How much does an electric fireplace cost to run? With the heater on high, a typical 1,500 watt electric fireplace costs about 27.5 cents an hour at the July 2026 US average electricity price. It makes the same 5,118 Btu per hour as any 1,500 watt heater. The flame effect alone uses a fraction of that power.
Key Takeaways
- US residential electricity averaged 18.31 cents per kilowatthour in July 2026, against 17.45 a year earlier (EIA, Table 5.6.A).
- EIA fixes 1 kilowatthour at 3,412 Btu, so a 1,500 watt heater makes 5,118 Btu per hour (EIA units; our arithmetic).
- Dimplex says its flame uses “slightly under 300 Watts” (Dimplex support, maker claim).
- Plug-in units are tested to UL 1278; fixed heaters to UL 2021 (UL Standards & Engagement).
- A heat pump can cut heating electricity by up to 75% versus resistance heat (DOE, archived copy).
- Keep combustibles 3 feet away and never use an extension cord or power strip (CPSC Publication 098).
Do electric fireplaces give off real heat?
Yes. Most electric fireplaces hold a fan-forced resistance heater, which turns the electricity it draws into room heat. At EIA’s 3,412 Btu per kilowatthour, a 1,500 watt unit makes 5,118 Btu per hour on high, by our calculation.
That matches the plug-in space heaters we costed separately, because the physics is identical. The flames are LED light effects with no heating value. The maker ratings we read run from 1,450 to 1,500 watts on high.
Output shifts with room temperature: the Dimplex DF Series manual rates one unit at 1500 W at 0 C and 1350 W at 25 C. Treat heated-area claims as maker estimates; insulation and ceiling height decide them.
How much does an electric fireplace cost to run?
At the July 2026 US average of 18.31 cents per kilowatthour, a 1,500 watt electric fireplace costs about 27.5 cents an hour on high, or $32.96 a month at four hours a day, by our calculation. State rates vary nearly fourfold, so use yours.
- Find the heater wattage on the rating plate (for example, 1,500 W).
- Divide by 1,000 to get kilowatts (1.5 kW).
- Multiply by hours of use to get kilowatthours (1.5 kW for 4 hours is 6 kWh).
- Multiply by your price per kilowatthour.
| State or area | Price, July 2026 (cents per kWh) | Heater on high, per hour | Flame only at 300 W, per hour | Heater, 4 hours a day for 30 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana (lowest state) | 12.72 | 19.1 cents | 3.8 cents | $22.90 |
| Texas | 15.88 | 23.8 cents | 4.8 cents | $28.58 |
| US average | 18.31 | 27.5 cents | 5.5 cents | $32.96 |
| New York | 29.90 | 44.9 cents | 9.0 cents | $53.82 |
| California | 33.61 | 50.4 cents | 10.1 cents | $60.50 |
| Hawaii (highest state) | 48.00 | 72.0 cents | 14.4 cents | $86.40 |
Prices: EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A, residential, July 2026. Costs are our arithmetic at full draw; a thermostat that cycles the heater lowers them.
What does the flame effect alone cost?
Dimplex says its flame “uses slightly under 300 Watts of power,” or at most 5.5 cents an hour at the US average. The same page quotes about 3 cents an hour for flame only and about 8 cents with the heater cycling at 50%, which implies roughly 10 to 11 cents per kilowatthour by our arithmetic. At 18.31 cents, that 50% case is about 13.7 cents an hour.
Is an electric fireplace 100% efficient?
At the outlet, nearly: with no flue, the heat stays in the room. That is not cheap heat. At 18.31 cents per kilowatthour, resistance heat costs about $53.66 per million Btu, by our arithmetic from EIA’s conversion factor.
Correction: “100% efficient” is not “cheapest”
Retailer pages call electric fireplaces 100% efficient. That describes the conversion in the room, not the cost of heat. DOE’s Energy Saver page (archived copy) says a heat pump “can reduce your electricity use for heating by up to 75% compared to electric resistance heating.”
The same kilowatthour buys more heat through a heat pump, and cold-climate models keep most of their capacity in freezing weather. To compare fuels at your prices, see our cost of heat by fuel tables.
Electric fireplace vs space heater vs gas fireplace: how do they compare?
