🔥 Heating
How Much Does a Electric Fireplace Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.3¢/kWh (July 2026), a electric fireplace costs about $38.94 per month at typical usage — 5 hours/day.
Per hour
$0.26
at 750–1,500 W
Per day
$1.28
5 hours/day
Per month
$38.94
213 kWh
Per year
$468
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
$1.28
Per month
$38.94
Per year
$468
Uses 213 kWh/month at 18.3¢ 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | 12.7 | $0.18 | $27.03 | $324 |
| Nevada | 12.8 | $0.18 | $27.24 | $327 |
| Utah | 13.1 | $0.18 | $27.88 | $335 |
| North Dakota | 13.4 | $0.19 | $28.52 | $342 |
| Idaho | 13.7 | $0.19 | $29.15 | $350 |
| Tennessee | 13.7 | $0.19 | $29.15 | $350 |
| Kentucky | 13.8 | $0.19 | $29.37 | $353 |
| Nebraska | 13.8 | $0.19 | $29.37 | $353 |
| Arkansas | 14.3 | $0.20 | $30.43 | $365 |
| Oklahoma | 14.4 | $0.20 | $30.64 | $368 |
| Wyoming | 14.4 | $0.20 | $30.64 | $368 |
| Mississippi | 14.5 | $0.20 | $30.86 | $370 |
| Washington | 14.7 | $0.21 | $31.28 | $376 |
| Florida | 15.0 | $0.21 | $31.92 | $383 |
| Montana | 15.0 | $0.21 | $31.92 | $383 |
| North Carolina | 15.2 | $0.21 | $32.35 | $388 |
| Kansas | 15.3 | $0.21 | $32.56 | $391 |
| Arizona | 15.4 | $0.22 | $32.77 | $393 |
| South Dakota | 15.4 | $0.22 | $32.77 | $393 |
| South Carolina | 15.5 | $0.22 | $32.98 | $396 |
| West Virginia | 15.8 | $0.22 | $33.62 | $404 |
| Texas | 15.9 | $0.22 | $33.84 | $406 |
| Iowa | 16.0 | $0.22 | $34.05 | $409 |
| Oregon | 16.0 | $0.22 | $34.05 | $409 |
| Missouri | 16.1 | $0.23 | $34.26 | $411 |
| New Mexico | 16.1 | $0.23 | $34.26 | $411 |
| Georgia | 16.3 | $0.23 | $34.69 | $416 |
| Alabama | 16.4 | $0.23 | $34.90 | $419 |
| Indiana | 16.7 | $0.23 | $35.54 | $427 |
| Colorado | 17.0 | $0.24 | $36.18 | $434 |
| Minnesota | 17.5 | $0.24 | $37.24 | $447 |
| Virginia | 17.6 | $0.25 | $37.45 | $450 |
| Delaware | 18.5 | $0.26 | $39.37 | $473 |
| Wisconsin | 19.1 | $0.27 | $40.64 | $488 |
| Illinois | 19.2 | $0.27 | $40.86 | $491 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | $0.27 | $41.50 | $498 |
| Maryland | 21.4 | $0.30 | $45.54 | $547 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.7 | $0.30 | $46.18 | $554 |
| Michigan | 23.1 | $0.32 | $49.16 | $590 |
| Vermont | 23.8 | $0.33 | $50.65 | $608 |
| Connecticut | 24.2 | $0.34 | $51.50 | $618 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.2 | $0.35 | $53.63 | $644 |
| New Jersey | 25.2 | $0.35 | $53.63 | $644 |
| New Hampshire | 26.6 | $0.37 | $56.60 | $680 |
| Rhode Island | 28.3 | $0.40 | $60.22 | $723 |
| Alaska | 28.8 | $0.40 | $61.29 | $736 |
| New York | 29.9 | $0.42 | $63.63 | $764 |
| Massachusetts | 30.5 | $0.43 | $64.90 | $779 |
| Maine | 32.4 | $0.45 | $68.95 | $828 |
| California | 33.6 | $0.47 | $71.50 | $858 |
| Hawaii | 48.0 | $0.67 | $102 | $1,226 |
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 18.3¢/kWh, one hour costs about $0.26. In Louisiana (12.7¢/kWh) it's $0.18, while in Hawaii (48¢/kWh) it's $0.67.
How much does a electric fireplace cost to run per month?
With typical usage (5 hours/day), expect about $38.94 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $27.03 in Louisiana up to $102 in Hawaii. Rates are as of July 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.