How Much Does It Cost to Run a Electric Fireplace?
A typical Electric Fireplace uses 1500W and runs about 4 hours/day. At the national average rate of 16.72¢/kWh, that costs approximately $30.1/month.
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What Affects the Cost of Running a Electric Fireplace
Flame-Only Mode Uses 90% Less Electricity Than Heating Mode
Most electric fireplaces have two modes: flame display only (LED lights and a spinning reflector, drawing 100-200W) and heating mode (resistive element at 750-1,500W). If you want the ambiance of a fire without the heat, flame-only mode costs $0.50-$1/month at 4 hours/day. Heating mode costs $5-10/month. Many people do not realize the flame effect works independently of the heater.
Electric Fireplaces Are 99% Efficient (But That Is Not the Full Story)
All electricity consumed by an electric fireplace becomes heat in your room. By comparison, a wood-burning fireplace can lose 80-90% of its heat up the chimney, and a gas fireplace loses 20-40%. However, the cost per BTU of electric resistance heat is higher than gas in most markets. An electric fireplace is the most efficient at converting electricity to heat, but electricity itself is often more expensive per BTU than natural gas.
Electric Fireplace vs. Alternatives
How the monthly cost of a Electric Fireplace compares to other options:
| Alternative | Est. Monthly Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Electric Fireplace (this page) | $30.1 | At national average rate, 4hrs/day |
| Gas fireplace (natural gas) | ~$15-30 in gas | Gas is usually cheaper per BTU. Requires gas line and venting. |
| Wood-burning fireplace | ~$30-60 in firewood | Loses 80-90% of heat up the chimney. Ambiance is the main appeal. |
| Electric fireplace (flame only) | ~$0.50-1 | Ambiance without heating. The cheapest fireplace mode. |
| Space heater (no fireplace visual) | ~$15-30 | Same heating cost but no visual ambiance. |
Electric Fireplace Cost by State
What a Electric Fireplace costs to run at 1500W for 4 hours/day in every state:
| State | Rate | Monthly Cost | Yearly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 14.82¢ | $26.68 | $320.11 |
| Alaska | 25.34¢ | $45.61 | $547.34 |
| Arizona | 13.81¢ | $24.86 | $298.3 |
| Arkansas | 12.63¢ | $22.73 | $272.81 |
| California | 31.41¢ | $56.54 | $678.46 |
| Colorado | 15.24¢ | $27.43 | $329.18 |
| Connecticut | 29.35¢ | $52.83 | $633.96 |
| Delaware | 15.24¢ | $27.43 | $329.18 |
| District of Columbia | 15.87¢ | $28.57 | $342.79 |
| Florida | 15.63¢ | $28.13 | $337.61 |
| Georgia | 14.12¢ | $25.42 | $304.99 |
| Hawaii | 43.21¢ | $77.78 | $933.34 |
| Idaho | 10.87¢ | $19.57 | $234.79 |
| Illinois | 16.37¢ | $29.47 | $353.59 |
| Indiana | 15.12¢ | $27.22 | $326.59 |
| Iowa | 14.23¢ | $25.61 | $307.37 |
| Kansas | 14.98¢ | $26.96 | $323.57 |
| Kentucky | 12.87¢ | $23.17 | $277.99 |
| Louisiana | 11.98¢ | $21.56 | $258.77 |
| Maine | 22.87¢ | $41.17 | $493.99 |
| Maryland | 16.12¢ | $29.02 | $348.19 |
| Massachusetts | 28.76¢ | $51.77 | $621.22 |
| Michigan | 18.76¢ | $33.77 | $405.22 |
| Minnesota | 15.34¢ | $27.61 | $331.34 |
| Mississippi | 13.76¢ | $24.77 | $297.22 |
| Missouri | 13.12¢ | $23.62 | $283.39 |
| Montana | 12.45¢ | $22.41 | $268.92 |
| Nebraska | 11.98¢ | $21.56 | $258.77 |
| Nevada | 15.03¢ | $27.05 | $324.65 |
| New Hampshire | 25.34¢ | $45.61 | $547.34 |
| New Jersey | 18.76¢ | $33.77 | $405.22 |
| New Mexico | 14.87¢ | $26.77 | $321.19 |
| New York | 22.87¢ | $41.17 | $493.99 |
| North Carolina | 13.98¢ | $25.16 | $301.97 |
| North Dakota | 11.87¢ | $21.37 | $256.39 |
| Ohio | 15.34¢ | $27.61 | $331.34 |
| Oklahoma | 11.98¢ | $21.56 | $258.77 |
| Oregon | 13.12¢ | $23.62 | $283.39 |
| Pennsylvania | 16.87¢ | $30.37 | $364.39 |
| Rhode Island | 27.12¢ | $48.82 | $585.79 |
| South Carolina | 14.98¢ | $26.96 | $323.57 |
| South Dakota | 13.76¢ | $24.77 | $297.22 |
| Tennessee | 12.87¢ | $23.17 | $277.99 |
| Texas | 14.98¢ | $26.96 | $323.57 |
| Utah | 10.87¢ | $19.57 | $234.79 |
| Vermont | 21.34¢ | $38.41 | $460.94 |
| Virginia | 15.34¢ | $27.61 | $331.34 |
| Washington | 10.76¢ | $19.37 | $232.42 |
| West Virginia | 13.12¢ | $23.62 | $283.39 |
| Wisconsin | 16.98¢ | $30.56 | $366.77 |
| Wyoming | 11.23¢ | $20.21 | $242.57 |
Energy-Saving Tips for Your Electric Fireplace
- Use the flame-only mode when you want ambiance without heat; it draws only 100-200W
- Electric fireplaces are 99% efficient; all energy becomes heat in your room
- Zone heat one room instead of raising the thermostat for the whole house
- No real flame means no chimney heat loss, carbon monoxide risk, or ash cleanup
Frequently Asked Questions
In heating mode (1,500W) at 4 hours/day: about $3/month. In flame-only mode (100-200W) at 4 hours/day: about $0.50-$0.80/month. The monthly cost depends entirely on whether you use the heating element. Many people use flame-only mode 80% of the time and heating mode 20% of the time, averaging $1-2/month.
A 1,500W electric fireplace can heat a room of 150-400 square feet, depending on insulation. It produces the same amount of heat as a 1,500W space heater. For supplemental zone heating (warming one room while the central heat is set lower), it is effective. For primary heating of a large space, it is insufficient. The main advantage over a space heater is the visual ambiance.
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Electricity cost estimates are based on typical wattage and average residential rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Your actual costs may vary based on your appliance's specific wattage, usage patterns, and your utility's rate structure. See our full disclaimer.