Space Heater Cost Calculator: What It Really Costs to Run in Canada
In Canada, the cost of running a heater depends on two things — your province and, in Ontario, the hour you run it. This calculator uses both.
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Space heater running cost calculator
Defaults assume a 500 W heater, 8 hours a day, 150 days, at Ontario's off-peak rate. Change any value.
When should you run it? (Ontario)
The same heater at the same wattage, costed at three Ontario windows.
Same heater. Same hours. The only thing that changed is when you run it.
Provincial rate table
A 500 W heater at 8 hours a day, at each province's rate in effect November 2026.
| Province | Rate (¢/kWh) | 500 W per hour | 500 W per month (8h/day) |
|---|
Rates in effect November 2026, from provincial regulators (OEB, Hydro-Québec, BC Hydro, Manitoba Hydro, EPCOR/ENMAX, NS Power, SaskPower, NB Power, Yukon Energy, NWT Power, Qulliq Energy). Confirm your exact rate on your bill.
How to read your hydro bill
Three checks before you trust any calculator, including this one.
Find the rate
Look for the "electricity charge" or "energy charge" per kWh. Do not divide your total bill by kWh used, because that figure includes fixed delivery and regulatory charges.
Check your plan
In Ontario you choose between TOU, ULO and tiered pricing. The rate you are on decides whether the hour you run the heater matters. The calculator above includes all of them.
Add delivery
In most provinces the commodity rate is only part of the delivered cost. Delivery charges add cents per kWh, so your real cost per kWh is higher than the energy rate alone.
The province math: why the same heater costs 10× more
From Ontario ULO at 3.7¢ to Nunavut at 35.4¢, the same appliance can cost nearly ten times as much to run.
Quebec is a different case. Per Hydro-Québec's Rate D, electricity is cheap enough that the savings argument is weak there. The reason to buy a heater in Quebec is comfort and coverage, not running cost.
When a space heater is the wrong answer
Space heaters work best as a supplement, not a primary heat source.
Frequently asked questions
Short answers on running costs, rates and heater choice.
How much does it cost to run a 500W heater in Canada?
At 8 hours a day on Ontario's off-peak TOU rate of 9.1 cents per kWh, a 500 W heater costs about $0.36 a day and about $10.92 a month. On Ontario's ULO overnight rate it costs about $4.44 a month, and in Nunavut about $42.48 a month.
What's the cheapest time to run a space heater in Ontario?
Under Ontario's ULO plan, the ultra-low overnight rate of 3.7 cents per kWh applies from 11 pm to 7 am. Under TOU, the off-peak rate applies from 7 pm to 7 am and on weekends and holidays.
What's the difference between TOU, ULO and tiered pricing?
Time-of-use (TOU) charges three prices by time of day. Ultra-low overnight (ULO) has a very cheap overnight rate and a very expensive on-peak rate. Tiered pricing charges one rate up to a consumption threshold and a higher rate above it, regardless of the hour.
Is electricity cheaper in Quebec than in Ontario?
Per Hydro-Québec's Rate D, the residential rate is 7.1 cents per kWh. That is lower than Ontario's off-peak TOU rate of 9.1 cents, though Ontario's ULO overnight rate is lower still.
Does my hydro bill rate include delivery charges?
Not usually. The commodity or energy rate is only part of the delivered cost. Delivery and regulatory charges add cents per kWh on most bills, so compare the energy charge line when you use this calculator.
Is a higher-wattage heater more efficient?
Not necessarily. Nearly all plug-in electric space heaters convert almost all input power to heat, so efficiency is close to 100% at any wattage. Higher wattage heats faster but uses more electricity per hour.
Can a plug-in heater heat a whole room?
A plug-in heater warms the area near it. It works best as a supplement to your main heating for a small room or a specific spot, not as the primary heat source for a whole home.
Why is the heater's price in US dollars?
The seller sets prices in US dollars, and the final price is charged in USD at checkout. This calculator shows running costs in Canadian dollars and does not convert any heater price.
Ready to compare heaters?
Pick the wattage you need, then check the current price and seller terms.
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