How Much Electricity Does An Electric Fireplace Use? A Consumption Guide

Most electric fireplaces draw about 1,500 watts on their highest heat setting, which is similar to a good space heater. How much you actually pay depends on how long you run it, which features you use, and what your local electric rate is.

Below we’ll break it down in normal language — wattage, cost per hour, when to use flame-only, and how to keep your bill from creeping up in winter.

Typical Power Use for Electric Fireplaces

Almost every electric fireplace we sell that plugs into a standard 120V outlet is designed around the same heating element size. That makes things easy:

• High heat: usually 1,500 watts (1.5 kW)
• Low heat: usually 750–1,000 watts
• Flame-only: very low, often 50–200 watts because it’s just LEDs

So if your electric rate is around $0.17 per kWh (a common U.S. average), running the heater on high for one hour is roughly:

1.5 kWh × $0.17 ≈ $0.26 per hour

That’s a quarter per hour for actual heat. If you just want the look of the flames, it’s pennies.

What Really Affects Your Energy Use

Not all homes, and not all installs, are the same. Here are the things we see that make the biggest difference:

1. Heat On vs. Flames Only

Most people don’t realize the flame effect and the heater are separate. If you turn the heat off and leave the flames on, power draw drops a lot. This is perfect for model homes, real estate staging, or evening ambiance.

2. Room Size and Insulation

Electric fireplaces are zone heaters. They’re made to warm the room you’re in — not the entire house. If you’re putting it in a drafty sunroom or a big open floor plan, it may run longer to keep up.

3. Runtime

Four hours every night vs. “just on when I’m in the room” is a big difference. Timers and thermostats help a lot here.

4. Extra Features

Most modern units use LED tech for flames, which is very efficient. What can add a bit of draw is a built-in fan or multiple color effects, but compared to the heater, those are small.

Sample Operating Costs

Here’s a simple way to visualize it. Let’s assume 1,500 watts on high and $0.17/kWh:

Usage Style	What’s On	Estimated Cost
Flame-only for ambiance	100–200 watts	About $0.01–$0.03/hr
Low heat in a bedroom	750–1,000 watts	About $0.13–$0.17/hr
High heat in winter	1,500 watts	About $0.25–$0.26/hr

If you ran it 3 hours a day on high for a month:

0.26 × 3 × 30 ≈ $23.40/month

Most of our customers fall right in that $15–$30/month range during the months they actually use it.

Why Electric Can Still Save You Money

This part surprises people: even though electric resistance heat isn’t “the cheapest heat” on paper, electric fireplaces can still make sense because of zone heating.

Instead of turning up the thermostat for the whole house, you keep the main system lower and just warm the living room where you watch TV. That way you’re not paying to heat unused bedrooms.

How to Keep Your Electric Fireplace Efficient

These are the same tips we give homeowners when we install or ship a unit:

• Use the thermostat. Don’t run it full blast the whole time — let it cycle.
• Close the room. If you can shut a door, do it. You reach set temperature faster.
• Use flame-only mode when you don’t need heat.
• Set a timer so it doesn’t run after you fall asleep.
• Place it where you sit. If the heat outlet points toward your seating area, you can use lower settings.

Electric vs. Gas vs. Wood (From a Dealer’s View)

Since we sell all three, here’s the straight comparison:

Type	Install	Venting	Operating Cost Feel	Best For
Electric fireplace	Plug-in / simple	No	Low–moderate (depends on usage)	Apartments, bedrooms, decorative walls
Gas fireplace	Pro install	Yes (direct vent)	Usually cheaper per BTU	Main living areas, whole-room heat
Wood-burning	Most complex	Yes, chimney	Fuel-dependent	Traditional look, high-output inserts

If you don’t want to run gas or can’t vent, electric wins on simplicity every time.

FAQs We Get at Luxury Fire

Do all electric fireplaces use 1,500 watts?

Most of the common 120V models do. Some larger built-in or 240V units can go higher, but if you’re plugging into a normal outlet, assume 1,500W max.

Can I run it all day?

You can, but we recommend using the thermostat or timer so you’re not paying for heat you don’t need.

Is flame-only really that cheap?

Yes. The flame effect is LED-based on most modern units, so you’re basically paying for lights, not heat.

Will it trip my breaker?

1,500 watts on a dedicated or lightly loaded 15A circuit is usually fine. If you have other big appliances on the same circuit, spread them out.

Final Word from Luxury Fire

Electric fireplaces are one of the most predictable heating products in terms of energy use: you always know the wattage, you can turn the heat off, and you control the runtime. If you size it right for the room and use the built-in features, it’s a very manageable monthly cost — plus you get the look of a real fireplace without construction.

If you tell us the room size and how many hours a day you plan to run it, we can estimate your monthly operating cost pretty closely.