Electric Fireplace Costs

Electric fireplaces can add a variety of benefits to a home. These units can reduce your central heating costs, increase the home’s value when they are hard-installed, and even create an architectural or decorative focal point. The cost to install or purchase an electric fireplace depends on the size of the unit, its installation type, and who does the installation work.

If you have an existing fireplace that needs to be removed, this will factor into your cost. Some homeowners choose to have their existing wood-burning fireplace retrofitted with electric or gas fireplace connections, which is a whole different project entirely. Below, you’ll find tables that include typical costs associated with installing electric fireplaces, including unit type and size, labor costs, and other factors.

Electric fireplace installation: hardwired unit, including professional labor costs, based on national average estimates.

Other considerations and costs

• A trim kit should be included with your mounted unit. If trim is required and not included, this will incur an additional charge in your total project costs.
• this estimate does not include taxes, fees, or any necessary permit costs.
• Some retailers offer free shipping, delivery, or haul away of old units. This can cut down on your expenses and save you the hassle of getting rid of your old fireplace when you purchase a new model.
• Some high-end electric units will have additional features like timers, remotes, crackling and simulated smoke, and adjustable flame brightness. These features are optional and will increase the cost of a basic unit, so bear that in mind when choosing your model.
• If you are installing a unit in the wall, there may be additional demo work, drywall repairs, and other labor to finish the project. Make sure that your installer calculates all of those costs into your estimate to get the most accurate pricing to compare.

DIY considerations

• Many plug-in models of electric fireplaces can be installed faster than they can be removed from the packaging by the average homeowner because they simply need put in place and plugged into the wall. Hardwired units should be left to a professional electrician, however, due to the dangerous nature of the work involved.
• If you choose a plug-in model and want to put it somewhere that a plug isn’t currently present, you’ll spend a little extra money adding an outlet, but it’s still cheaper in most cases than hardwired installs.

References

• Craftsman Estimator Costbook, complete series year 2019.
• Latest prices found on Home Depot and other vendor Web sites.
• Literature review of DIY Web sites.