How many watts does an electric blanket use?
An electric blanket uses 60–100 watts while running, which is 0.5–0.83 amps at 120 V.
Electric blanket watts, amps and circuit
| Running watts | 60–100 W |
|---|---|
| Voltage | 120 V |
| Running amps | 0.5–0.83 A |
| Circuit | standard 120 V outlet |
Also called: heated blanket, heating blanket, heated throw.
How long a portable power station runs an electric blanket
| Battery capacity, Wh | At 100 W, h | At 60 W, h |
|---|---|---|
| 500 | 4.3 | 7.1 |
| 1,000 | 8.5 | 14.2 |
| 2,000 | 17 | 28.3 |
| 3,600 | 30.6 | 51 |
A 500 Wh portable power station runs an electric blanket drawing 100 W for about 4.3 hours at 85% inverter efficiency. Runtime = capacity × 85% ÷ watts; the 85% efficiency is an assumption. The power station's AC output must be at least 100 W.
What it costs to run an electric blanket
Running an electric blanket at 80 W, the middle of its 60–100 W range, for one hour a day uses 29.2 kWh a year. That costs about $5.26 a year at $0.18 per kWh, the US average residential price for August 2026.
Your bill's total ÷ kWh used. 0.18 is the US residential average.
- Per day
- $0.01
- Per year
- $5.26
- Energy per day
- 0.08 kWh
- Energy per month
- 2.4 kWh
How it is calculated
- kWh per day = 80 W × 1 h ÷ 1,000 = 0.08
- Per month = 0.08 kWh × 30.4 days × $0.18 = $0.44
What affects electric blanket power use
Blanket size and heat setting drive the number: a single blanket draws less than a double. The controller cycles the heating wires to hold the setting, so the average draw is below the rating. It warms the person, not the room, which is why it uses far less than a space heater.
How the amps are calculated
Amps = watts ÷ volts. For 100 W at 120 V that is 0.83 A. The 60–100 W range covers typical models; the nameplate on an electric blanket gives the exact figure.