How much does it cost to run an electric fireplace?
An electric fireplace drawing 1,500 watts, used 5 hours a day, uses about 7.50 kWh per day and costs about $1.46 per day, $44.31 per month, and $531.35 per year at the US average residential rate of 19.4¢/kWh. Enter your own wattage, hours, and state below for an exact figure.
Estimates only — based on typical wattages and average state rates, not your actual bill.
What drives the cost
An electric fireplace is a 1,500-watt resistance heater with a flame effect on the front. The visual effect alone draws only a few watts, so you can run the flames without the heater for essentially nothing. With the heating element on, it costs the same as any other space heater of the same wattage.
Cost at different daily usage
Same electric fireplace at 1,500 watts, run for different amounts of time, at 19.4¢/kWh.
| Usage | kWh/day | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 h/day | 3.75 kWh | $0.73 | $22.16 | $265.67 |
| 5 h/day | 7.50 kWh | $1.46 | $44.31 | $531.35 |
| 7.5 h/day | 11.25 kWh | $2.18 | $66.47 | $797.02 |
| 10 h/day | 15.00 kWh | $2.91 | $88.63 | $1,062.70 |
Cost by model power draw
Not all models are equal. At 5 h/day, here is what the range costs.
| Model | Power | kWh/day | Per day | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low-draw model | 750 W | 3.75 kWh | $0.73 | $22.16 |
| Typical | 1,500 W | 7.50 kWh | $1.46 | $44.31 |
| High-draw model | 1,500 W | 7.50 kWh | $1.46 | $44.31 |
Cost by state
An electric fireplace at 1,500 W for 5 h/day, priced at each state's average residential rate.
| State | Rate | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.8¢ | $1.26 | $38.29 | $459.08 |
| Alaska | 28.2¢ | $2.12 | $64.45 | $772.80 |
| Arizona | 15.2¢ | $1.14 | $34.77 | $416.92 |
| Arkansas | 14.4¢ | $1.08 | $32.78 | $393.10 |
| California | 33.2¢ | $2.49 | $75.91 | $910.22 |
| Colorado | 16.2¢ | $1.21 | $36.89 | $442.38 |
| Connecticut | 27.4¢ | $2.05 | $62.49 | $749.25 |
| Delaware | 19.4¢ | $1.45 | $44.24 | $530.53 |
| District of Columbia | 25.4¢ | $1.91 | $57.99 | $695.33 |
| Florida | 15.2¢ | $1.14 | $34.63 | $415.28 |
| Georgia | 15.8¢ | $1.19 | $36.16 | $433.62 |
| Hawaii | 52.0¢ | $3.90 | $118.72 | $1,423.50 |
| Idaho | 12.3¢ | $0.93 | $28.20 | $338.08 |
| Illinois | 23.9¢ | $1.79 | $54.45 | $652.89 |
| Indiana | 18.1¢ | $1.36 | $41.44 | $496.86 |
| Iowa | 14.1¢ | $1.06 | $32.28 | $387.08 |
| Kansas | 15.1¢ | $1.13 | $34.54 | $414.18 |
| Kentucky | 15.0¢ | $1.12 | $34.20 | $410.08 |
| Louisiana | 14.2¢ | $1.06 | $32.30 | $387.36 |
| Maine | 28.6¢ | $2.15 | $65.36 | $783.75 |
| Maryland | 21.8¢ | $1.63 | $49.70 | $595.95 |
| Massachusetts | 28.8¢ | $2.16 | $65.80 | $788.95 |
| Michigan | 22.0¢ | $1.65 | $50.25 | $602.52 |
| Minnesota | 16.9¢ | $1.27 | $38.70 | $464.01 |
| Mississippi | 16.2¢ | $1.21 | $36.89 | $442.38 |
| Missouri | 13.7¢ | $1.03 | $31.23 | $374.49 |
| Montana | 14.7¢ | $1.10 | $33.49 | $401.59 |
| Nebraska | 13.6¢ | $1.02 | $31.03 | $372.03 |
| Nevada | 13.6¢ | $1.02 | $31.05 | $372.30 |
| New Hampshire | 27.3¢ | $2.05 | $62.39 | $748.16 |
| New Jersey | 23.3¢ | $1.75 | $53.13 | $637.02 |
| New Mexico | 14.1¢ | $1.06 | $32.24 | $386.53 |
| New York | 29.9¢ | $2.24 | $68.33 | $819.33 |
| North Carolina | 15.1¢ | $1.13 | $34.45 | $413.09 |
| North Dakota | 13.6¢ | $1.02 | $31.07 | $372.57 |
| Ohio | 19.5¢ | $1.46 | $44.56 | $534.36 |
| Oklahoma | 13.4¢ | $1.00 | $30.55 | $366.28 |
| Oregon | 16.3¢ | $1.22 | $37.14 | $445.39 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.6¢ | $1.62 | $49.20 | $589.93 |
| Rhode Island | 29.5¢ | $2.21 | $67.26 | $806.47 |
| South Carolina | 16.2¢ | $1.21 | $36.94 | $442.93 |
| South Dakota | 15.7¢ | $1.18 | $35.91 | $430.61 |
| Tennessee | 14.5¢ | $1.09 | $33.04 | $396.12 |
| Texas | 16.4¢ | $1.23 | $37.53 | $450.05 |
| Utah | 13.0¢ | $0.97 | $29.59 | $354.78 |
| Vermont | 24.9¢ | $1.87 | $56.82 | $681.36 |
| Virginia | 17.6¢ | $1.32 | $40.20 | $482.07 |
| Washington | 14.9¢ | $1.12 | $34.13 | $409.26 |
| West Virginia | 16.8¢ | $1.26 | $38.35 | $459.90 |
| Wisconsin | 19.7¢ | $1.48 | $45.07 | $540.38 |
| Wyoming | 14.8¢ | $1.11 | $33.79 | $405.15 |
How to cut the cost
- Run the flame effect without the heater when you want ambiance rather than warmth — it costs almost nothing.
- Use the lower heat setting; most units offer roughly half output.
- Treat it as a supplemental room heater, not a whole-house solution.
Compare with related appliances
Monthly cost at typical usage and 19.4¢/kWh.
Questions
How much does an electric fireplace cost to run with just the flames on?
Very little — the LED flame effect typically draws under 20 watts, so running it for ambiance costs a few cents a month.
How do you calculate what an electric fireplace costs to run?
Multiply its wattage by the hours it runs per day, divide by 1,000 to get kilowatt-hours, then multiply by your electricity rate. For an electric fireplace: 1,500 W × 5 h ÷ 1,000 = 7.50 kWh per day, which at 19.4¢/kWh is $1.46 per day.
How many watts does an electric fireplace use?
Typically 1,500 watts, with most models falling between 750 and 1,500 watts. The label on the appliance or its power supply gives the figure for your specific unit.