hvac · 15W typical
Running a ventless gas heater (electric ignition) costs about $0.12/month.
That's the typical ventless gas heater (electric ignition) at 15W, run 4 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 ventless gas heater (electric ignition) draws full power only while the thermostat/compressor is running — about 1.6 effective hours at 15W across your 4-hour window.
How you use it
Cost shifts with how long it's on.
The same ventless gas heater (electric ignition) can cost very different amounts depending on usage patterns. Three common scenarios, at the US-average rate.
supplemental living room
$0.12
per month
evening heat in a rural or off-grid home
backup during outage
$0.36
per month
primary heat when power is out (needs generator for ignition)
cabin weekend
$0.24
per month
heating a cabin while visiting
Where you live
$0.22 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¢ | $0.30 | $3.61 |
| California | 31.4¢ | $0.23 | $2.75 |
| Massachusetts | 30.8¢ | $0.22 | $2.70 |
| Connecticut | 28.7¢ | $0.21 | $2.51 |
| Rhode Island | 27.9¢ | $0.20 | $2.44 |
| New Hampshire | 24.6¢ | $0.18 | $2.15 |
| Alaska | 24.3¢ | $0.17 | $2.13 |
| New York | 22.3¢ | $0.16 | $1.95 |
| Maine | 22.1¢ | $0.16 | $1.94 |
| Vermont | 21.5¢ | $0.15 | $1.88 |
| Michigan | 19.3¢ | $0.14 | $1.69 |
| New Jersey | 19.1¢ | $0.14 | $1.67 |
| Maryland | 18.4¢ | $0.13 | $1.61 |
| Pennsylvania | 18.1¢ | $0.13 | $1.59 |
| District of Columbia | 17.8¢ | $0.13 | $1.56 |
| Wisconsin | 17.4¢ | $0.13 | $1.52 |
| Delaware | 17.2¢ | $0.12 | $1.51 |
| Illinois | 16.9¢ | $0.12 | $1.48 |
| Ohio | 16.6¢ | $0.12 | $1.45 |
| Nevada | 16.3¢ | $0.12 | $1.43 |
| Indiana | 15.8¢ | $0.11 | $1.38 |
| Virginia | 15.7¢ | $0.11 | $1.38 |
| Minnesota | 15.6¢ | $0.11 | $1.37 |
| Colorado | 15.4¢ | $0.11 | $1.35 |
| Alabama | 15.2¢ | $0.11 | $1.33 |
| West Virginia | 15.2¢ | $0.11 | $1.33 |
| Florida | 15.1¢ | $0.11 | $1.32 |
| New Mexico | 14.8¢ | $0.11 | $1.30 |
| Texas | 14.8¢ | $0.11 | $1.30 |
| Arizona | 14.7¢ | $0.11 | $1.29 |
| South Carolina | 14.7¢ | $0.11 | $1.29 |
| Kansas | 14.6¢ | $0.11 | $1.28 |
| Georgia | 14.2¢ | $0.10 | $1.24 |
| Iowa | 14.1¢ | $0.10 | $1.24 |
| North Carolina | 13.9¢ | $0.10 | $1.22 |
| Missouri | 13.6¢ | $0.10 | $1.19 |
| Oregon | 13.4¢ | $0.10 | $1.17 |
| Tennessee | 13.3¢ | $0.10 | $1.17 |
| Kentucky | 13.2¢ | $0.10 | $1.16 |
| Mississippi | 13.1¢ | $0.09 | $1.15 |
| Oklahoma | 13.1¢ | $0.09 | $1.15 |
| South Dakota | 12.7¢ | $0.09 | $1.11 |
| Montana | 12.4¢ | $0.09 | $1.09 |
| Nebraska | 12.2¢ | $0.09 | $1.07 |
| Arkansas | 12.1¢ | $0.09 | $1.06 |
| Washington | 12.1¢ | $0.09 | $1.06 |
| Louisiana | 11.9¢ | $0.09 | $1.04 |
| Wyoming | 11.6¢ | $0.08 | $1.02 |
| North Dakota | 11.5¢ | $0.08 | $1.01 |
| Utah | 11.4¢ | $0.08 | $1.00 |
| Idaho | 11.3¢ | $0.08 | $0.99 |
Efficient vs. inefficient
A $3.37/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
5W
$0.04 per month
$0.48 per year
Typical
15W
$0.12 per month
$1.45 per year
High draw
40W
$0.32 per month
$3.85 per year
When it hits hardest
winter peak
Nov-Mar; common in rural homes without ducted HVAC.
Ways to cut the cost
- 1
Use a built-in thermostat rather than running continuously
Cuts gas use 20-30%
- 2
Crack a window slightly — ventless units require oxygen replacement
Prevents low-oxygen shutoff cycles (which waste ignition energy)
- 3
Use only as supplemental heat — check local code before installing
Ventless heaters are banned in several states
Real-world wattages
Pulled from actual spec sheets.
| Brand | Model | Watts |
|---|---|---|
| ProCom | ML060HBA | 15W |
| Mr. Heater | MHVFB30LPT | 20W |
| Empire | VFSR-30-3 | 15W |
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