The electric fireplace vs gas fireplace cost question has two halves: what you pay to get a fireplace into the wall, and what you pay every hour it runs. Electric almost always wins the first half by a wide margin. Gas can win the second half if you want a lot of real heat. Below are current published install ranges, running costs worked out from U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) prices, and the Amantii electric models we sell, so you can do the math for your own room.
Electric fireplace vs gas fireplace cost: the short answer
- Install: an electric fireplace is mostly the price of the unit plus framing and finishing. A gas fireplace adds a gas line, venting and permits, and labor that HomeGuide puts at $1,200 to $6,000 on its own.
- Running: a typical 1,500 W electric heater costs about 27 cents an hour at full heat at today’s average U.S. electricity price. A gas unit costs more per hour but puts out several times the heat.
- Upkeep: electric units need no chimney, venting or gas service. Gas units need periodic inspection and service.
Install cost: what each one actually involves
Gas fireplace install cost
HomeGuide’s gas fireplace installation cost page (homeguide.com/costs/gas-fireplace-installation-cost, updated January 2, 2026) puts the average total at $2,300 to $10,000. Its line items show where the money goes:
- Gas fireplace insert, installed: $2,000 to $5,000
- New gas line: $350 to $2,000 (or $250 to $500 to extend an existing line)
- Chimney or vent: $1,000 to $3,500
- Labor: $1,200 to $6,000
- Permits: $100 to $500
Angi’s fireplace installation cost guide (angi.com/articles/how-much-does-installing-fireplace-or-woodstove-cost.htm, updated September 14, 2026) gives a similar picture: $2,500 to $10,000 for gas, about $200 for a gas line connection, and about $255 a year for a chimney sweep where one applies.
Electric fireplace install cost
Angi lists about $1,000 for an electric fireplace and $150 to $200 for wiring. Amantii’s own FAQ says its electric fireplaces are vent free, need no chimney, venting or gas lines, and that no permits are required. Most models can be plugged into a 120V outlet or hardwired, and Amantii recommends a licensed electrician for hardwired installs.
The units themselves start around $1,100 in our Amantii range:
- Amantii Symmetry 42 in Basic, $1,099: built in, plug in or hardwire, 4,800 BTU heater, listed for 400 to 500 sq ft.
- Amantii 42 in Symmetry XtraSlim Smart WiFi, $1,299: recesses into a 2×4 wall or wall mounts, heater rated for up to 400 sq ft.
- Amantii Zero Clearance 33 in, $1,298: traditional box shape, plug in or hardwire.
- Amantii WM-FM 60 in, $2,237: hang it on the wall or recess it.
- Amantii 50 in Symmetry Lumina, $2,399: 1,500 W heater, thermostat from 59 to 82 F, WiFi app.
Add framing, drywall and a surround finish, which apply to either fuel. If you are choosing between hanging and recessing, our built-in vs wall-mount guide covers the trade-offs.
Install cost side by side
| Cost item | Electric | Gas |
|---|---|---|
| Unit | About $1,100 to $3,000 for most Amantii built-ins we sell | Insert installed $2,000 to $5,000 (HomeGuide) |
| Fuel supply | Existing outlet, or $150 to $200 wiring (Angi) | $350 to $2,000 new line (HomeGuide) |
| Venting | None (Amantii FAQ) | $1,000 to $3,500 (HomeGuide) |
| Permits | None required per Amantii | $100 to $500 (HomeGuide) |
| Typical total | About $1,000 install (Angi) plus unit | $2,300 to $10,000 (HomeGuide) |
Running cost: electric vs gas per hour
Electric fireplace running cost
An electric fireplace heater draws its rated wattage. Most Amantii heaters are 1,500 W on high, and some (like the Traditional XtraSlim) have a 750 W low setting. The EIA’s latest table shows the average U.S. residential electricity price at 18.31 cents per kWh in July 2026. So:
- 1,500 W for one hour = 1.5 kWh = about $0.27
- 750 W for one hour = 0.75 kWh = about $0.14
Your rate may be far from the average (California was 33.61 cents in the same table), so multiply by your own bill’s rate. The flame effects on the models above use LEDs, so running with the heat off costs much less than running the heater.
