How Much Does a New Electric Fireplace Cost?

On this page (9 sections)

1. How much does a new electric fireplace cost to buy?
2. What drives the electricity bill once it's installed?
3. How much does it cost to run an electric fireplace each hour?
4. Is 750W or 1,500W the better setting for your room?
5. How does heater type change the running cost?
6. Which units fit a lower running-cost plan?
7. Does the fan or crackle feature add to the bill?
8. How can you keep the running cost down?
9. What's the bottom line on a new electric fireplace's cost?

A new electric fireplace costs less to own than to heat: the purchase price is a one-time outlay, and the real money goes to the electricity it draws. Most 50-inch wall units run a 1,500W high heat mode or a 750W low mode, so the running bill depends on which setting you use and for how long.

That split matters when you ask how much does a new electric fireplace cost. Buyers tend to focus on the sticker and forget the meter, yet the heater is what adds to the monthly bill.

The unit price is a single decision; the electricity is a recurring one.

How much does a new electric fireplace cost to buy?

Expect a one-time purchase in the budget to premium range, with size and features setting the tier. A 50-inch recessed or wall unit sits in the mid-range for its class.

Price tiers shift with width, build, and extras like multi-color flames and timers.

A wide unit costs more than a narrow one because it uses more glass and housing. Features raise the tier too: 12 flame colors, an adjustable thermostat, and a remote all add to the unit's cost.

None of them changes the watt draw, so a fancier unit doesn't automatically cost more to run.

Skip the sticker math and compare the tier against your room. A large living room needs the width; a small den may not.

What the product specs actually tell you about tier

The specs do the tier work for you. The Euhomy 50 Inch Recessed Fireplace measures 50 inches wide, 4.13 inches deep, and 17.01 inches tall, and it weighs 22.7 pounds.

That shallow depth and light weight place it in the wall-mount or recessed class rather than a built-in masonry look.

The Touchstone Sideline 50 Inch runs wider and deeper at 50.4 by 5.5 by 21.5 inches and 59 pounds. Its extra height and mass point to a different build tier, with more glass and housing behind the front panel.

Compare those figures against your wall cavity before you compare anything else.

What drives the electricity bill once it's installed?

Wattage times hours is the whole formula. A 1,500W heater uses 1.5 kilowatt-hours in an hour of full heat.

At 750W, the same hour uses 0.75 kWh.

Your rate per kWh sets the dollar figure. Two homes with the same fireplace and the same hours can pay different amounts because their utility rates differ.

Flame-only use draws a small fraction of the heater's load, so ambience costs little.

The Euhomy unit shows this clearly: its 750W energy-saving mode and 1,500W efficient heating mode are separate choices. Running the low mode for two hours draws about the same as one hour on high.

The heater's heat output matters as well as its watt draw. The Euhomy lists a 5,000 BTU-per-hour output across its heating coverage of up to 400 square feet.

The Touchstone lists the same 5,000 BTUs and the same 400-square-foot coverage. Those matching figures mean the two units cost about the same to run in the same room.

How much does it cost to run an electric fireplace each hour?

The hourly cost is the kWh figure multiplied by your local rate. You don't need the exact rate to compare modes: high heat costs double low heat per hour.

Flame-only sits far below both.

A 1,500W unit at typical residential rates lands in the low cents-to-teens per hour. Two hours on high every evening adds up over a month.

Our full breakdown in how much does it cost to run an electric fireplace walks through the math with sample rates.

Track your own draw instead of guessing. The P3 Kill A Watt plugs in between the outlet and the fireplace and counts kilowatt-hours by day, week, month, or year.

It also calculates the expense from your rate. It reads a large LCD display and is built for standard 115-volt appliances at up to 15 amps.

Its four settings let you track consumption and expense by the day, week, month, or year, so a full heating season shows up as one running total.

Is 750W or 1,500W the better setting for your room?

Use 750W in small, well-insulated rooms and 1,500W only when the low mode can't keep up. The Euhomy unit's 750W mode covers a modest space; its 1,500W mode adds heat faster and reaches farther.

A 400-square-foot supplemental zone is the ceiling most 50-inch units claim. The Euhomy and the Touchstone both list supplemental heat up to 400 square feet.

Treat that as a supplement, not a whole-home furnace.

If the low mode runs all evening and the room still feels cold, the fireplace is the wrong tool for that space. Look at electric fireplace vs space heater to see which draws less for the same warmth.

How does heater type change the running cost?

