🔥 Heating
How Much Does a Electric Fireplace Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.8¢/kWh (April 2026), a electric fireplace costs about $40.01 per month at typical usage — 5 hours/day.
Per hour
$0.26
at 750–1,500 W
Per day
$1.32
5 hours/day
Per month
$40.01
213 kWh
Per year
$480
2,555 kWh
An electric fireplace is a 1,400-watt space heater with better lighting. The flame effect alone uses just 5–10 watts, so running visuals without heat costs almost nothing — the heat setting is what shows up on your bill.
Calculate it for your home
Per hour
$0.26
Per day
$1.32
Per month
$40.01
Per year
$480
Uses 213 kWh/month at 18.8¢ per kWh.
Cheapest and most expensive states
Monthly cost at typical usage, using each state's current average residential rate.
Cost in every state
| State | Rate (¢/kWh) | Per hour | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | 12.4 | $0.17 | $26.39 | $317 |
| Idaho | 12.7 | $0.18 | $27.03 | $324 |
| Nebraska | 13.3 | $0.19 | $28.30 | $340 |
| Oklahoma | 13.3 | $0.19 | $28.30 | $340 |
| Utah | 13.3 | $0.19 | $28.30 | $340 |
| Iowa | 13.9 | $0.19 | $29.58 | $355 |
| Montana | 13.9 | $0.19 | $29.58 | $355 |
| Missouri | 14.0 | $0.20 | $29.79 | $358 |
| Arkansas | 14.2 | $0.20 | $30.22 | $363 |
| Nevada | 14.3 | $0.20 | $30.43 | $365 |
| Louisiana | 14.4 | $0.20 | $30.64 | $368 |
| Washington | 14.4 | $0.20 | $30.64 | $368 |
| South Dakota | 14.5 | $0.20 | $30.86 | $370 |
| Wyoming | 14.7 | $0.21 | $31.28 | $376 |
| Tennessee | 14.9 | $0.21 | $31.71 | $381 |
| Kentucky | 15.0 | $0.21 | $31.92 | $383 |
| New Mexico | 15.2 | $0.21 | $32.35 | $388 |
| Florida | 15.4 | $0.22 | $32.77 | $393 |
| Georgia | 15.4 | $0.22 | $32.77 | $393 |
| Arizona | 15.5 | $0.22 | $32.98 | $396 |
| Kansas | 15.8 | $0.22 | $33.62 | $404 |
| Oregon | 15.8 | $0.22 | $33.62 | $404 |
| West Virginia | 16.1 | $0.23 | $34.26 | $411 |
| North Carolina | 16.3 | $0.23 | $34.69 | $416 |
| Minnesota | 16.4 | $0.23 | $34.90 | $419 |
| Colorado | 16.5 | $0.23 | $35.11 | $422 |
| Mississippi | 16.8 | $0.24 | $35.75 | $429 |
| Texas | 17.0 | $0.24 | $36.18 | $434 |
| South Carolina | 17.1 | $0.24 | $36.39 | $437 |
| Alabama | 17.4 | $0.24 | $37.03 | $445 |
| Virginia | 17.4 | $0.24 | $37.03 | $445 |
| Indiana | 17.9 | $0.25 | $38.09 | $457 |
| Delaware | 18.8 | $0.26 | $40.01 | $480 |
| Wisconsin | 19.2 | $0.27 | $40.86 | $491 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | $0.27 | $41.50 | $498 |
| Illinois | 20.5 | $0.29 | $43.62 | $524 |
| Michigan | 21.4 | $0.30 | $45.54 | $547 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.5 | $0.30 | $45.75 | $549 |
| Maryland | 22.1 | $0.31 | $47.03 | $565 |
| New Jersey | 23.5 | $0.33 | $50.01 | $600 |
| Vermont | 24.6 | $0.34 | $52.35 | $629 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.4 | $0.36 | $54.05 | $649 |
| New Hampshire | 27.2 | $0.38 | $57.88 | $695 |
| Alaska | 27.4 | $0.38 | $58.31 | $700 |
| Rhode Island | 28.3 | $0.40 | $60.22 | $723 |
| Maine | 28.4 | $0.40 | $60.44 | $726 |
| Massachusetts | 29.5 | $0.41 | $62.78 | $754 |
| New York | 29.5 | $0.41 | $62.78 | $754 |
| Connecticut | 32.2 | $0.45 | $68.52 | $823 |
| California | 35.3 | $0.49 | $75.12 | $902 |
| Hawaii | 46.6 | $0.65 | $99.16 | $1,191 |
How to lower the cost
- Heat the person, not the house: electric blankets and heated throws deliver comfort for a tenth of a space heater’s draw.
- Every degree of thermostat setback saves roughly 1–3% on heating over an 8-hour stretch.
- Air sealing and insulation beat any heater upgrade — leaked heat is bought at full price.
Frequently asked questions
How much electricity does a electric fireplace use?
A typical electric fireplace draws about 1,400 watts in use. At 5 hours/day, that works out to roughly 7.0 kWh per day, or 213 kWh per month.
How much does it cost to run a electric fireplace for 1 hour?
At the current U.S. average residential rate of 18.8¢/kWh, one hour costs about $0.26. In North Dakota (12.4¢/kWh) it's $0.17, while in Hawaii (46.6¢/kWh) it's $0.65.
How much does a electric fireplace cost to run per month?
With typical usage (5 hours/day), expect about $40.01 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $26.39 in North Dakota up to $99.16 in Hawaii. Rates are as of April 2026.
Does a electric fireplace use a lot of electricity?
Yes — at typical usage it accounts for roughly 24% of an average U.S. home's monthly consumption (885 kWh), which makes it one of the larger loads in the house.