United States Heating
How much does it cost to run an electric fireplace?
An electric fireplace is a 1,500 watt heater behind a flame effect. The flame effect alone (LEDs and a small motor) uses 10 to 20 watts, so with the heater off it costs almost nothing to run.
A 1.5 kW electric fireplace costs about 22 cents an hour to run in the US on average at 18.16 cents per kWh. Running it 4 hours a day cycling 80% of the time comes to about 87 cents a day, $26.53 a month and $318.38 a year.
- Prices: EIA, August 2026, every state
- Wattage range with its source
- Checked 26 October 2026
Uses 4.8 kWh a day, 146 kWh a month, at 18.16 cents per kWh (US average).
The dial places the daily cost between a 50 watt fan and a 4.5 kW water heater on 2.5 hours a day.
A 1.5 kW electric fireplace costs about 22 cents an hour to run in the US on average at 18.16 cents per kWh. Running it 4 hours a day cycling 80% of the time comes to about 87 cents a day, $26.53 a month and $318.38 a year.
What this assumes
The default is a 1.5 kW electric fireplace running 4 hours a day, drawing full power 80% of the time it is switched on (the rest of the time a thermostat or sensor has it idle). Published typical ratings run from 750 to 1,500 watts. Your label or manual gives the exact figure, and the calculator takes it.
The price is the average residential rate in each state from the EIA's Electric Power Monthly for August 2026, released 23 October 2026. The next monthly table is due 24 November 2026. A fixed tariff, a time-of-use plan or a different payment method changes the rate, which is why the rate field is editable.
Cost to run an electric fireplace in every state
Same 1.5 kW electric fireplace, 4 hours a day, priced at each state's average residential rate for August 2026. Cheapest: Nevada at 12.72 cents per kWh. Dearest: Hawaii at 47.18. Change the numbers above and the table follows.
| State | Rate | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | 12.72c | 15 cents | 61 cents | $18.58 | $223.01 |
| Louisiana | 12.87c | 15 cents | 62 cents | $18.80 | $225.64 |
| North Dakota | 13.31c | 16 cents | 64 cents | $19.45 | $233.35 |
| Utah | 13.31c | 16 cents | 64 cents | $19.45 | $233.35 |
| Idaho | 13.37c | 16 cents | 64 cents | $19.53 | $234.40 |
| Tennessee | 13.42c | 16 cents | 64 cents | $19.61 | $235.28 |
| Nebraska | 13.54c | 16 cents | 65 cents | $19.78 | $237.38 |
| Kentucky | 13.8c | 17 cents | 66 cents | $20.16 | $241.94 |
| Arkansas | 14.37c | 17 cents | 69 cents | $20.99 | $251.93 |
| Mississippi | 14.43c | 17 cents | 69 cents | $21.08 | $252.99 |
| Wyoming | 14.43c | 17 cents | 69 cents | $21.08 | $252.99 |
| Washington | 14.63c | 18 cents | 70 cents | $21.37 | $256.49 |
| Oklahoma | 14.82c | 18 cents | 71 cents | $21.65 | $259.82 |
| North Carolina | 14.95c | 18 cents | 72 cents | $21.84 | $262.10 |
| Florida | 14.99c | 18 cents | 72 cents | $21.90 | $262.80 |
| Arizona | 15.05c | 18 cents | 72 cents | $21.99 | $263.86 |
| South Dakota | 15.15c | 18 cents | 73 cents | $22.13 | $265.61 |
| Kansas | 15.47c | 19 cents | 74 cents | $22.60 | $271.22 |
| Montana | 15.57c | 19 cents | 75 cents | $22.75 | $272.97 |
| South Carolina | 15.76c | 19 cents | 76 cents | $23.03 | $276.30 |
| Georgia | 15.9c | 19 cents | 76 cents | $23.23 | $278.76 |
| Texas | 15.91c | 19 cents | 76 cents | $23.24 | $278.93 |
| Oregon | 15.92c | 19 cents | 76 cents | $23.26 | $279.11 |
| Missouri | 16.02c | 19 cents | 77 cents | $23.41 | $280.86 |
| West Virginia | 16.31c | 20 cents | 78 cents | $23.83 | $285.95 |
| Alabama | 16.33c | 20 cents | 78 cents | $23.86 | $286.30 |
| New Mexico | 16.51c | 20 cents | 79 cents | $24.12 | $289.45 |
| Indiana | 17.02c | 20 cents | 82 cents | $24.87 | $298.39 |
| Iowa | 17.06c | 20 cents | 82 cents | $24.92 | $299.10 |
| Colorado | 17.17c | 21 cents | 82 cents | $25.09 | $301.02 |
| Minnesota | 17.2c | 21 cents | 83 cents | $25.13 | $301.55 |
| Virginia | 17.64c | 21 cents | 85 cents | $25.77 | $309.26 |
| Delaware | 18.7c | 22 cents | 90 cents | $27.32 | $327.85 |
| Illinois | 19.32c | 23 cents | 93 cents | $28.23 | $338.72 |
| Ohio | 19.38c | 23 cents | 93 cents | $28.31 | $339.77 |
| Wisconsin | 19.41c | 23 cents | 93 cents | $28.36 | $340.30 |
| Maryland | 21.4c | 26 cents | $1.03 | $31.27 | $375.18 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.77c | 26 cents | $1.04 | $31.81 | $381.67 |
| Michigan | 22.99c | 28 cents | $1.10 | $33.59 | $403.06 |
| Vermont | 23.84c | 29 cents | $1.14 | $34.83 | $417.96 |
| Connecticut | 24.51c | 29 cents | $1.18 | $35.81 | $429.71 |
| New Jersey | 24.61c | 30 cents | $1.18 | $35.96 | $431.46 |
| District of Columbia | 25.98c | 31 cents | $1.25 | $37.96 | $455.48 |
| New Hampshire | 27.64c | 33 cents | $1.33 | $40.38 | $484.58 |
| Rhode Island | 28.18c | 34 cents | $1.35 | $41.17 | $494.05 |
| New York | 28.65c | 34 cents | $1.38 | $41.86 | $502.29 |
| Alaska | 29.41c | 35 cents | $1.41 | $42.97 | $515.62 |
| California | 29.75c | 36 cents | $1.43 | $43.46 | $521.58 |
| Massachusetts | 30.48c | 37 cents | $1.46 | $44.53 | $534.38 |
| Maine | 32.11c | 39 cents | $1.54 | $46.91 | $562.95 |
| Hawaii | 47.18c | 57 cents | $2.26 | $68.93 | $827.16 |
Rates: EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A, residential sector, August 2026, preliminary. All rates with the year-on-year change.
How an electric fireplace uses electricity
The heater element in nearly every plug-in electric fireplace is 1,500 watts in North America (the outlet limit) and up to 2,000 watts in the UK. The flame display is separate and can be run on its own.
With the heater switched on and the thermostat set high the duty is close to 80%, which is what this page assumes. The "supplemental zone heating" claim in adverts simply means it heats one room, which is true of every space heater.
Ways to cut the cost
- Run the flame effect alone when you want the look, not the heat.
- Use the thermostat rather than the high and low switch.
Questions people ask
Does an electric fireplace use a lot of electricity?
With the heater on, the same as any 1,500 watt space heater. With only the flame effect on, about 15 watts, less than a light bulb.
Is an electric fireplace cheaper than gas?
Per unit of heat, gas is usually cheaper. An electric fireplace wins when you only need to warm one room for a few hours and want zero installation.
Other heating costs
More in the US
Sources
The electricity price on this page is read from the data file that also lists the release it came from. The wattage range is a published typical range, not a measurement of your appliance.