Electric fireplace installation costs a national average of $1,000, with most homeowners paying $200 to $2,200, per HomeAdvisor’s 2026 data.1 Other published figures differ: Fixr averages $750 with a $540 to $1,005 range, HomeGuide prices the job at $200 to $3,000 or more, and Angi puts the average electric-unit installation at around $1,000 — published figures that differ and are not reconciled by the sources.2,4,5 Figures below are the latest published national figures* from each source.
*National figures, not local quotes. HomeAdvisor was updated June 20, 2026; Angi was updated September 14, 2026; HomeGuide was written January 2, 2026; Fixr was updated January 31, 2025; Bob Vila was updated July 11, 2022. Your price depends on fireplace type, heating power, plug-in versus hardwired setup, and local labor.
$1,000
national average (HomeAdvisor, 2026)
$200 – $2,200
typical range (HomeAdvisor)
$750
national average (Fixr)
$200 – $3,000+
average cost (HomeGuide)
What sources say
| Source | Figure | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| HomeAdvisor | $1,000 average; most pay $200 – $2,200; extremes $100 – $10,000 | Electric fireplace installation guide (updated June 20, 2026) |
| Fixr | $750 average; $540 – $1,005 range; $70 low, $10,000 high | Electric fireplace installation guide (updated January 31, 2025) |
| HomeGuide | $200 – $3,000+ average cost | Electric fireplace cost guide (written January 2, 2026) |
| Angi | Around $1,000 average for electric units; $225 – $2,180 labor range across fireplace types | General fireplace installation guide, electric figures (2026 data, updated September 14, 2026) |
| Bob Vila | $225 average labor for an electric insert; wiring $140 – $200 | General fireplace installation guide, electric figures (updated July 11, 2022) |
Angi and HomeAdvisor are corporate siblings, and their electric-installation average is the same $1,000; Bob Vila’s $225 electric-insert labor figure and $2,180 wood-burning labor figure match Angi’s exactly, with no attribution — matching figures across pages, which alone don’t establish independent corroboration.1,3,5
Cost by type
| Type | HomeAdvisor | Fixr | HomeGuide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freestanding | $200 – $500 installed | $70 – $1,870 | $200 – $1,500 (no installation needed) |
| Insert | $400 – $2,000 | $107 – $435 log; $161 – $1,579 firebox | $200 – $2,000 |
| Wall-mounted | $300 – $2,000 | — | $500 – $2,500+ |
| Built-in / custom | $2,000 – $10,000+ custom | $2,000 – $10,000 built-in; $146 – $989 recessed unit | $1,500 – $3,000+ |
The freestanding figures differ by stated scope — HomeAdvisor includes installation, HomeGuide excludes it, and Fixr spans space-heater-sized plug-ins to large furniture units — and the sources do not reconcile them.1,2,4 Prefab units cost less than $1,000 while custom builds start at $2,000 and can exceed $10,000 (HomeAdvisor); Fixr’s pricing tiers run $70 to $250 budget, $250 to $1,500 mid-range, and $5,000 to $10,000 high-end.1,2
Cost by heating power
HomeAdvisor prices units by heat output: 3,000 BTUs (300 sq. ft.) at $500 to $1,200, 4,000 BTUs at $800 to $1,600, and 5,000 BTUs at $1,000 to $2,200, unit only.1 HomeGuide prices installed units by room size: up to 400 square feet at $200 to $1,500 (3,000 to 5,000 BTUs), 400 to 1,000 square feet at $500 to $2,500 (5,000 to 10,000 BTUs), and over 1,000 square feet at $2,500 to $7,500 or more (10,000+ BTUs).4 Checked against manufacturer specifications, HomeAdvisor’s further claim that maximum output is “fixed at 5,000 or 5,200 BTUs” is overbroad as written: Dimplex rates its 42-inch Revillusion built-in at 4,436 BTUs on 120 volts but 8,786 BTUs hardwired on 240 volts (2,575 watts), and its built-in catalog documents up to 9,200 BTUs on a 240-volt supply. Output depends on the model and electrical configuration, and the 5,000/5,200 figure is not a universal ceiling.1,6 HomeGuide’s 10,000+ BTU figure remains its own claim.4
Labor and electrical work
Plug-in units need no professional labor; hardwiring does. Electricians charge $50 to $100 per hour (HomeAdvisor) or $52 to $97 per hour (Fixr) — near-identical but not exact ranges — with a hardwire job running about $200 over two to four hours (HomeAdvisor) or about $150 at roughly an hour and a half (Fixr).1,2 Wiring a typical project costs $140 to $200 (Bob Vila) or $150 to $200 (Angi) — near-identical ranges.3,5 HomeGuide prices a new outlet at $150 to $350 and a new circuit at $250 to $900, with permits at $50 to $85 where required; HomeAdvisor notes a handyperson runs $40 to $140 per hour for mounting and placement work.1,4
Converting from gas or wood
Capping a gas line costs an average of $130 per HomeAdvisor but $350 to $2,000 per HomeGuide — a wide discrepancy the sources do not reconcile.1,4 Blocking off the old chimney by sealing and capping costs $250 to $650 (HomeGuide).4 Electric units need no venting, flue, or chimney — all five sources agree — which is why inserts are the one fireplace installation Bob Vila considers DIY-appropriate; hardwired units still call for an electrician.1,2,3,4,5
How long they last
Lifespan estimates differ by source: Bob Vila puts an electric fireplace at around 10 years, while Angi says up to 20 — differing estimates the sources do not reconcile.3,5
Related guides
Fireplace Repair Cost
Fireplace Installation Cost
Fireplace Insert Cost
Baseboard Heater Installation Cost
All cost guides
Sources
1. HomeAdvisor — How Much Does It Cost to Install an Electric Fireplace? (updated June 20, 2026)
2. Fixr — Electric Fireplace Installation Cost (updated January 31, 2025)
3. Bob Vila — How Much Does Fireplace Installation Cost? (updated July 11, 2022; electric-specific figures)
4. HomeGuide — How Much Does an Electric Fireplace Cost? (written January 2, 2026)
5. Angi — How Much Does Fireplace Installation Cost? (2026 Data, updated September 14, 2026; electric-specific figures)
6. Dimplex — Revillusion 42-Inch Technical Specifications (manufacturer; 120V/208V/240V ratings)
7. Dimplex — Built-In Solutions Catalog (manufacturer; up to 9,200 BTU on 240V supply)