How Many Amps Does an Electric Fireplace Use?

If you’re considering installing an electric fireplace, you should know how many amps it consumes to keep an eye on electric use.

As a handyman and electrician that’s installed many of these, I can explain and give a few extra tips. Knowing how many amps are contained in an electric fireplace will give you an idea of how much electrical energy it will consume during the colder months. It will help you to construct an effective monthly budget and other financial plans.

In general, an average electric fireplace produces approximately 500 BTUs, sufficient to heat nearly 400 sq. ft of space. This is roughly equivalent to the electric fireplace using 12 to 15 amps for a typical unit. Larger and more sophisticated electric fireplaces can use approximately 10,000 BTUs of power, but they will cost you twice as much as typical fireplaces.

I will cover more detail below.

How Much Does It Cost to Run an Electric Fireplace Per Month?

Here are some ballpark figures for the cost of running an electric fireplace (1,500-watt units) in the United States.

Running Costs of Electric Fireplaces in the USA:

• $0.20 to run per hour.
• $4.80 per 24 hours (day).
• Running costs $11.20 per week (8 hours per day).
• $48.00 per month (8 hours per day)

It’s simple to calculate how much it costs to run an electric fireplace per month. An electric fireplace can be operated for pennies on the dollar. 

So, to know how much you will spend on your electric fireplace per month, you must first know the cost per hour. Only then can you compute or estimate mathematically how much you’ll need per month to operate your electric fireplace.

The cost of running an electric fireplace per hour is determined by only two factors:

1. Wattage of An Electric Fireplace (Power Input)

The specification sheets contain information on the number of watts the electric fireplace consumes. The vast electric fireplaces are powered by 1,500 watts.

2. Electricity Cost

Electricity prices (represented as a price per kilowatt-hour — kWh) vary greatly by state. There are states with $0.08 per kWh electricity prices (Nevada, Idaho) and states with $0.18+ per kWh electricity prices (Alaska, Hawaii, Connecticut). In all of my calculations, I’ll use the national average price of $0.1319 per kWh in the United States.

Electric Fireplaces are Extremely Efficient

Electric fireplaces are also extremely energy efficient, and this trend is expected to continue. With the incorporation of LED technology in the most recent models, ambient lighting and ambiance are more efficient than ever.

In comparison, a typical (standard) fireplace loses nearly 90% of its energy or heat through the chimney, as well as a significant amount of heated air in the room.

However, the LED technology in a modern electric fireplace ensures that energy usage is low, and the lack of ventilation ensures that there is very little heat loss to the surroundings.

Is an Electric Fireplace Heater More Expensive than a Gas Fireplace?

Depending on the make and model, gas fireplaces can achieve up to 90% efficiency. The chimney or flue allows up to 10% of the heat generated by a gas fireplace to escape.

Electric fireplaces, on the other hand, are completely efficient, releasing every degree of heat into your home.

At the time of purchase, electric fireplaces are less expensive than gas fireplaces. Electric fireplace units are typically less expensive than gas fireplace units, and there is no need for installation.

Even so, there are extra costs to consider if you intend to use the fireplace to heat your home. Electricity is a much more expensive fuel than gas, and it takes a lot of fuel to generate heat. However, in addition to the cost of fuel, gas fireplaces necessitate installation and regular maintenance.

How Much Can the Wattage Vary Between Low and High Wattage (Watt) Models?

To be clear, a 100-watt amp is not twice as strong as a 50-watt amp. It’s only fractionally stronger. Another astounding example is that a 100-watt amplifier is only twice as strong as a 10-watt one. This could provide a completely different perspective on the amp market and various amp capabilities.

How Much Will an Electric Fireplace Raise My Electricity Bill?

Electric fireplaces used approximately 5 hours daily will typically increase your monthly electricity bill by $32.50. Then, this assumes $0.15 per kWh and five hours of use per day on maximum power for 30 days.

Take a look at some of our related articles below.

• How to hook up 2-amps with 1 power wire
• How many amps are needed to charge an electric car
• Do LED light strips use a lot of electricity

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