How Much Does a Baseboard Heater Cost in 2024?

Simplicity in both maintenance and installation – $350 to $1,300 per unit – makes baseboard heaters an optimal choice for many homeowners. They do not require ductwork, meaning you can get them for an older home or addition where installing comprehensive heating systems is impractical or too expensive. The average baseboard heater installation costs around $785, but you can also find cheap models running at $230. High-end options have higher price tags, reaching $3,000.  

The cost of baseboard heating

Average cost	$785
Low-end cost	$230
High-end cost	$3,000
Typical cost range	$350 - $1,300

Electric Baseboard Heat Cost Calculator

Are you on the lookout for a zone heating solution? Baseboard heaters allow for heating individual rooms only when in use, potentially reducing overall energy consumption. However, getting the right model to meet the objectives is vital. Plus, a single unit may not be enough. Here, another question may arise, “Is baseboard heating expensive for a 3-bedroom home?” Let’s discuss everything in detail to see the whole picture. 

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Cost of the Baseboard Heating System by Type

Most American homeowners invest in a baseboard heating system, which costs between $250 and $1,300 per unit installed. This placement of heaters is strategic as it utilizes the natural principle—once the heater warms the nearby air, it rises from the floor, spreading warmth throughout the room. 

Electric Baseboard Heat Cost

While electric baseboard heaters can run from $50 to $260 per unit alone, you can shell out $200 to $1,150 to have them installed. These units are considered less efficient, as they only emit heat while powered, heating up and cooling down rapidly. Hence, their cost-effectiveness only stems from straightforward installation requirements, as they need neither ductwork nor plumbing.

Hydronic Baseboard Heater Cost

Hydronic counterparts, priced between $180 and $400 for just the unit and $440 to $1,200 with installation, represent the second most widespread category of baseboard heaters. Unlike purely electrical models, hydronic heaters require more time to reach operational temperatures because it takes longer to heat up a reservoir of oil or another liquid they come with. However, they offer a prolonged cooling down period, consistently releasing heat even after being switched off. This ability makes them more energy-efficient despite their slightly higher initial cost. 

The baseboard heat cost by type

Type	Average cost
Electric	$200 - $1,150
Hydronic	$440 - $1,200

Cost to Install an Electric Baseboard Heat System by Home Size

The coverage area of an electric baseboard heater is determined by its wattage along with its ampere levels. Utilizing the correct wattage and electrical specifications is a must for your home’s safety. Therefore, you can hardly get a single unit and call it a day. Your home space will likely require 6 to 16 baseboard heaters, meaning you may invest from $2,450 to $7,000 in units alone.  It’s a common practice among HVAC contractors to recommend choosing heaters with a slightly higher capacity than needed, primarily for increased safety. Let’s see how many units you need to equip your space with to ensure it is adequately warmed while maintaining electrical safety and efficiency.

The price of installing a baseboard heater by home size

Home size	Number of units needed	Average cost
800 - 1,000	6 - 7	$2,450 - $2,850
1,200 - 1,400	8 - 10	$3,240 - $4,200
1,500 - 1,700	10 - 12	$4,100 - $4,900
1,800 - 2,200	12 - 15	$4,850 - $6,100
2,350 - $3,000	16 - 20	$6,500 - $8,1000

Hot Water Baseboard Heating Cost per Square Foot

You can come across 500-watt to 4,500-watt baseboard heaters, priced between $36 and $1,000 per unit, excluding installation. They are available in various sizes, ranging from 2 to 6 feet in length, and typically deliver about 250 watts for each linear foot. Suppose you need to heat a 100-square-foot room. In this case, you need to get a 1,000-watt heater. Larger areas may need either higher wattage heaters or multiple units to achieve the desired temperature. 

Please note that baseboard heaters are not intended for whole-house heating applications, so you can install them to keep individual rooms warm. The wattage requirements vary based on the room’s insulation: a well-insulated room needs about 10 watts per square foot. Meanwhile, an older, poorly insulated home may require as much as 15 watts per square foot to maintain a comfortable temperature. This difference underscores the importance of insulation in managing heating costs effectively.

The price of installing a baseboard heater per square foot 

Square feet	Watts required	Average cost (material alone)
65	500	$36 - $150
80	640	$50 - $187
100	1,000	$78 - $260
150	1,350	$110 - $300
300	2,700	$155 - $720
400	3,600	$280 - $820
500	4,500	$330 - $1,000

How Much Can Electric Baseboard Heat Cost Per Month?

If you want to determine the monthly operating cost of your baseboard heater, you need to do the math. Multiply the heater’s power usage (in Watts) by the cost of electricity in your area (in dollars per kilowatt-hour) and divide by 1,000 to convert watts to kilowatts. This result gives you the heating cost per hour. Multiply this hourly cost by the number of hours the heater will run in a month to calculate the total monthly cost. 

Suppose your baseboard heater runs 10 hours daily. What will be the energy consumption? Is electric baseboard heat expensive in this case? Let’s examine the table below. 

The cost of electric baseboard heat

Square feet	Watts required	Daily energy use
100	1,000	10 kWh
150	1,500	15 kWh
300	3,000	30 kWh
400	4,000	40 kWh
500	5,000	50 kWh

How Much Does It Cost to Replace Baseboard Heating with Forced Air?

Once you switch to a forced-air system, you should be ready to invest from $3,500 to $11,000. Such a conversion includes installing an efficient furnace along with ductwork to push warm air through ducts and vents, ensuring consistent temperatures throughout the space. If your home is equipped with ductwork, the outlay can be much lower, as a significant part of the expense is swollen by integration into the existing framework. Not only does the forced-air heating system provide uniform heat distribution, but it also modernizes the home’s infrastructure, potentially increasing property value and enhancing energy efficiency.

Labor Cost to Replace Baseboard Heating

Qualified specialists charge $50 to $110 per hour for installing an electric baseboard heater. This can translate into $245 to $600 per project, given you only need a single unit. If you need a few units to be installed, a contractor can give a discount and charge from $100 to $350 for each additional heater. Plus, you may have to cover extra expenses, including:

• Thermostat installation. While a basic version can set you back $145 to $360, a top-of-the-art one can cost $280 to $450. 
• Rewiring. When switching from a different heating system, integration with your existing electrical setup is required. Hardwiring and adding a new circuit can cost $2 to $5 per square foot.
• Floor replacement. Installing baseboard heaters often requires drilling holes in the floor and replacing the latter, which can cost $5 to $75 per square foot.