hvac · 100W typical
Running a electric blanket costs about $1.98/month.
That's the typical electric blanket at 100W, run 8 hours a day at the US-average rate of 16.5¢/kWh. Change any of those and the number moves — use the calculator below to see yours.
Estimated cost
A electric blanket draws full power only while the thermostat/compressor is running — about 4.0 effective hours at 100W across your 8-hour window.
How you use it
Cost shifts with how long it's on.
The same electric blanket can cost very different amounts depending on usage patterns. Three common scenarios, at the US-average rate.
overnight sleep
$1.98
per month
on low during the night with auto-shutoff
evening TV watching
$0.50
per month
quick warm-up on the couch
pre-bed warmup
$0.12
per month
30-minute warm-up on high before sleep
Where you live
$3.59 spread between the cheapest and priciest states.
Same appliance, same hours of use, different zip code — the monthly cost varies this much.
| State | Rate | Monthly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 41.2¢ | $4.94 | $60.15 |
| California | 31.4¢ | $3.77 | $45.84 |
| Massachusetts | 30.8¢ | $3.70 | $44.97 |
| Connecticut | 28.7¢ | $3.44 | $41.90 |
| Rhode Island | 27.9¢ | $3.35 | $40.73 |
| New Hampshire | 24.6¢ | $2.95 | $35.92 |
| Alaska | 24.3¢ | $2.92 | $35.48 |
| New York | 22.3¢ | $2.68 | $32.56 |
| Maine | 22.1¢ | $2.65 | $32.27 |
| Vermont | 21.5¢ | $2.58 | $31.39 |
| Michigan | 19.3¢ | $2.32 | $28.18 |
| New Jersey | 19.1¢ | $2.29 | $27.89 |
| Maryland | 18.4¢ | $2.21 | $26.86 |
| Pennsylvania | 18.1¢ | $2.17 | $26.43 |
| District of Columbia | 17.8¢ | $2.14 | $25.99 |
| Wisconsin | 17.4¢ | $2.09 | $25.40 |
| Delaware | 17.2¢ | $2.06 | $25.11 |
| Illinois | 16.9¢ | $2.03 | $24.67 |
| Ohio | 16.6¢ | $1.99 | $24.24 |
| Nevada | 16.3¢ | $1.96 | $23.80 |
| Indiana | 15.8¢ | $1.90 | $23.07 |
| Virginia | 15.7¢ | $1.88 | $22.92 |
| Minnesota | 15.6¢ | $1.87 | $22.78 |
| Colorado | 15.4¢ | $1.85 | $22.48 |
| Alabama | 15.2¢ | $1.82 | $22.19 |
| West Virginia | 15.2¢ | $1.82 | $22.19 |
| Florida | 15.1¢ | $1.81 | $22.05 |
| New Mexico | 14.8¢ | $1.78 | $21.61 |
| Texas | 14.8¢ | $1.78 | $21.61 |
| Arizona | 14.7¢ | $1.76 | $21.46 |
| South Carolina | 14.7¢ | $1.76 | $21.46 |
| Kansas | 14.6¢ | $1.75 | $21.32 |
| Georgia | 14.2¢ | $1.70 | $20.73 |
| Iowa | 14.1¢ | $1.69 | $20.59 |
| North Carolina | 13.9¢ | $1.67 | $20.29 |
| Missouri | 13.6¢ | $1.63 | $19.86 |
| Oregon | 13.4¢ | $1.61 | $19.56 |
| Tennessee | 13.3¢ | $1.60 | $19.42 |
| Kentucky | 13.2¢ | $1.58 | $19.27 |
| Mississippi | 13.1¢ | $1.57 | $19.13 |
| Oklahoma | 13.1¢ | $1.57 | $19.13 |
| South Dakota | 12.7¢ | $1.52 | $18.54 |
| Montana | 12.4¢ | $1.49 | $18.10 |
| Nebraska | 12.2¢ | $1.46 | $17.81 |
| Arkansas | 12.1¢ | $1.45 | $17.67 |
| Washington | 12.1¢ | $1.45 | $17.67 |
| Louisiana | 11.9¢ | $1.43 | $17.37 |
| Wyoming | 11.6¢ | $1.39 | $16.94 |
| North Dakota | 11.5¢ | $1.38 | $16.79 |
| Utah | 11.4¢ | $1.37 | $16.64 |
| Idaho | 11.3¢ | $1.36 | $16.50 |
Efficient vs. inefficient
A $36.14/year difference across the wattage range.
Swapping a high-draw model for an efficient one pays for itself. Here's what that looks like annually at typical usage.
Most efficient
50W
$0.99 per month
$12.05 per year
Typical
100W
$1.98 per month
$24.09 per year
High draw
200W
$3.96 per month
$48.18 per year
When it hits hardest
winter peak
Nov-Mar dominant; popular alternative to raising whole-house thermostat.
Ways to cut the cost
- 1
Use low setting — a blanket doesn't need high
Cuts watts 50%
- 2
Lower whole-house thermostat 5°F and use blanket in bed
Saves 10-20% on winter heating bill
- 3
Use 30-minute warm-up before bed, then off
Uses 1/16th the energy of all-night heating
Real-world wattages
Pulled from actual spec sheets.
| Brand | Model | Watts |
|---|---|---|
| Sunbeam | Quilted Fleece Heated Blanket | 120W |
| Biddeford | Comfort Knit Heated | 100W |
| SoftHeat | Ultra Micro-Plush Low-Voltage | 90W |
Picks that actually move the needle
Three products worth comparing if you're thinking about upgrading or supplementing what you have.
Some links below are affiliate links. If you buy, we may earn a small commission — it never changes the price you pay, and we only recommend picks we would stand behind.
See also
Related appliances
Sources: www.energy.gov · www.energystar.gov
Last updated: 2026-04-13