An electric fireplace is a space heater in a decorative case: same output per watt, same cost per hour, same plug rules. A gas fireplace burns fuel through a vent, so its output and cost follow the burner rating, efficiency and gas price.
| Heat source | Heat output basis | Venting | Electric room heater standard | Main cost driver |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plug-in electric fireplace | 5,118 Btu per hour at 1,500 W | None; no combustion | UL 1278 | Electricity price per kWh |
| Built-in electric fireplace, 240 V option | Rating plate watts x 3.412 | None | UL 2021 (Napoleon Alluravision) | Electricity price per kWh |
| Portable electric space heater | 5,118 Btu per hour at 1,500 W | None | UL 1278 | Electricity price per kWh |
| Gas fireplace | Burner Btu input x efficiency | Direct vent, B-vent or vent-free | Not applicable (gas) | Gas price and efficiency |
| Air-source heat pump | Capacity rating at test conditions | None indoors | Not applicable (central system) | Up to 75% less electricity than resistance (DOE) |
A plug-in electric fireplace suits an evening room where the flame is the point and the heat is a top-up. DOE notes small heaters “can be less expensive to use if you only want to heat one room,” and many homes already run a second heat source.
For venting types and pilot costs, see our gas fireplace guide; the fire record for plug-in heaters is in our heating fire statistics. Neither is repeated here.
What circuit does an electric fireplace need?
A plug-in electric fireplace needs a 120 volt, 15 amp grounded outlet, ideally on a lightly loaded circuit. At 1,500 watts it draws 12.5 amps, 83% of a 15 amp breaker’s rating by our arithmetic, so a vacuum or second heater on the same circuit can trip it.
The Dimplex DF Series manual says “A 15 Amp, 120 Volt circuit is required,” prefers a dedicated circuit, and requires one if the breaker trips regularly. Repeated trips are a load signal; our guide to breaker trips explains why resetting is not a fix.
Larger built-in models can be hardwired. The Napoleon Alluravision manual allows 240 V hardwiring on CHD models with a double-pole breaker “rated for 240V minimum 15 amps, maximum 20 amps,” installed by a qualified electrician. Permit rules depend on local code.
Dimplex and Napoleon both say never to use an extension cord or relocatable power tap, and CPSC says to stop using a heater if the plug, outlet or faceplate gets hot.
Which safety listing should an electric fireplace carry?
Look for a testing laboratory mark showing UL 1278 or UL 2021, depending on how the unit installs. UL 1278 covers “movable and wall- or ceiling-hung electric room-heating equipment rated 600 volts or less.” UL 2021 covers fixed and location-dedicated room heaters and was last revised January 21, 2026.
Napoleon’s Alluravision manual, for units that plug in or hardwire, cites both: “CSA 22.2 NO. 46 / UL 1278” on its cover and “UL 2021” on its certification page. An Intertek notice shows UL 1278 added rules for connected (smart enabled) heaters, effective March 1, 2019.
With no combustion, the fireplace makes no carbon monoxide and needs no vent. The risk is the heater, so CPSC’s rules apply: keep beds, sofas and curtains at least 3 feet away, and never leave it running unattended or while you sleep. Fuel-burning heaters carry other risks, covered in our kerosene heater explainer.
Insert, wall mount or freestanding: which electric fireplace type fits?
Choose by installation; the heater inside is usually the same 120 volt, roughly 1,500 watt unit. The type decides the outlet, clearances and whether an electrician is needed.
- Electric fireplace insert or firebox: fits an existing fireplace opening. Dimplex says its plug-in DF Series “can give your existing fireplace new life.”
- Wall mount or recessed linear: Touchstone’s Sideline 45 “can be plugged in or hardwired”; Napoleon offers 240 V hardwiring on CHD models.
- Freestanding stove, mantel or TV stand: plugs in and moves. Dimplex says its TV stands are tested to 150 lbs.
For a real fire, a certified wood or pellet stove is a different appliance, explained in our wood stove guide. For steady whole-room heat, compare electric baseboard and heat pumps instead.
How we researched this
Research date: October 9, 2026. We opened 22 sources, including 3 ranking competitor pages and 5 private-label heater manuals, and cite 12. EIA prices were parsed from the July 2026 table; every cost is our arithmetic. Dimplex, Napoleon and Touchstone figures are labeled maker claims.
