How Much Does Electric Baseboard Heating Cost? [2025 Data]

Cost Factors for Installing a Baseboard Heater

There are several factors to consider when installing a baseboard heater.

Type of Baseboard Heaters

Electric and hydronic models are the two primary varieties of baseboards on the market. Electric baseboards—commonly referred to as convection baseboards—warms internal metal coils to provide instant heating. In comparison, hydronic baseboard heaters fill with water or oil to slowly warm a room, offering long-term and more efficient heating.

While electric and hydronic baseboard heaters are the two main options, it's important to compare the cost of baseboard heaters to similar alternatives—radiant floor and wall heaters. Radiant floor heating places the coils or pipes directly below your floors. The term wall heaters refer to forced-air HVAC wall-mounted vents that circulate heat throughout each room.

Home Size and Number of Baseboard Heaters

One of the benefits of baseboard heating is its versatility in uniquely shaped homes. Whether you've added an extension or have a particularly chilly room, electric baseboards can make up for missing warmth. However, you'll need the help of your heating installation team to calculate the right number of eclectic baseboard heaters to do the job.

Room or Home Size

If you need a quick method of determining baseboard heating costs and room size, assume each square foot requires about 100 watts of heating power. Then, divide the number of watts powering your choice of baseboard to determine the length.

Number of Baseboards

Similarly, the size and number of baseboards you'll need affects the cost to install and run. Older homes with multiple small rooms will require more individual units. On average, the heaters themselves cost anywhere from $40 to $650 per unit, depending on size and wattage, plus between $200 and $400 each for labor. In other words, it's best to use fewer baseboards to warm larger spaces whenever possible.

Labor Costs

The national average price for labor to install an electric baseboard or wall heater is between $75 and $250 per hour. If you install electric baseboard heaters in a new home, you can run the wires before adding floors or sheetrock—saving on labor costs. The average cost to hire a licensed electrician to install an electric baseboard heater is between $390 and $1,190. The average cost of an electric baseboard heater is anywhere from $25 to $200.

Additional Cost Factors

Since HVAC projects rarely occur in a vacuum, consider the surrounding costs of a baseboard heater that can add up. In most cases, your heating expert will itemize these costs in your project estimate.

Replacing Baseboard Heaters

If you are replacing your baseboard electric heating units, hire an HVAC technician or licensed electrician to remove them. While turning off a radiator might be DIY-able, hiring a pro is recommended for making changes to heating systems. The average cost to hire a licensed electrician ranges from $50 to $100 per hour.

Hardwire Into Your Electrical System

If you are replacing another heat source, you will need to hardwire into your current electrical system and likely add a new circuit to your electrical panel. Hiring a professional electrician for rewiring costs $2 to $4 per square foot.

Drilling Holes

You’ll need to drill holes in the floor to install your baseboard heaters, so you may need to replace your current flooring. Installing new flooring costs between $5 to $20 per square foot, depending on the type of flooring.

Cost Per Month to Run a Baseboard Heater

If you’re heating your home for ten hours a day, running a baseboard heater could cost between $500 to $1,000 per month, depending on the home’s size and quality of insulation. A more insulated room will require around 10 watts per square foot, while a less insulated room would require around 15 watts per square foot to heat the baseboards.

How Angi Gets Its Cost Data

Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We survey real Angi customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects. 

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