Are Electric Fires Expensive to Run? (UK 2026)

By the Flicker Glow editorial team · Updated 2026 · How we test & score

Running cost is the most common question about electric fires, and the answer depends almost entirely on whether you're using the heat or just the flames. This guide explains what each mode actually costs and how to keep it down.

What the heat actually costs

An electric fire on its full 2kW setting uses 2 kilowatt-hours of electricity per hour - exactly the same as any other 2kW heater. Multiply 2 by your electricity unit rate to get the hourly cost. On the 1kW setting it's half that. Electric heating is close to 100% efficient, so all the energy becomes heat, but electricity costs considerably more per unit than gas, which is why it's supplementary rather than primary heating.

The flame effect costs almost nothing

This is the part people don't realise. The flame effect is produced by LEDs (or an ultrasonic mister on water-vapour models) and draws only a few watts - a tiny fraction of the heating element. Running the flames alone, with the heat switched off, costs pennies over many hours. That's why a flame-only mode is such a useful feature: you get the ambience year-round, including through summer, for negligible cost.

How to cut the running cost

Use the thermostat if the fire has one - it cycles the heat off once the room reaches temperature instead of drawing full power continuously, which makes a substantial difference. Use the 1kW setting rather than 2kW where it's enough. Use flame-only mode when you want the look but not the warmth. And heat only the room you're in, which is where an electric fire genuinely beats turning up central heating for the whole house.

Our top picks

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to run an electric fire?

On the full 2kW setting, it uses 2 kilowatt-hours per hour, so the cost is simply twice your electricity unit rate for each hour of use - the same as any 2kW heater. The 1kW setting halves that. The flame effect on its own, with the heat off, uses only a few watts and costs a negligible amount, which is why flame-only mode is so useful.

Is it cheaper to run an electric fire or central heating?

It depends on what you're heating. Electricity costs more per unit than gas, so heating a whole house electrically is more expensive. But if you only need warmth in one room, running a 2kW electric fire there is often cheaper than firing up the central heating for the entire property. Used as targeted supplementary heat in the room you're occupying, an electric fire can genuinely save money.

Bottom line

Our top pick is the KAMINIO Marlon PRO 24 (our score 9.6/10) - A practical electric fireplace (inset / media wall fire) for a cosy focal point..

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