Warm feet while working from home:
which costs least?
The reason is simple: the closer to your body the heat is, the less electricity it takes. Working from home 8 hours a day, 20 days a month, a lap blanket costs about ¥110 a month and a ceramic heater on low about ¥3,000.
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Why closer is cheaper
Heating cost depends mostly on what you heat. A lap blanket touching you heats only you; a panel heater around your legs heats the space around them; a ceramic fan heater heats the air at your feet. The wider the area, the more heat escapes.
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5 foot heaters compared
| Heater | Per hour | What it warms | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric lap blanket Koden CWN142H-NC (55 W) | Low ~¥0.1 Med ~¥0.7 High ~¥1.3 | You (lap, shoulders) | Maker's published energy per hour (low 4 / med 23 / high 43 Wh) |
| Under-desk heater Iris Ohyama DEH-45 (fixes under the desk) | Up to ~¥2.8 | Below the knees | Running at 90 W throughout |
| Panel heater Iris Ohyama Guru-Poka APH-R12B | Up to ~¥3.7 | Around your legs | Running at the rated 120 W |
| Desk panel heater Iris Ohyama APH-16B | Up to ~¥5.0 | Whole lower leg | Running at the rated 160 W |
| Ceramic heater Low, 600 W | ~¥18.6 | Air at your feet | Running at 600 W |
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We couldn't find published per-hour energy figures for the panel and under-desk heaters, so we used their rated (maximum) power. Models that ease off with a thermostat use less in practice.
Monthly cost by your working hours
Pick a heater, then enter your hours and days.
Same hours, other foot heaters (per month)
Winter is December to March (4 months). Panel, under-desk and ceramic heaters are counted at full wattage.
Which one? Answers by situation
Watch out for low-temperature burns
The closer a heater is to your body and the longer you use it, the more you need to watch for low-temperature burns. NITE (National Institute of Technology and Evaluation) says they can occur after 3–4 hours of contact at 44°C, 30 minutes to 1 hour at 46°C, or 2–3 minutes at 50°C.
- The Iris Ohyama APH-16B desk panel heater reaches about 55°C on high (measured at 20°C room temperature). Don't keep your legs pressed against the panel.
- The Koden CWN142H-NC lap blanket reaches about 40°C on high and 32°C on medium. Still, switch it off if you get sleepy.
- The APH-16B switches off automatically after 6 hours. An auto shut-off gives peace of mind.
Good to know if you live in Japan
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Search in Japanese
Electric lap blanket is 電気ひざ掛け (or 電気ひざかけ). Panel heater is パネルヒーター; desk panel heater is デスクパネルヒーター; under-desk heater is デスクヒーター. -
Look for the PSE mark
Household power here is 100V. Buy electric heating products with the PSE mark that are made for Japan. -
Your electricity rate may differ
We use ¥31/kWh, the industry guideline. Your actual rate depends on your plan and power company.
FAQ
What's the difference between a lap blanket and an electric blanket?
Does a panel heater really cost "¥5 an hour"?
Can I use a lap blanket and a panel heater together?
Which heater is right for you?
Answer 6 questions and find the heater that's just right for you.