What a portable heater costs to run in each state
The table prices a 2,400 W fan heater on high for four hours a day, every day. A 2,400 W heater is the largest that can run from a standard 10 amp power point, so it is the common top setting for portable heaters sold in Australia.
| State | Rate | A month | A year |
|---|---|---|---|
| TasmaniaAurora Energy | 24.75c | $72.27 | $867 |
| QueenslandEnergex | 27.97c | $81.69 | $980 |
| Victoriaaverage of five networks | 28.2c | $82.33 | $988 |
| Northern TerritoryJacana Energy | 31.68c | $92.50 | $1,110 |
| New South WalesAusgrid | 33.14c | $96.76 | $1,161 |
| Western AustraliaSynergy | 33.26c | $97.13 | $1,166 |
| Australian Capital TerritoryEvoenergy network | 36.95c | $107.90 | $1,295 |
| South AustraliaSA Power Networks | 41.91c | $122.38 | $1,469 |
Fan, oil column, panel and radiant heaters compared
| Type | Power | Cost an hour | A year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fan heater on high, 2,400 W | 2,400 W | 80c | $1,161 |
| Oil column heater, 1,500 W setting | 1,500 W | 50c | $726 |
| Radiant bar heater, 1,200 W | 1,200 W | 40c | $581 |
| Panel heater, 1,000 W | 1,000 W | 33c | $484 |
The cost of each hour depends only on the wattage the heater is drawing. An oil column heater set to 1,500 W costs the same per hour as a fan heater on its 1,500 W setting. The difference is comfort and timing:
- Fan heaters warm a room fast but cool down as soon as they switch off.
- Oil column heaters are slow to warm up but hold heat and cycle off on their thermostat, so the average draw is often below the setting.
- Panel heaters suit bedrooms and studies where steady, quiet heat matters.
- Radiant bar heaters warm the person in front of them rather than the room, which suits short bursts.
Electric heaters against other ways to keep warm
| Heating | Cost an hour | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Heated throw or rug | 4-6c | One or two people sitting still |
| Electric blanket | 5-6c | Warming a bed |
| Small reverse cycle air conditioner | 10-14c | A small room of about 12 m² |
| Radiant heater | 38-52c | One or two people |
| Electric panel heater | 46-62c | A small room |
| Electric portable heater | 92c-$1.25 | A small room |
The pattern is clear. Heating yourself is cheapest, a reverse cycle air conditioner is the cheapest way to heat a room with electricity, and portable heaters cost the most per hour of warmth. Our cheapest way to heat a home guide goes through each option.
How to spend less on heating
Heat the person first
Extra layers, a hot water bottle or an electric blanket cost a fraction of heating a room.
Close the door
Heat only the room you are using. A heater trying to warm a hallway or open-plan space works far harder.
Use the thermostat
Set it to 18°C to 21°C. Each degree lower can save up to 10%, according to the SA Government.
Stop draughts and close curtains
Draught stoppers and thick curtains with pelmets keep heat in. Up to 20% of heat can be lost through windows.
Safety first
Keep heaters a metre from curtains, bedding and furniture, never cover them, and switch off portable heaters when you leave the room or go to sleep.
Questions about heater running costs
About 80c an hour on the Ausgrid reference rate of 33.14c per kWh, because it uses 2.4 kWh every hour on full power. On a cheaper market rate of 28c it would be about 67c an hour.
Not per hour at the same wattage. Both turn electricity into heat at the same rate. An oil column heater holds heat and cycles off once the room is warm, so its average draw can be lower, but a fan heater warms a room faster.
For heating a room, a reverse cycle air conditioner, which the SA Government estimates at 10c to 14c an hour for a small room. For heating just yourself, an electric blanket or heated throw at around 4c to 6c an hour.
A 2,400 W fan heater used four hours a night every day for three months uses about 870 kWh. At the Ausgrid reference rate that is roughly $289. Lower settings, fewer hours or a thermostat bring that down.
It is safer and cheaper not to. Use an electric blanket to warm the bed and switch it off when you get in, or set a reverse cycle air conditioner on a timer.
Sources
Every rate on this page comes from the regulator or the regulated retailer. Last checked October 2026. Prices include GST unless we say otherwise.