An electric fireplace costs $0.25 per hour on high (1,500W) and $0.13 per hour on low (750W) at the national average electricity rate of $0.168/kWh. That works out to $37.80 per month if you run it 5 hours per day on high, or $18.90 per month on low. Your actual cost depends on your local electricity rate, which ranges from $0.11/kWh in Louisiana to $0.39/kWh in Hawaii.
This article breaks down the exact operating costs for every usage pattern, compares costs across all 50 states, and shows you how electric fireplaces stack up against gas, wood, and pellet alternatives on a cost-per-BTU basis.
The Simple Formula
Calculating your electric fireplace cost is straightforward:
Cost per hour = (Wattage ÷ 1,000) × Electricity Rate
For a standard 1,500W electric fireplace:
- High (1,500W): 1.5 kW × $0.168/kWh = $0.252/hour
- Low (750W): 0.75 kW × $0.168/kWh = $0.126/hour
- Flame only (no heat): 0.05 kW × $0.168/kWh = $0.008/hour
That's the math. The rest of this article helps you understand how your specific situation — your state, your usage pattern, your home — changes these numbers.
Why are all electric fireplaces 1,500W? It's not a coincidence — it's the National Electrical Code. Standard 120V household outlets are on 15-amp circuits, which have an 1,800W maximum. The NEC requires a 20% safety margin for continuous loads (devices running 3+ hours), which caps appliances at 1,440W. Manufacturers round to 1,500W since brief operation slightly above 1,440W is acceptable. This means every plug-in electric fireplace, space heater, and portable radiator in the U.S. produces the same 5,118 BTU of heat.
Cost Per Hour by State (2026)
Your local electricity rate is the single biggest variable in your operating cost. Here's what a 1,500W electric fireplace costs per hour in every region, using January 2026 EIA data:
Electricity rates vary within states too. The figures above are state averages. Your actual rate appears on your utility bill as the "per kWh" charge. It may include tiered pricing (you pay more per kWh the more you use), time-of-use rates (more expensive during peak hours), or demand charges. Check your actual bill for the most accurate calculation.
Monthly and Annual Cost Breakdown
Here's what to expect based on common usage patterns at the national average rate ($0.168/kWh):
*Assumes heating use only during 5-month winter season (November–March). **Assumes year-round decorative use (12 months).
Real-world example #1 — Zone heating strategy: A family in Ohio ($0.152/kWh) runs their electric fireplace on high (1,500W) for 4 hours every evening while watching TV. They simultaneously lower their gas furnace thermostat from 70°F to 65°F. The fireplace costs $27.36/month, but the 5°F thermostat reduction saves them approximately $45/month on their gas bill (DOE estimates 3% savings per degree). Net savings: $17.64/month — the fireplace actually pays for itself.
Real-world example #2 — Apartment heating: A renter in New York City ($0.224/kWh) uses an electric fireplace as their primary heat source in a well-insulated 400 sq ft studio. Running on high 8 hours/day costs $80.64/month. Their radiator heat (included in rent) handles the baseline, so the fireplace provides the extra warmth they need without any additional utility cost if they're strategic about timing.
Electric Fireplace vs. Space Heater: Same Cost, Different Value
Here's a fact that surprises many people: a $200 space heater and a $1,000 electric fireplace cost exactly the same to operate per hour. Both draw 1,500W and produce 5,118 BTU. The differences are in the experience.
The practical conclusion: if you're going to run a 1,500W heater in a room anyway, an electric fireplace delivers the same heat plus visual ambiance for the same operating cost. The only premium is the upfront purchase price, which averages out to $50–$100/year over the fireplace's lifespan.
Electric Fireplace vs. Gas Fireplace: Cost Comparison
Gas fireplaces produce 4–8x more heat but also cost more to install and maintain. Here's how the total cost of ownership compares:
When electric wins on cost: If you need supplemental heat for a single room (under 400 sq ft) and value zero-maintenance operation, electric is the clear cost winner. The lower upfront cost, zero maintenance, and identical zone-heating effectiveness make it the better financial choice for most homeowners who don't need whole-room heating of 500+ sq ft.
When gas wins on cost: If you need to heat 500+ sq ft or want a primary heating source, gas produces far more heat per dollar. At $1.00–$2.50 per 100,000 BTU versus $4.89 for electric, gas delivers roughly 2–5x more heat per dollar spent on fuel.
Electric Fireplace vs. Pellet Stove: Cost Comparison
The bottom line: pellet stoves cost significantly less per BTU of heat produced, but they come with higher upfront costs, ongoing maintenance, and the logistics of fuel storage and delivery. Electric fireplaces are the low-hassle, low-commitment option for supplemental room heating.
