At the U.S. average price of 18.16¢ per kWh. Your state's price changes these numbers; use the calculator.
Work out your cost
Change any number. The price per kWh is on your electric bill.
Starts at the U.S. average residential price, 18.16¢/kWh (August 2026, EIA, checked Oct 24, 2026). Month is 30 days; year is 12 such months.
The formula
cost = watts × hours ÷ 1,000 × price per kWh
Worked example: 350 W × 12 h ÷ 1,000 = 4.2 kWh a day. 4.2 kWh × $0.1816 = $0.76 a day, or about $22.88 over 30 days.
How many watts does heat tape use?
Most are rated 60 to 560 W. The package, cord tag or manufacturer data sheet lists watts per foot or total watts for the kit length. Divide total watts by cable feet to check the W/ft rating.
- Frost King Automatic Electric Heat Cable Kits and EasyHeat AHB constant-wattage cables are rated 7 W per foot at 120 V. EasyHeat lists kit totals such as 6 ft at 42 W, 30 ft at 211 W, 40 ft at 280 W, 60 ft at 420 W, and 80 ft at 560 W. Frost King kits run from 3 to 30 ft at the same 7 W/ft.
- Wrap-On pipe heating cables use a low-wattage design at about 2 W per foot (their 30 ft kit is about 60 W; a 100 ft kit about 200 W) and advertise up to 65% less energy than 7 W/ft cables. nVent Raychem WinterGard self-regulating cable is rated 3 W/ft at 40°F; WinterGard Plus and WinterGard Wet are 6 W/ft at 40°F.
- Multiply cable length by the W/ft rating for total watts while the cable is energized. A 50 ft run at 7 W/ft is 350 W; at 3 W/ft it is 150 W; at 2 W/ft it is 100 W. Count only the heating cable length on the pipe, not spare cord.
- Plug-in kits with a built-in thermostat (Frost King, EasyHeat, Wrap-On) typically turn on at about 38°F and off above about 45°F, so they do not draw full power all winter. Self-regulating cable also reduces output as the pipe warms.
Cost at different electricity prices
| Use | Nevada (lowest state)12.72¢/kWh | U.S. average18.16¢/kWh | New York28.65¢/kWh | California29.75¢/kWh | Hawaii (highest state)47.18¢/kWh |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft constant-wattage kit at 7 W/ft (42 W), overnight freeze protection 12 h/day15 kWh a month | $1.92$23.08/yr | $2.75$32.95/yr | $4.33$51.98/yr | $4.50$53.98/yr | $7.13$85.60/yr |
| 30 ft low-wattage cable at 2 W/ft (60 W), 12 h/day22 kWh a month | $2.75$32.97/yr | $3.92$47.07/yr | $6.19$74.26/yr | $6.43$77.11/yr | $10.19$122/yr |
| 50 ft constant-wattage at 7 W/ft (350 W), 12 h/day126 kWh a month | $16.03$192/yr | $22.88$275/yr | $36.10$433/yr | $37.48$450/yr | $59.45$713/yr |
| 50 ft constant-wattage at 7 W/ft (350 W), continuous deep freeze 24 h/day252 kWh a month | $32.05$385/yr | $45.76$549/yr | $72.20$866/yr | $74.97$900/yr | $119$1,427/yr |
| 80 ft EasyHeat AHB kit at 7 W/ft (560 W), 12 h/day202 kWh a month | $25.64$308/yr | $36.61$439/yr | $57.76$693/yr | $59.98$720/yr | $95.11$1,141/yr |
Per month (30 days) and per year (12 such months). Real use is usually seasonal. Average residential prices for August 2026 from the same EIA table. Your utility's rate, including delivery charges, may differ. Check the price per kWh on your bill.
Ways to pay less
- Insulate over the cable the way the maker allows Frost King and EasyHeat both call for about 1/2 inch of fiberglass or equivalent non-flammable pipe insulation over the installed cable, with a vapor seal on fiberglass. Insulation holds heat on the pipe so the thermostat reaches its off temperature sooner and the cable runs fewer hours. Building America (PNNL) also notes heat tape plus insulation for pipes in freezing crawl spaces and uninsulated basements.
- Prefer a thermostat or self-regulating cable over an always-on plug Kits with a built-in thermostat (on near 38°F, off near 45°F) cut power on mild winter days. Self-regulating cable such as Raychem WinterGard at 3 W/ft draws less as the pipe warms. On a 350 W constant-wattage run, trimming 4 hours a day saves about $7.63 a month at 18.16¢/kWh.
- Size the cable to the pipe, and never overlap it Frost King and EasyHeat warn not to spiral, overlap or use a cable longer than the pipe allows. Overlapping can overheat the cable. Match length and pipe diameter to the selection chart on the package, then unplug the kit when freeze risk is gone for the season.
- Compare a lower W/ft design on long runs Wrap-On rates about 2 W/ft versus 7 W/ft for many constant-wattage kits. A 50 ft run at 2 W/ft (100 W) costs about $0.02 an hour, versus about $0.06 at 7 W/ft (350 W). Raychem WinterGard at 3 W/ft on the same 50 ft is about 150 W, or about $0.03 an hour while energized.
- Fix the cold path, not only the tape DOE Building Science guidance for pipes in exterior walls is to insulate the pipes, put cavity insulation behind them, and air-seal the cavity so cold outdoor air does not wash the pipe. Heat tape is a backup for exposed runs; better envelope details reduce how often it has to turn on.
