What does an electric patio heater cost per hour in electricity?

An electric patio heater is ideal if you want to sit outside longer on your patio, balcony, veranda, or under a canopy. Still, many people wonder: what does such a patio heater actually cost per hour in electricity?

The short answer: it mainly depends on the heater's power and your electricity price. In this blog, we'll simply explain how to calculate the costs, what different wattages approximately consume, and how you can save smartly.

How do you calculate the power consumption of a patio heater?

The power consumption of an electric patio heater is determined by its wattage. This power is indicated in watts. The higher the wattage, the more powerful the heater is and the more electricity it consumes when running at full power.

The calculation is quite simple:

Wattage ÷ 1000 = consumption in kWh per hour

A 2000-watt patio heater therefore consumes:

2000 ÷ 1000 = 2 kWh per hour

Then you multiply this by your electricity price per kWh.

Example:

2 kWh x €0.30 = €0.60 per hour

If you use a 2000W heater for one hour at full power, it will cost approximately €0.60 at an electricity price of €0.30 per kWh.

Cost per hour per wattage

The table below provides a clear indication. We use an example price of €0.30 per kWh. Your actual costs may vary, depending on your energy supplier and contract.

An electric patio heater of 2500W thus costs approximately €0.75 per hour in this example if it runs continuously at full power.

Does a patio heater always consume maximum power?

No, not always. Many modern electric patio heaters have multiple heat settings. This allows you to determine how much power you use yourself.

A 2500W heater therefore does not have to constantly consume 2500W. If you set it to a lower setting, it uses less electricity.

This is especially useful when it's not extremely cold. For example, you can first set the heater to the highest setting to quickly feel warmth, and then switch back to a lower setting.

This way, you stay comfortable without using unnecessarily much electricity.

Is an electric patio heater expensive to use?

That depends on how often and how long you use it. For incidental use, the costs are often not too bad. If you use the patio heater, for example, two evenings a week, two hours per evening, you can easily estimate the monthly costs.

Example with a 2500W heater:

• Consumption per hour: 2.5 kWh
• Cost per hour at €0.30/kWh: €0.75
• Usage: 4 hours per week
• Cost per week: €3.00
• Cost per month: approximately €12.00

For many households, this is an acceptable price, especially if it allows you to use your garden, veranda, or balcony more often and for longer.

Electric heating is targeted heating

An important advantage of electric infrared patio heating is that the heat works in a targeted manner. Infrared does not first heat the air, but mainly people and objects in the radiation direction.

As a result, the heat feels quick. So you don't have to wait long for the environment to reach temperature.

This makes electric patio heating efficient for outdoor use. You turn on the heater when you are sitting outside and turn it off as soon as you go inside.

With gas heating, more heat is often spread to the environment. With electric infrared heating, you can use the heat more specifically in the place where people are sitting.

What does an evening of patio heating cost?

Suppose: you sit outside for three hours on a Friday evening with a 2500W patio heater. The calculation then looks like this:

2.5 kWh x 3 hours = 7.5 kWh

At an electricity price of €0.30 per kWh:

7.5 x €0.30 = €2.25

Sitting outside for an evening with a 2500W heater therefore costs approximately €2.25 in this example.

If you use a 2000W heater, this will be lower. If you use a 3000W heater, it will be slightly higher. The greatest influence therefore remains the wattage and the number of hours of use.

How can you save on electricity costs?

You can limit the consumption of your patio heater without directly sacrificing comfort. Pay particular attention to the following points.

1. Choose the right power

A heater that is too light has to run at full power for a long time or continuously. A heater that is too heavy can unnecessarily use a lot of electricity for a small space.

For a small balcony, 1500W to 2000W is often sufficient. For a veranda or canopy, 2000W to 2500W is usually more logical. For a larger patio, 3000W or multiple heaters may be needed.

The right power ensures that you don't heat too little, but also not too much.

2. Place the heater close to the seating area

With infrared heat, placement is very important. If you hang or place the patio heater too far from the seating area, you will feel less heat and you will turn it up faster.

Therefore, aim the heater well at the place where people are sitting. This way, you use the heat much more efficiently.

3. Use heat settings smartly

Does your patio heater have multiple settings? Then use them actively.

First, set the heater to a higher setting to quickly feel warmth. As soon as it's comfortable, switch back to a lower setting. This saves electricity without immediately feeling colder.

4. Provide shelter from the wind

Wind has a great influence on outdoor comfort. Even with a powerful heater, an open, windy patio can feel colder.

Under a canopy, veranda, or with glass sliding walls, the heat remains more noticeable. This means you don't have to make the heater work as hard.

5. Turn off the heater when not in use

An electric patio heater provides heat almost immediately. So you don't have to turn it on long in advance.

That is an advantage over some other forms of heating. Only turn on the heater when you go outside and turn it off as soon as you go inside.

Is an electric patio heater more economical than gas?

Electric and gas are difficult to compare one-to-one because they heat differently. A gas heater often heats more broadly and more through the air, while an electric infrared heater emits heat more targeted.

For home use, verandas, and canopies, electric is often more practical. You don't need a gas cylinder, no open flame, and you can easily turn the heater on and off. Electric heaters are also often better combined with wall mounting, remote control, or app control.

For targeted heating of a seating area, electric is therefore often an efficient choice.

Which patio heater suits your use?

Do you mainly use the patio heater on a small balcony? Then a compact model of 1500W to 2000W is often sufficient.

For a normal veranda or canopy, 2000W to 2500W is usually a good choice. Do you want to heat a larger seating area or horeca terrace? Then you often end up with 3000W or multiple heaters.

Don't just pay attention to consumption, but also to:

• the number of heat settings;
• the mounting location;
• the IP value;
• operation with remote control or app;
• the heat distribution;
• the size of the space.

A slightly more powerful model with multiple settings can sometimes be smarter than a weaker model that always has to run at maximum.

Conclusion: what does a patio heater cost per hour?

An electric patio heater costs on average between €0.45 and €0.90 per hour, depending on the power and your electricity price. A 2000W model costs approximately €0.60 per hour at €0.30 per kWh. A more powerful 3000W model costs approximately €0.90 per hour in the same example.

The final costs mainly depend on how long you use the heater and at what setting it is. By choosing the right power, placing the heater correctly, and using heat settings smartly, you keep consumption well under control.

An electric patio heater is therefore a comfortable and practical solution to enjoy your patio, balcony, or canopy for longer.