Watt for watt, the heater type doesn't change the bill; the watt mode does. Infrared and standard electric fireplaces both turn electricity into heat.

Our comparison of infrared vs standard electric fireplace heat covers how each feels in a room.

Infrared warms objects and people in its path more directly. A standard heater warms the air that circulates past it.

Neither one changes the kWh figure at the same wattage, so the setting and run time still set the bill.

Pick based on comfort, not on a running-cost claim. A 750W infrared unit and a 750W standard unit draw the same power.

Which units fit a lower running-cost plan?

Start with units that give you a real low-heat mode and a timer. The Euhomy 50 Inch Recessed Fireplace offers a 750W energy-saving mode, a 1,500W efficient mode, and a 1–8 hour timer control.

Its black tempered glass front panel and 12 flame colors with 12 fuel-bed colors let you run it without heat. The unit also lists supplemental zone heating up to 400 square feet.

Euhomy says it runs at about 45 decibels. A 2-year technical support term comes with the unit, and the box includes a carbon log, a pack of crystal stones, and the mounting hardware.

The Touchstone Sideline 50 Inch gives two heat settings, high and low, plus a built-in 1–8 hour shut-off timer. Its thermostat runs from 68°F to 88°F with auto-off overheat protection.

The Sideline can be hardwired or plugged into a 3-prong outlet, and its front-facing vents let you place it as close as 8 inches under a flat-screen TV.

Which one should you pick for the way you heat?

Pick Euhomy if you want more flame-color control and a lighter unit that's easier to handle during a recessed install. Pick Touchstone if the thermostat range and simple two-setting heat suit your room, and if the under-TV placement matters to you.

Both carry the same 400-square-foot supplemental rating, so the running-cost math is close.

Does the fan or crackle feature add to the bill?

Fan noise and crackle effects use small amounts of power compared with the heater. The heater is the load to watch.

A fan that moves warm air is part of the heating job, not a separate splurge.

Sound features are about atmosphere, not cost. If noise is your bigger worry, are electric fireplaces noisy covers fan and crackle sounds in detail.

The Euhomy's listed 45-decibel operation is a useful comparison point when you weigh a heater against the room's quiet.

Run the flame without heat when you only want the look. That keeps the draw low and the room quiet.

How can you keep the running cost down?

Cap the hours, choose the low watt mode, and use flame-only when heat isn't needed. A timer does most of the work: set it for the length of your evening and let the unit switch off.

Both the Euhomy and the Touchstone include a 1–8 hour timer for exactly this.

Close doors to keep the warmed air in one room. A fireplace heating an open-plan space works harder for the same comfort.

The supplemental 400-square-foot rating assumes a defined zone.

Check your rate plan for off-peak hours if your utility offers them. Running the heater in a cheaper window lowers the same kWh figure.

A plug-in meter confirms what each session really uses. The Euhomy's adjustable 62°F to 82°F range and the Touchstone's 68°F to 88°F range also let you set a ceiling instead of running full heat all night.

What's the bottom line on a new electric fireplace's cost?

Budget for the unit once and the electricity monthly, and the answer to how much a new electric fireplace costs depends on your settings. The heater's watt mode and your run time set the recurring bill, not the price tier you buy.

Pick a unit with a 750W low mode and a timer if you plan to use heat often. The Euhomy 50 Inch Recessed Fireplace and the Touchstone Sideline 50 Inch both give you that control.

Add the P3 Kill A Watt to see your own numbers.

If heat is the main goal rather than ambience, read electric fireplace vs space heater before you buy. For the full math, keep how much does it cost to run an electric fireplace handy.

Frequently asked questions

Does an electric fireplace use a lot of electricity?

A 1,500W heater draws about 1.5 kilowatt-hours per hour of full heat, while a 750W mode halves that. Flame-only use draws a small fraction.

The total is watts times hours, so a short evening run costs less than an all-day session.

Is a 750W or 1,500W setting cheaper to run?

Yes, the 750W low setting is cheaper per hour than 1,500W, since it uses half the power. Use low heat to take the chill off a small room and reserve high heat for cold spells.

Flame-only mode costs less again if you just want the look.

Can I use an electric fireplace without running the heater?

Yes. Many units let the flame run with heat off, so you get the glow without the heater's draw.

That mode is the cheapest way to enjoy the fireplace, and it's a good default in milder weather.

Does a higher purchase price mean lower running costs?

Not necessarily. Running cost depends on the watt modes and how long you run them, not on the unit's price tier.

Check the low and high watt ratings before you buy, since those numbers set your hourly bill.