What an electric fireplace or oil-filled radiator costs to run
Last updated · Prices: U.S. EIA, August 2026
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With the heater on, an electric fireplace draws about 1,500 watts and costs $0.27 an hour at the U.S. average price. With only the flames showing it costs about 1.5¢ for a whole 8-hour evening. Wattages are from manufacturer manuals and spec sheets; prices are the U.S. Energy Information Administration's August 2026 residential figures.
Quick answers at the U.S. average price (18.16¢ per kWh)
| Heater | Watts | Per hour | Per 8 h |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric fireplace (heat on, maximum) | 1,500 W | $0.27 | $2.18 |
| Electric fireplace (flame effect only, under 10 W) | 10 W | 0.2¢ | 1.5¢ |
| Oil-filled radiator (low) | 600 W | $0.11 | $0.87 |
| Oil-filled radiator (medium) | 900 W | $0.16 | $1.31 |
| Oil-filled radiator (high) | 1,500 W | $0.27 | $2.18 |
With the element on the whole time; a thermostat cycles it off once the room is warm. The flame-only figure uses the 10 W ceiling from the manual.
1,500 watts for 8 hours a day at the U.S. average price costs up to
$65.38 a month
$0.27 an hour and $2.18 a day at 18.16¢ per kWh, with the element on the whole time. A thermostat cycles it off once the room is warm.
Fireplace, oil-filled radiator or space heater: which is cheaper?
Per hour at the same wattage, none of them. All three are electric resistance heaters, and the U.S. Department of Energy says “Electric resistance heating is 100% energy efficient in the sense that all the incoming electric energy is converted to heat.” A 1,500 W fireplace insert, oil-filled radiator and fan heater therefore cost the same while their elements are on. What changes the bill is the setting you run and how many hours the element is actually on.
The oil-filled radiator's difference is steadier heat, not cheaper heat. DOE notes that “The heat transfer fluid provides some heat storage, allowing the heater to cycle less and to provide a more constant heat source.” Its 600 W and 900 W settings are the real savings: on medium it costs $39.23 a month at 8 hours a day against $65.38 on high.
Where the wattages come from
| Heater and setting | Watts | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Electric fireplace, heat on, maximum | 1,500 W | Dimplex XHD28L/XHD26L/XHD23L manual (1,500 W at 0 °C, 1,350 W at 25 °C) |
| Electric fireplace, heat on | 1,400 W | Electric fireplace manual, model 23WM1258 (Lowe’s item 0386379) |
| Electric fireplace, flame effect only, under 10 W | 10 W | Electric fireplace manual, model 23WM1258 (Lowe’s item 0386379) |
| Oil-filled radiator, low | 600 W | Pelonis PSHO06MR6ASB oil-filled radiator spec table |
| Oil-filled radiator, medium | 900 W | Pelonis PSHO06MR6ASB oil-filled radiator spec table |
| Oil-filled radiator, high | 1,500 W | Pelonis PSHO06MR6ASB oil-filled radiator spec table |
| Oil-filled radiator (De’Longhi), minimum | 700 W | De’Longhi TRD40615E oil-filled radiator product data |
Your own heater's wattage is on the label or in the manual; put it in the calculator above. For what a 1,500 W heater costs in every state, see the space heater cost table. If the heater trips a breaker, see how to reset a circuit breaker.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How much does it cost to run an electric fireplace?
- With the heater on, a typical plug-in electric fireplace draws about 1,500 watts, which costs $0.27 an hour and $2.18 for an 8-hour evening at the August 2026 U.S. average of 18.16¢ per kWh. With only the flame effect on, one manufacturer's manual lists under 10 watts, about 1.5¢ for the same 8 hours.
- How much does it cost to run an oil-filled radiator?
- A common oil-filled radiator has 600, 900 and 1,500 watt settings. At the U.S. average price that is $0.11, $0.16 and $0.27 an hour, or up to $39.23 a month on medium at 8 hours a day. Its thermostat cycles the element off once the room is warm, so the real figure is lower.
- Is an oil-filled radiator cheaper to run than a space heater?
- Not per hour at the same wattage. The U.S. Department of Energy says electric resistance heating converts all of the electricity it uses into heat, so a 1,500 watt oil-filled radiator, fan heater or fireplace insert costs the same to run while its element is on. An oil-filled radiator stores some heat in its oil, which lets it cycle less and give steadier warmth, and its lower settings use less power.
- Does an electric fireplace use a lot of electricity without heat?
- No. One electric fireplace manual rates the flame effect alone at under 10 watts, against 1,400 watts with the heater on. Running it for 8 hours costs about 1.5¢ at the U.S. average price.
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Sources
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A (August 2026, residential)
- U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Saver: Electric resistance heating (archived Jan 1, 2026)
- U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Saver: Small space heaters (archived Jan 1, 2026)
- Dimplex XHD28L/XHD26L/XHD23L manual (1,500 W at 0 °C, 1,350 W at 25 °C)
- Electric fireplace manual, model 23WM1258 (Lowe’s item 0386379)
- Pelonis PSHO06MR6ASB oil-filled radiator spec table
- De’Longhi TRD40615E oil-filled radiator product data
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