hour?
By Sithum Imarsha Last reviewed
At full power a 2,000 W heater uses 2 kWh an hour: 66c in NSW, 54c in VIC and 83c in SA.
Your result
Running cost
$349a year
1,092 kWh a year × 32c/kWh = $349
- Per hour of use
- $0.64
- Energy an hour
- 2kWh
- Per day of use
- $3.84
- Energy a day
- 12kWh
- Per load
- —
- Energy a load
- —kWh
- Per wash
- —
- Energy a wash
- —kWh
- Rate used
- 32c/kWh ·
Australian average import rate - Worked from
- Watts × hours ·
share at full power 100% (Dated third-party source)
A thermostat switches it on and off, so it does not draw full power all day. Lower the share of time at full power under Advanced settings.
Choosing a heater? Compare heater types, including reverse-cycle air conditioning.
Controlled load? If it is on a controlled-load tariff, type that rate under Advanced settings.
Thinking of switching? Would a heat pump be cheaper? →Would a heat pump be cheaper? →Would a heat pump be cheaper? →Would a heat pump be cheaper? →Would a heat pump be cheaper? →Would a heat pump be cheaper? →Would a heat pump be cheaper? →Would a heat pump be cheaper? →
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How we calculated this
- Energy in a year comes from the watts and the hours of use, or from the energy label scaled to your use.
- It is priced at the usage rate only. The daily supply charge is not a running cost.
- On your own solar, the cost is the feed-in credit you give up.
Full method, tables and sources: Appliance running cost calculator
Energy in a year
2,000 W × 100% × 6 h × 91 days ÷ 1,000 = 1,092 kWh
Pick the rate
32c/kWh (Australian average import rate)
Work out the cost
1,092 kWh × 32c/kWh = $349 a year
Cost an hour of use
2 kWh × 32c/kWh = $0.64 an hour
| State | Import c/kWh | Feed-in c/kWh | Cost a year |
|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | 33.1 | 5 | $361 |
| Victoria | 27.2 | 3 | $297 |
| Queensland | 27.9 | 5 | $305 |
| South Australia | 41.5 | 5 | $453 |
| Western Australia | 33.2621 | 3 | $363 |
| Tasmania | 28.8 | 9.276 | $314 |
| Australian Capital Territory | 32.1 | 5 | $351 |
Uses each state's import rate, or its feed-in rate when Power from is set to solar. Your own rate is not used here. Import rates: Dated third-party source, except Western Australia (Official source). Feed-in rates: Estimate, except Tasmania (Official source).
This version starts with a 2,000 W fan heater running 6 hours a day for about 91 winter days. Pick the oil column or panel heater in the list to see what a thermostat does to the cost.
Electric heater: what the sources say
Not yet checked
- CHOICE lab tests (updated 27 May 2026, at 40c/kWh) measured an oil column heater at $0.65 an hour, a panel heater at $0.80 and a fan heater at $0.82. The oil heater cost less an hour because it drew less power on average, so it also gave less heat.
Dated third-party source
- A standard power point is rated at 10 A: 2,300 W at 230 V and 2,400 W at 240 V. So it takes a heater of about 2.4 kW at most (Wikipedia, AS/NZS 3112).
Choosing between heater types, or against reverse-cycle air conditioning? Compare them with the heater running cost calculator.
New to running costs? Read how it is worked out on the main appliance running cost calculator.
Questions
Is an oil heater cheaper to run than a fan heater?
Per unit of heat, no. They are all resistance heaters. CHOICE measured an oil column heater at $0.65 an hour and a fan heater at $0.82 at 40c/kWh. The oil heater drew less power on average, so it also gave less heat.
How much does a 2000W heater cost per hour?
2,000 W is 2 kWh an hour at full power: 66c in NSW, 54c in VIC and 83c in SA at the state averages in our table.
How much does a 2400 W fan heater cost per hour?
2.4 kWh an hour on full: 79c in NSW. Type 2400 in the watts field for your state. CHOICE measured fan heaters at an average draw of 2.04 kW (updated 27 May 2026; Dated third-party source).
Does a low setting save money?
Yes. Fewer watts means fewer cents an hour, but also less heat. A heater on a 1,000 W setting costs 33c an hour in NSW. Type the lower wattage to see yours.
What is the biggest heater I can plug in?
About 2.4 kW. A standard power point is rated at 10 A: 2,300 W at 230 V and 2,400 W at 240 V.
Does a thermostat save money?
Yes. It switches the element off once the room is warm, so the heater does not run at full power all the time (SA Government). Lower the share of time at full power under Advanced settings to see the effect.
What does it cost to run a heater all night?
Watts × 8 hours ÷ 1,000 × your rate. A 2,000 W heater in NSW costs $5.30 a night at full power.