How Much Does It Cost to Run an Electric Fireplace? Energy Costs Explained

A simple way to estimate what your electric fireplace will actually add to your power bill.

The honest answer: it's cheaper than most people expect

Most electric fireplace heaters draw around 1,500 watts on the highest heat setting, similar to a space heater or a hair dryer. Running the flame effect alone, with the heater off, uses only a small fraction of that.

How to estimate your own cost

Multiply the wattage (in kilowatts) by your local electricity rate per kilowatt-hour, then by the hours used. A 1,500-watt (1.5 kW) heater running for 4 hours at a typical rate of around $0.15–$0.20 per kWh costs roughly $0.90–$1.20 for that session. Running only the flame effect, most units cost just a few cents per hour.

What actually affects the cost

Room size and desired temperature affect how often the heater cycles on. Larger installations, like those in our Extra Large Electric Fireplaces collection, may include multiple heating zones, so check the spec sheet for actual wattage rather than assuming size equals cost.

How this compares to wood or gas

Electric fireplaces avoid the cost of firewood, gas lines, chimney maintenance, and venting altogether. For a full comparison, see Are Electric Fireplaces Worth It?

Common mistakes

The first mistake is assuming a larger fireplace automatically costs more to run — heater wattage, not fireplace width, determines cost. The second is running the heater at full power in a small room when a lower setting would keep it just as comfortable.

Frequently asked questions

How many watts does an electric fireplace use?

Most models use around 1,500 watts on the heater's highest setting, though exact wattage varies by product — check the spec sheet.

Does running the flame without heat cost much?

No, flame-only mode uses a small fraction of the power the heater does and typically costs only a few cents per hour.

Is an electric fireplace cheaper to run than a gas fireplace?

It depends on local electricity and gas rates, but electric fireplaces avoid the added costs of gas line maintenance and venting.

Related guides from Very Good Fireplaces

• Are Electric Fireplaces Worth It?
• Electric Fireplace Maintenance Checklist Before Winter
• How Do Electric Fireplaces Work?

Final thought

An electric fireplace typically costs about as much to run as a space heater on the same setting, and far less when you're only running the flame effect. For most homes, it's a modest addition to the power bill for the ambiance it adds.