How much does an electric blanket cost to run in Iowa?
$3.88 a month while in use, November to March
- A day of use
- $0.13
- An hour of running
- $0.02
- A year (season only)
- $19.24
100 W, 8 hours a night at full power (double size), November to March, at Iowa’s average rate of 15.9¢ per kWh (EIA, June 2026). How we calculate this
Change the watts, hours or rate
What it costs at other usage levels
| Use | A day | A month in use | A year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour a day | $0.02 | $0.48 | $2.41 |
| 2 hours a day | $0.03 | $0.97 | $4.81 |
| 4 hours a day | $0.06 | $1.94 | $9.62 |
| 8 hours a day typical | $0.13 | $3.88 | $19.24 |
| 24 hours a day | $0.38 | $11.63 | $57.73 |
Models range from 60 W to 100 W (Virginia Cooperative Extension). We use 100 W, double-size figure from the source.
Iowa compared with other states
Iowa’s residential rate is the 23rd cheapest of 51 states and DC, 2.4¢ below the US average of 18.3¢ (−13%). Iowa’s rate is up 0.6¢ from June 2025 (15.3¢, +3.9%).
Ways to spend less
- Warm the bed for 30 minutes before you get in, then switch it off or to low. Saves about $3.63 a month in season.
- Use the timer so it doesn't run all night.
- Pair it with a lower thermostat setting overnight; that is where the real saving is.
Questions
How much does it cost to run an electric blanket per hour?
About $0.02 an hour in Iowa. An electric blanket at 100 W uses 0.100 kWh per hour, and at Iowa’s average of 15.9¢ per kWh that comes to $0.02.
How much does an electric blanket add to your electric bill?
Used 8 hours a night at full power (double size), November to March, about $3.88 a month while it is in use in Iowa, or $19.24 a year across the November to March season.
How much does it cost to run an electric blanket 24 hours a day?
Running nonstop, an electric blanket would use 2.40 kWh a day and cost $0.38 a day, or $11.63 over an average month in Iowa.
How many watts does an electric blanket use?
Models range from 60 W to 100 W (Virginia Cooperative Extension). We use 100 W, double-size figure from the source. Check the label on yours: cost scales directly with watts, so a 20% lower wattage means a 20% lower bill.
Why does an electric blanket cost more or less to run in Iowa than elsewhere?
Iowa’s residential rate is the 23rd cheapest of 51 states and DC, 2.4¢ below the US average of 18.3¢ (−13%). Iowa’s rate is up 0.6¢ from June 2025 (15.3¢, +3.9%). The appliance uses the same energy everywhere; only the price per kWh changes.
Sources
- Virginia Cooperative Extension: Estimating appliance and home electronic energy use (reproduces U.S. Department of Energy sample wattages)
- Penn State EGEE 102: Typical range of power consumption (wattage)
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A: average price of electricity to ultimate customers, residential, June 2026 Figures transcribed from republications of this table on September 26, 2026; pending direct verification from the EIA API.
- Carrier page: June 2026 residential average price, citing EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A
Usage assumptions (hours a day, season) are ours and listed on the methodology page. Found an error? Tell us.