Show the formula and working
This electric fireplace running cost calculator shows what an electric fire costs per hour, per day and per year. Choose the heat setting, enter the flame effect power, the share of time the heater runs, and how many hours and days you use it. You can see the cost with the heater on or with just the flame effect. It starts with the UK price cap unit rate, and you can type your own tariff.
Quick answer: An electric fire costs the power it draws in kW times your unit rate. On a 2 kW setting with the heater running 70% of the time plus a 50 W flame effect, it uses about 1.45 kWh an hour, about 38p at 26.32p. On flame effect only, it costs about 1.3p an hour.
How Is Electric Fire Running Cost Calculated?
Multiply the heater setting in kW by the share of time it is heating, add the flame effect power in kW, then multiply by your unit rate for the cost per hour.
Most electric fires have a flame effect, which runs whenever the fire is on, and a heater with one or two settings, often around 1 kW and 2 kW. The heater has a thermostat in many models, so once the room is warm it switches off and on to hold the temperature. That is why the calculator asks for a heating share, with 70% as an example. The cost per hour times your hours a day gives the daily cost, and times your days a year gives the yearly cost.
How Do You Use the Electric Fire Calculator?
- Choose the heat setting you usually use.
- Enter the flame effect power from the manual.
- Set the share of time the heater is on.
- Enter the hours per day and days per year.
- Choose a price preset or enter your unit rate.
How Much Does an Electric Fire Cost to Run?
At 26.32p per kWh, each kW of heater power costs about 26p for every hour it is actually heating. The flame effect on its own costs very little.
| Setting | Cost per hour | Cost per 4 hour day | Cost per year (120 days) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flame effect only | 1.32p | £0.05 | £6.32 |
| 1 kW | 19.74p | £0.79 | £94.75 |
| 1.5 kW | 28.95p | £1.16 | £138.97 |
| 2 kW | 38.16p | £1.53 | £183.19 |
The 26.32p rate is the Ofgem price cap average for October to December 2026, which you can check on the Ofgem energy price cap page.
Is an Electric Fire Cheaper Than Central Heating?
For heating one room for a few hours, an electric fire can cost less than heating the whole house. For heating a home all day, gas central heating is usually cheaper per unit of heat.
Electricity costs much more per kWh than mains gas, so heat from an electric fire is dearer than heat from a gas boiler. But if you only need one room warm in the evening, turning the central heating down and using an electric fire in that room can keep the total cost down. To compare with other electric heaters, try the electric heater running cost calculator.
Is the Flame Effect Expensive?
No. LED flame effects usually use tens of watts, so running the flame effect on its own for a whole evening costs a few pence.
Older fires with halogen bulbs for the flame effect can use more, so check your manual. If you enjoy the look of the fire on mild evenings, flame only mode gives the cosy effect for very little.
Worked Example: Evenings on the 1.5 kW Setting
Example: a household uses an electric fire on the 1.5 kW setting for 5 hours each evening on 150 days of the year. The thermostat keeps the heater on about 60% of the time, and the LED flame effect uses 30 W. The unit rate is 26.32p.
- Per hour: 1.5 kW x 60% + 0.03 kW = 0.93 kWh, about 24.48p
- Per day: 24.48p x 5 hours = £1.22
- Per year: £1.22 x 150 days = £183.58
Turning the thermostat down by a notch so the heater runs half the time instead of 60% would save about £30 a year in this example, and a draught excluder on the room door helps the heat stay where you want it.
Tips to Cut Electric Fire Costs
Small changes add up over a winter.
- Use the thermostat rather than leaving the heater on full.
- Close doors to keep heat in the room.
- Use the lower heat setting once the room is warm.
- Use flame effect only on mild evenings.
- Turn the fire off when you leave the room.
Electric Fireplace Running Cost FAQs
How much does an electric fire cost per hour?
On a 2 kW setting with the heater running 70% of the time, about 38p an hour at 26.32p. On flame effect only, about 1.3p an hour.
Do electric fires use a lot of electricity?
The heater does. Each kW of heat uses 1 kWh for every hour it runs. The flame effect alone uses little.
Is it cheaper to run an electric fire or central heating?
For heating one room for a short time, an electric fire can cost less overall. For the whole house, gas central heating is usually cheaper per unit of heat.
How much does the flame effect cost to run?
LED flame effects usually use tens of watts, so a few pence for an evening.
Can I leave an electric fire on overnight?
Follow the maker’s safety advice. For warmth through the night, a thermostat controlled heater on a timer is usually safer and cheaper.
What size electric fire do I need?
It depends on the room size and insulation. Check the maker’s guidance on the room size each model suits.
Checked October 2026. Source: Ofgem energy price cap. Heating share and flame effect power are examples; use your fire’s figures.