Electric supplementary heating is convenient, but it can also significantly increase your energy bill if you don't know how much it costs. With a few simple steps, you can calculate yourself how much an electric heater costs per hour.
The calculation formula
You calculate the cost per hour by taking the power in watts, dividing it by 1000, and multiplying it by the current price per kWh. A 2,000-watt heater running at full power costs €0.30 per kWh:
2,000 watts / 1000 = 2 kW x €0.30 = €0.60 per hour.
If the heater runs for 5 hours a day, that comes to €3 per day, or about €21 per week with daily use.
Not every heater uses the same amount of energy
The power of electric heaters varies considerably, usually between 750 and 2,500 watts. The higher the power, the faster the room warms up, but also the higher the cost per hour. Many heaters have multiple settings (for example, 1,000 and 2,000 watts), allowing you to adjust the energy consumption to how much heat you actually need.
How to keep costs low
- Use a thermostat or timer: this way, the heater does not run continuously at full power, but switches off as soon as the set temperature is reached.
- Only heat the room where you are: a heater is particularly cost-effective as supplementary heating for one room, not as a replacement for your entire central heating system.
- Insulate the room properly: drafty windows and doors allow heat to escape more quickly, causing the heater to work longer and harder.
How much does a month of supplementary heating cost?
If you use the heater daily for 5 hours at full power for one month, this adds up to approximately €90 based on the calculation examples mentioned earlier. If you set it to a lower setting of 1,000 watts, this amount is reduced by approximately half to €45 per month. It is therefore worth only setting the heater to the highest setting when it is really necessary.
Electric heating versus central heating
For one room, an electric heater can sometimes be more cost-effective than turning on the entire central heating system, especially if you already use your central heating efficiently. However, always compare your own electricity price and gas price, as this varies depending on the situation and energy contract.
A heater with adjustable power
Our advice is to choose a heater with adjustable settings and a built-in thermostat, so you can determine yourself how much power (and therefore how much electricity) you actually need. The Dynter AirFlow HW2002 is one such ceramic heater with multiple settings and a thermostat function, allowing you to control the energy consumption and therefore the cost per hour yourself.
Curious about how much a heater for your room costs? View the specifications at dynter.eu.