Excluded: unsourced retailer figures (the “4,000 to 9,000 BTU” and “12 cents per kWh” claims that rank today), purchase and installation prices (no federal series), and fire statistics already on our space heater page. Reddit was skipped because this is an electrical safety topic.
Frequently asked questions
Do electric fireplaces need to be vented?
No. An electric fireplace burns nothing, so it needs no chimney, flue or vent. Dimplex states that “no combustible energy sources are used to produce the flame.” Heat comes from a resistance element and fan, so electric room heater standards UL 1278 and UL 2021 apply.
Can you leave an electric fireplace on all night?
Not with the heater running. CPSC advises never to leave an electric heater operating unattended or while you sleep, and to keep beds and curtains at least 3 feet away. Many models have a shut off timer; Touchstone lists one from 30 minutes to 7.5 hours.
Can I plug an electric fireplace into an extension cord?
No. Dimplex and Napoleon manuals both prohibit extension cords and relocatable power taps, and CPSC says never to power a heater that way. A 1,500 watt heater draws 12.5 amps, enough to overheat a light cord.
How many square feet will an electric fireplace heat?
Makers usually say about 400 square feet; Touchstone claims “supplemental heat up to 400 square feet (5,000 BTUs)” for its Sideline 45. Treat that as a maker estimate. The heater makes 5,118 Btu per hour on high regardless, and a leaky or tall room needs more.
Is an electric fireplace cheaper to run than a gas fireplace?
It depends on local prices. Resistance heat costs about $53.66 per million Btu at the July 2026 US average of 18.31 cents per kilowatthour, by our arithmetic. A gas fireplace’s cost depends on your gas price and the unit’s efficiency, so compare both at local rates.
How much does it cost to run an electric fireplace with just the flames?
Very little. Dimplex says the flame uses slightly under 300 watts, so flame only costs at most about 5.5 cents an hour at the July 2026 US average, by our calculation. Four hours a night for a month is about $6.59.
Sources
- U.S. Energy Information Administration. “Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A..” https://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epm_table_grapher.php?t=epmt_5_6_a. Accessed October 2026.
- U.S. Energy Information Administration. “Units and calculators explained.” https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/units-and-calculators/. Accessed October 2026.
- U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Saver. “Heat Pump Systems.” Archived copy. https://web.archive.org/web/2025id_/https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/heat-pump-systems. Accessed October 2026.
- U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Saver. “Small Space Heaters.” Archived copy. https://web.archive.org/web/2025id_/https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/portable-heaters. Accessed October 2026.
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. “Reducing Fire Hazards for Portable Electric Heaters,” Publication 098. https://www.cpsc.gov/s3fs-public/heaters.pdf. Accessed October 2026.
- UL Standards & Engagement. “UL 1278, Movable and Wall- or Ceiling-Hung Electric Room Heaters.” https://www.shopulstandards.com/ProductDetail.aspx?productId=UL1278. Accessed October 2026.
- UL Standards & Engagement. “UL 2021, Fixed and Location-Dedicated Electric Room Heaters.” https://www.shopulstandards.com/ProductDetail.aspx?productId=UL2021. Accessed October 2026.
- Intertek. “Standards Update Notice, UL 1278.” https://cdn.intertek.com/www-intertek-com/dms-legacy/UL-1278-Rev-9-14-2017-ED-3-1-2019.pdf. Accessed October 2026.
- Dimplex. “Electric fireplace technical support.” https://www.dimplex.com/en-us/support/troubleshooting-and-faqs/electric-fireplace-technical-support. Accessed October 2026.
- Dimplex. “DF Series Owner’s Manual.” https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0082/0704/0627/files/Dimplex_DF_Series_Manual.pdf. Accessed October 2026.
- Napoleon. “Alluravision Series Installation and Operation Manual” (via ManualsLib). https://www.manualslib.com/manual/1309424/Napoleon-Nefl32chs.html. Accessed October 2026.
- Touchstone Home Products. “Sideline 45 Recessed Smart Electric Fireplace.” https://www.touchstonehomeproducts.com/products/sideline45-80025-45-recessed-electric-fireplace. Accessed October 2026.
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