Space Heater vs Central Heating: Which Costs Less?

Which heating method costs less?

Quick Answer

For heating one or two rooms, a space heater is almost always cheaper than running central heating for the whole house. A single 1,500W space heater costs about $32.40/month at 4 hours daily, while the average gas furnace runs $80–$120/month in winter. The break-even point is typically 3 rooms.

Data sources:EIA (US)Ofgem (UK)Last verified: July 2026
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