How much does an electric blanket cost to run in Virginia?
$4.19 a month while in use, November to March
- A day of use
- $0.14
- An hour of running
- $0.02
- A year (season only)
- $20.80
100 W, 8 hours a night at full power (double size), November to March, at Virginia’s average rate of 17.2¢ 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 | $0.52 | $2.60 |
| 2 hours a day | $0.03 | $1.05 | $5.20 |
| 4 hours a day | $0.07 | $2.10 | $10.40 |
| 8 hours a day typical | $0.14 | $4.19 | $20.80 |
| 24 hours a day | $0.41 | $12.57 | $62.41 |
Models range from 60 W to 100 W (Virginia Cooperative Extension). We use 100 W, double-size figure from the source.
Virginia compared with other states
Virginia’s residential rate is the 22nd most expensive of 51 states and DC, 1.1¢ below the US average of 18.3¢ (−6%). Virginia’s rate is up 2.0¢ from June 2025 (15.2¢, +13.1%).
Ways to spend less
- Warm the bed for 30 minutes before you get in, then switch it off or to low. Saves about $3.93 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 Virginia. An electric blanket at 100 W uses 0.100 kWh per hour, and at Virginia’s average of 17.2¢ 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 $4.19 a month while it is in use in Virginia, or $20.80 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 $0.41 a day, or $12.57 over an average month in Virginia.
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 Virginia than elsewhere?
Virginia’s residential rate is the 22nd most expensive of 51 states and DC, 1.1¢ below the US average of 18.3¢ (−6%). Virginia’s rate is up 2.0¢ from June 2025 (15.2¢, +13.1%). 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.