Most electric blankets draw just 60–150W and cost only a few cent an hour to run, far less than heating a whole room. Fans and dehumidifiers sit at different points on that scale, and knowing where each one falls is useful groundwork if you’re weighing up residential solar panels and want to know which everyday loads a system could realistically offset.
All three appliances are designed to solve a narrow problem, warming a person, moving air, or pulling moisture from a room, rather than heating or cooling an entire house, which is exactly why they cost so little to run compared with central heating or air conditioning.
Key Takeaways
- Electric blankets typically use 60–150W and cost only a few cent per hour to run.
- Fans usually draw 40–100W; dehumidifiers draw considerably more, often 200–480W.
- Running costs for any of the three can be estimated with wattage × hours × electricity rate.
- Modern blankets include overheat protection, timers and auto shut-off, making them safe for sensible overnight use.
- Combining these low-wattage devices with draught-proofing and layered clothing cuts heating costs further.
How Much Electricity Do They Actually Use?
- Single electric underblanket: roughly 60–80W.
- Double or king electric blanket: roughly 100–150W.
- Heated throw: roughly 100–120W.
- Desk or tower fan: roughly 40–100W.
- Dehumidifier: roughly 200–480W, depending on size and type.
Actual use is often lower than the maximum, since thermostats and humidistats cycle the heating or compressor element on and off rather than running constantly. The wattage is usually printed on the label or in the manual, and it’s the first figure worth checking.
Working Out Running Costs
The formula is the same for all three: (watts × hours ÷ 1,000) × electricity rate = cost. A 100W electric blanket run for 8 hours at €0.32 per kWh costs about €0.26 a night, roughly €1.80 a week if used nightly. A 60W fan run for the same 8 hours costs about €0.15, while a 300W dehumidifier over 8 hours costs closer to €0.77.
For comparison, a 2,000W fan heater run for the same 8 hours would cost around €5.12, more than fifteen times the blanket. That gap is exactly why targeted, low-wattage devices are worth using instead of heating a whole room whenever comfort for one or two people is all that’s needed.
Electric Blankets vs Central Heating
A gas boiler or electric central heating system draws far more power overall than any of these three devices, and a 2kW plug-in heater alone uses more in an hour than a blanket uses in a night. Using an electric blanket lets you lower the thermostat by a degree or two without losing comfort, which can meaningfully cut heating costs over a winter. This works best in cold bedrooms, for anyone working from home at a desk, and in older houses with poor insulation, exactly where whole-room heating is least efficient.
Fans and Dehumidifiers: When They’re Worth It
A fan on a mild evening, or during shoulder seasons in spring and autumn, can keep a room comfortable without switching on heating at all, and its 40–100W draw is negligible next to any heater, an easy load to run from solar panels for homes on a bright day. Dehumidifiers cost more to run per hour than a fan or blanket, but they solve a different problem, damp, condensation and mould risk, that can otherwise damage a home and cost far more to fix. Running one for a few hours after showers or drying laundry indoors is usually far cheaper than the alternative of persistent damp.
Smart Habits That Cut Costs Further
- Preheat the bed for 15–30 minutes, then turn the blanket off or down once you’re in.
- Use a heated throw in the living room instead of switching on central heating for one or two people.
- Run a dehumidifier only where and when needed, rather than continuously, and empty the tank promptly so the compressor doesn’t work harder.
- Pair a fan or blanket with warm layers, draught excluders and heavier curtains so less running time is needed overall.
For a wider view of which appliances really drive up your electricity bill, including where these smaller devices sit against ovens, showers and tumble dryers, see our companion guide.
Safety and Sensible Use
Reputable modern blankets sold in Ireland include overheat protection, automatic switch-off after a preset time, and temperature sensors, all of which also reduce electricity use by powering down once the target temperature or timer is reached. Avoid pinning or folding blankets sharply, check cables regularly, and replace any unit over 8–10 years old or showing signs of damage. Extra care is worth taking around young children, anyone with reduced mobility, and pets that might chew cables. Fans and dehumidifiers should be kept clear of trailing cables and, for dehumidifiers, positioned on a level surface with the tank properly seated.
Common Myths
- Myth: electric blankets use as much power as heaters. In reality, a 60–150W blanket uses a fraction of a 1,500–2,500W heater.
- Myth: you need to run a blanket on high all night. Preheating, then dropping to a low setting, is usually enough.
- Myth: dehumidifiers need to run constantly to work. Most cycle via a humidistat and only need to run until the target humidity is reached.
FAQ
Do electric blankets use much electricity compared to a TV?
A blanket run on a low setting (40–80W average) often uses a similar amount of power to a modern TV. If you’re already comfortable running a TV for a few hours each evening, an efficient blanket for the same period usually adds less to your bill than heating the room instead, similar in scale to how a kettle’s running costs compare over a typical evening.
Is it cheaper to run an electric blanket or turn up the heating?
Almost always the blanket, especially for one or two people, since it warms the body directly rather than the air and surfaces in a room. A 100W blanket for 5 hours costs a small fraction of what a multi-kilowatt boiler or several radiators would cost over the same time.
How long can I safely leave an electric blanket on?
Models with timers and auto shut-off are generally safe for their programmed duration, often 1 to 9 or 12 hours. Preheating the bed, then switching to a lower overnight setting, is the safest and most efficient approach, and it’s worth checking cables periodically for wear.
Do dehumidifiers or fans use more electricity than an electric blanket?
A fan typically uses less than a blanket on a like-for-like basis, while a dehumidifier usually uses more, since it runs a small compressor rather than a simple heating element. All three remain far cheaper to run than central heating or air conditioning for the problem each is designed to solve, and each fits into the wider picture covered in Energy Use of Household Appliances.