Gas fireplace running cost
A gas fireplace burns gas at its input rating, printed on the rating plate in BTU per hour. The EIA puts the 2025 average U.S. residential natural gas price at $15.34 per thousand cubic feet, and its conversion FAQ says 1,000 cubic feet holds 10.37 therms (one therm is 100,000 BTU). That works out to about $1.48 per therm. For example inputs:
| Appliance | Heat per hour | Cost per hour | 480 hours (4 hrs a night, 120 nights) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric, 750 W low | About 2,560 BTU | $0.14 | About $66 |
| Electric, 1,500 W high | About 5,100 BTU | $0.27 | About $132 |
| Gas, 20,000 BTU input | 20,000 BTU input | $0.30 | About $142 |
| Gas, 30,000 BTU input | 30,000 BTU input | $0.44 | About $213 |
| Gas, 40,000 BTU input | 40,000 BTU input | $0.59 | About $284 |
The gas rows are examples, not specific products; check the input rating of the unit you are quoted. Gas inputs are not all delivered to the room, because some heat leaves through the vent, so look up the efficiency in that unit’s manual too.
Cost per unit of heat
Per BTU, gas is cheaper at average prices. 100,000 BTU of electric heat is about 29.3 kWh, roughly $5.37 at 18.31 cents. The same 100,000 BTU of gas input is about $1.48, so even if a vented gas unit delivered only half its input to the room, its heat would still cost less than electric resistance heat. That is why gas makes sense if the fireplace is a primary heat source for a large or drafty room. If you want ambience plus supplemental heat for one room, the electric unit’s lower install cost usually outweighs its higher cost per BTU.
Electric fireplace vs gas: maintenance and other costs
- Service: HomeGuide recommends an annual inspection for gas fireplaces and lists $200 to $1,000 for repairs. Electric units have no burner, pilot or vent to service.
- Safety equipment: follow your local code for carbon monoxide alarms with any fuel-burning appliance.
- Warranty: Amantii’s electric warranty is covered in our Amantii review.
- Converting an old wood fireplace: an electric insert avoids a gas line entirely. See electric fireplace insert for an existing fireplace.
Are electric fireplaces worth it compared with gas?
Choose electric if you want a fireplace in a room with no gas line or chimney, an apartment or condo, a bedroom, or a wall that also holds a TV, or if you want flames in summer with the heat off. Choose gas if you want a large amount of heat, already have gas and a usable vent path, and are comfortable with the install and service cost. For sizing and style choices across the electric range, start with our electric fireplace buying guide or browse all Amantii fireplaces.
Frequently asked questions
Is an electric fireplace cheaper than gas to install?
Usually, by a lot. HomeGuide’s average gas install is $2,300 to $10,000, with gas line, vent and permit costs that an electric unit does not have. Angi lists about $1,000 to install an electric fireplace.
Is electric fireplace vs gas cheaper to run?
Per hour, a 1,500 W electric heater (about $0.27 at the EIA average) costs less than a typical gas unit at full fire. Per unit of heat, gas costs less. If you run the flames without heat, electric costs very little.
Do electric fireplaces need a permit or vent?
Amantii says no permits are required and its units are vent free. A new hardwired circuit may still need an electrician, so check local rules.
How much heat does an electric fireplace give compared with gas?
Amantii says most of its units produce about 5,000 BTU of supplemental heat. Gas fireplaces are rated by input, often several times that figure, so gas is the better choice for heating a large space.
Questions about a specific Amantii model or wiring? Call us at 866-777-2590, Monday to Friday, 9AM to 6PM PST. Orders of $999 or more ship free by freight; returns follow our return and refund policy.