Safety. CPSC heat-tape guidance (live cpsc.gov pages returned 403 to automated checks on 2026-11-04; content confirmed via search indexes of the 1996 release) urges UL/CSA/FMRC-listed cable, a grounded 3-prong plug into a GFCI-protected outlet, no overlapping unless the maker allows it, cable on the pipe under non-flammable insulation such as fiberglass (not foam or vinyl that can ignite), sealed end caps kept off the ground, and yearly inspection for charring, cuts or bare wires. EasyHeat and national electrical codes also require GFCI or ground-fault equipment protection because damaged cable may not trip an ordinary breaker. Use only products listed for water pipes; do not put pipe kits on gutters, driveways or fuel lines.
Questions
How much does it cost to run heat tape for an hour?
Multiply the cable's watts by your rate. A 50 ft constant-wattage cable at 7 W/ft draws 350 W, so at 18.16¢/kWh (EIA, August 2026) it costs about $0.06 an hour while it is on. A 6 ft kit (42 W) is about $0.01 an hour, a 30 ft Wrap-On-style cable at 2 W/ft (60 W) is about $0.01 an hour, and an 80 ft EasyHeat kit (560 W) is about $0.10 an hour.
How much does pipe heating cable cost per month?
About $22.88 a month for a 50 ft, 350 W run at 12 hours a day, or about $45.76 if it stays on 24 hours a day, at the U.S. average of 18.16¢/kWh. At Nevada's 12.72¢/kWh the 12-hour figure is about $16.03; at Hawaii's 47.18¢/kWh about $59.45. A short 6 ft kit at 12 hours a day is about $2.75 a month; an 80 ft, 560 W kit at 12 hours is about $36.61.
How many watts per foot is heat tape?
Common residential ratings are about 2 W/ft (Wrap-On), 3 W/ft (Raychem WinterGard at 40°F), 6 W/ft (WinterGard Plus / Wet at 40°F), and 7 W/ft (Frost King and EasyHeat constant-wattage kits). Total watts equal length times that rating while the cable is energized.
Does heat tape use a lot of electricity?
A short kit uses little; a long constant-wattage run adds up. A 350 W cable at 12 hours a day uses about 126 kWh a month (about 14% of the 899 kWh EIA says the average U.S. home uses). Thermostat cycling, self-regulating cable and proper insulation cut real use. Leaving a long kit plugged in all year without need wastes money.
Is heat tape cheaper to run overnight than leaving a space heater on in a crawl space?
Usually yes for freeze protection of pipes. A 350 W heat-tape run costs about $0.06 an hour versus about $0.27 for a 1,500 W space heater on high. Heat tape targets the pipe; a space heater warms a whole volume of air and is not a substitute for listed pipe-protection cable.
Is a bitcoin heater cheaper than heat tape for the same electricity?
Per kWh of heat, somewhat, once you count mining income. Both turn electricity into heat roughly one to one, but a heater miner earns bitcoin while it runs. At the November 4, 2026 hashprice, an 800 W Avalon Mini 3 earns back about 37% of its electricity at 18.16¢/kWh, so its heat costs the equivalent of about 11.49¢ per kWh against 18.16¢ for heat tape. A heat pump still beats both on cost per unit of whole-room heat, and neither a miner nor a space heater replaces listed pipe heat cable for freeze protection. Mining income moves with the bitcoin price and network difficulty; our bitcoin heater page recalculates it daily.
Sources
- U.S. EIA: Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A: Average price of electricity by state, August 2026 (released Oct 23, 2026). Used for: U.S. average residential rate (18.16¢/kWh) and state rates
- Frost King: Automatic Electric Heat Cable Kits (product page and support FAQ). Used for: 7 W per foot at 120 V; built-in thermostat on at 38°F / off above 45°F; no overlapping; 1/2 in fiberglass insulation over cable; kits 3 to 30 ft
- Frost King: Heat cables support FAQ. Used for: Wattage-per-foot confirmation (7 W/ft, 15 A max); insulation and overlap warnings
- EasyHeat AHB Cable catalog pages (September 2021 PDF). Used for: 7 W/ft constant-wattage; thermostat 38°F on / 45°F off; kit watt totals including 6 ft 42 W and 80 ft 560 W; GFCI required; max 1/2 in non-flammable insulation
- Wrap-On: Pipe heating cables. Used for: About 2 W per foot; thermostat on at 38°F; length/watt table (30 ft ~60 W, 100 ft ~200 W); fiberglass wrap required
- nVent Raychem WinterGard selection guide (PDF). Used for: WinterGard 3 W/ft at 40°F; WinterGard Plus and Wet 6 W/ft at 40°F; ground-fault equipment protection required
- nVent Raychem: WinterGard Wet self-regulating heating cable TruckPak. Used for: 100 ft kit at 6 W/ft residential/commercial freeze protection
- PNNL Building America Solution Center: Insulate hot water pipes. Used for: Pipe insulation for freeze protection; consider electric heat tape in freezing crawl spaces and uninsulated basements
- DOE Building Science Education: Pipes in exterior walls. Used for: Insulate pipes, cavity insulation behind pipes, and air-seal exterior-wall cavities
- U.S. DOE: Insulate domestic hot water pipes (PDF, 2024). Used for: Minimum R-3 pipe insulation guidance on accessible hot and cold lines
- U.S. CPSC: Re-issues heat tape guidelines (1996 news release; live cpsc.gov returned 403 to bots on 2026-11-04). Used for: UL/CSA/FMRC-listed tape; GFCI outlet; no overlap unless permitted; non-flammable insulation; yearly inspection; grounded 3-prong plug
- U.S. EIA: How much electricity does an American home use?. Used for: Average U.S. residential customer about 899 kWh a month
- WattCost: hashprice (mempool.space), November 4, 2026, and Canaan Avalon Mini 3 specifications. Used for: Avalon Mini 3: 37.5 TH/s at 800 W; mining income at $34.17 per PH/s a day