How to Calculate Your Exact Cost
Use this formula with your actual electricity rate (found on your utility bill):
Monthly cost = (Wattage ÷ 1,000) × Hours per day × 30 × Your rate per kWh
Examples:
Example 1 — California homeowner, moderate use: (1,500 ÷ 1,000) × 4 hours × 30 days × $0.296 = $53.28/month
Example 2 — Texas renter, light use: (750 ÷ 1,000) × 3 hours × 30 days × $0.138 = $9.32/month
Example 3 — Maine homeowner, heavy use: (1,500 ÷ 1,000) × 8 hours × 30 days × $0.208 = $74.88/month
Example 4 — Florida decorator, flame only: (50 ÷ 1,000) × 6 hours × 30 days × $0.144 = $1.30/month
Find your exact rate: Look at your electric bill for the line item called "energy charge" or "per kWh rate." Ignore delivery charges and taxes — those are already baked into the total. If your bill shows only total charges, divide the total electric bill by total kWh used. That's your all-in rate, which is what matters for this calculation.
7 Ways to Reduce Your Electric Fireplace Operating Cost
1. Use the thermostat aggressively. Set the fireplace thermostat to your desired temperature. Once the room reaches that temperature, the heating element cycles off while flames continue. This can reduce effective wattage from 1,500W to 500–800W averaged over an evening.
2. Run on low when possible. The 750W setting produces half the heat at half the cost. In well-insulated rooms under 250 sq ft, low is often sufficient to maintain a comfortable 68–72°F.
3. Zone heat and thermostat down. Run the fireplace in your living room and lower your central thermostat by 3–5°F. The DOE estimates 3% savings per degree on your heating bill. If your furnace costs $200/month, dropping 5°F saves $30/month — more than covering the fireplace's electricity cost.
4. Use a smart plug for scheduling. A Wi-Fi smart plug ($15–$25) lets you schedule exact on/off times. Set it to turn on 15 minutes before you get home and off at bedtime. Eliminating even 30 minutes of unnecessary run time saves $3.78/month at the national average rate.
5. Seal the room. Close doors and windows in the room where the fireplace is operating. A 1,500W heater in a sealed 300 sq ft room is far more effective than in an open floor plan where heat dissipates into adjacent spaces.
6. Use flame-only mode after heating. Once the room is warm, switch to flame-only mode. The ambient heat in the room takes time to dissipate, and you keep the visual ambiance for just pennies per hour.
7. Consider time-of-use rates. If your utility offers time-of-use pricing, run your fireplace during off-peak hours (typically 9 PM–6 AM) when rates can be 30–50% lower. Evening fireplace use often aligns perfectly with the beginning of off-peak periods.
Annual Cost Scenarios: Is It Worth It?
Let's run the numbers on three common scenarios to see if an electric fireplace makes financial sense:
Scenario A — Replacing a space heater: You already use a 1,500W space heater 4 hours/day during winter (5 months). An electric fireplace costs the same to operate ($0.25/hr) but looks dramatically better and is safer. If you spend $500 on a Touchstone Sideline and your space heater was going to last 3 more years ($60 replacement value), you're paying $440 extra for 10–15 years of flame ambiance. That's $29–$44/year for a significant quality-of-life upgrade.
Scenario B — Adding supplemental heat to a cold room: Your living room is always 3–5°F cooler than the rest of the house. Running an electric fireplace 4 hours/evening on high costs $30.24/month (national average). Over a 5-month winter, that's $151.20. A $700 fireplace amortized over 15 years adds $46.67/year. Total annual cost: approximately $198 for a comfortable, attractive living room.
Scenario C — Zone heating to save on furnace costs: You run a gas furnace at 70°F costing $250/month in winter. By adding a $500 electric fireplace to your main living area and dropping the thermostat to 65°F, you save approximately $37.50/month on gas (15% reduction). The fireplace costs $30.24/month to run. Net monthly savings: $7.26. The fireplace pays for itself in 69 months (5.75 years) while providing ambiance.
Key Takeaways:
- An electric fireplace costs $0.25/hour on high (1,500W) at the national average rate of $0.168/kWh.
- Monthly costs range from $7.56 (light use, low setting) to $90.72 (heavy use, high setting) at the national average.
- Your state's electricity rate is the biggest cost variable — costs range from $24/month in Louisiana to $87/month in Hawaii for the same usage.
- Electric fireplaces and space heaters cost exactly the same to operate — both draw 1,500W.
- Flame-only mode costs just $1–$2/month, making year-round decorative use essentially free.
- Zone heating (fireplace on, thermostat down 5°F) can result in net energy savings of $5–$15/month.
- Electric fireplaces cost 2–5x more per BTU than gas or pellets, but excel as zero-maintenance supplemental heaters.