2026 Fireplace Fuel Cost Guide (Wood, Gas, Pellet & more)

Cost per hour for each fireplace fuel type:

WOOD PELLETS…………. $0.34 /hour or $1488 /seasonal average

ELECTRIC…………………..$0.39 /hour or $580 /seasonal average

WOOD………………………..$.60 /hour or $900 /seasonal average

NATURAL GAS (NG)……. $1.06 /hour or $930 /seasonal average

PROPANE (LP)…………… $1.32 /hour or $1200 /seasonal average

Fireplace Fuel Cost Guide 2026

“Knowledge is power.” – Francis Bacon

Purpose of this info is to help you make the best possible decision for your home. This guide was complied using numbers from the state of Pennsylvania. If you live in another state, much of this info will be applicable, but you may need to search elsewhere for specifics about natural gas and electric utilities.

The average “burn season” for fireplaces and stoves is 186 days.

Why Should You Trust this Fireplace Fuel Cost Guide?

All information is based on research conducted and an interpretation of the available data. If you are able to provide information contrary to what is available here, please reach out and help us improve this resource. It is surprisingly difficult to keep this guide useful and relevant. Any input is grateful appreciated.

Warmly, The Stove Shop

Fireplace Fuel | Natural Gas (NG)

Average fuel cost: $1.06 per hour or $930 per season average

Average cost per CCF (plus the large delivery fees) of natural gas in Pennsylvania is higher than you may initially anticipate. If you use 80 CCF per month PECO charges you $114.13 as of 2026. Information beyond this is difficult to find.

$0.53 per CCF + $130 average in fees = $1.06 per hour to burn natural gas in your fireplace as of December, 1 2025.

On average, a natural gas fireplace burns for 2 hours per CCF. You should expect to consume 1.8 gallons of natural gas to use your gas fireplace for 4 hours. (Average natural gas fireplace user burns their gas unit for about four hours per day.) Four hours per day multiplied by 186 days in the burn season is how we get this answer.

Where Do You Get Honest Information about Natural Gas Fuel Cost?

This is according to data collected from PECO, UGI and other natural gas providers around Pennsylvania. Fees vary depending on provider and should be a major consideration with natural gas that is not immediately clear in the advertised price. The price of natural gas is frankly, a bit misleading. The fees and surcharges are not accurately represented in the marketing materials provided.

A gas fireplace burning on high heat (40,000 BTUs) for one hour currently costs about $1.06 cents.
Cost of using a natural gas fireplace for the average of 4-5 hours daily is roughly $5 per day.
On average in PA, it is cold enough to enjoy a gas fireplace for about 186 days per year.
The average natural gas fireplace user will spend about $930 per year on fuel costs.

It is uncommon to see the average gas fireplace enjoyer burn their unit for 24 hours per day. (Yearly service for gas hearth appliances is highly recommended.) The only requirement is having access to natural gas (NG) (PECO Natural Gas Availability Map).

Natural Gas Fuel Price Resources for Pennsylvania Residents

PECO PRICES – Natural Gas for Pennsylvania residents
Breakdown of your natural gas bill by Pennsylvania’s Public Utility Commission
- Learn how to read your natural gas bill with the image above!

Learn more about how to get natural gas for your home:

What would it cost for YOU to get a Natural Gas line at your home?

Natural gas companies/ suppliers

Heating Fuel Prices Getting Hotter This Winter

Why should you buy a natural gas fireplace?

You need to make sure you have natural gas access with the PECO Natural Gas Availability Map. Natural gas is a wonderful fuel to keep you and your family warm with an insert, stove, linear design or more. You can save money by turning down your home’s heat and running your gas fireplace where you live. Do not waste money heating where you sleep.

Gas is easy to turn on and shut off. This keeps your heating fuel consumption to a minimum in the winter compared to an oil boiler or heat pump using electricity heating your whole home. The delivery charges are to be paid attention to as time passes.

Learn more about gas fireplaces:

Fireplace Fuel | Propane Gas (LP)

Average fuel cost: $1.33 per hour or $1200 per season average

What is the current average cost of propane in Pennsylvania?

$2.94 per gallon (as of 1/6/2026)

A propane gas fireplace burns on high for 2.2 hours per gallon. Propane gas fireplace users enjoy their appliance for 4-6 hours per day. They consume an average of 2 gallons of propane per day to enjoy the over 30,000 BTUs provided by their propane gas fireplace for those 4-6 hours.

LP Propane Gas fireplace burned on high heat (40,000 BTUs) for an average 4 hours per day costs about $5.50.
In Pennsylvania, it is cold enough to turn on a gas fireplace for about 186 days per year.
A propane gas fireplace user will spend about $1200 per year on propane fuel to heat their home.

Every fuel type serves a different need. Propane gas (LP) is wonderful if you want to hit a button and have an instant flame. It is also available to everyone as long as they have a propane fuel tank.

Propane gas fireplaces, stoves and inserts are great for people who want to use their fireplace for 3-5 hours per day with very little friction. Propane is a good option for people that do not have access to Natural Gas. The only requirement is having a propane tank.

What size propane tank do you need for a gas fireplace?

Usually we see folks get two 100 lbs. tanks or bury a 320 lbs. tank to power their home’s propane needs.

Learn more >> What does it cost to get a new propane tank installation?

Learn more about Propane Fuel Cost in Pennsylvania

What is a British Thermal Unit?

How does a BTU impact my fuel costs?

1 gallon of propane contains 91,500 BTUs.
A 40,000 BTU propane gas fireplace insert burns 40,000 BTUs per hour.
1 gallon of propane gets you 2.2 hours of burn time.
Most homes run their propane gas fireplace insert for 3-5 hours per day.

Fireplace Fuel | Pellet

Average fuel cost: $.34 per hour or $1488 per season average

On average in PA, it is cold enough to turn on a pellet stove or pellet fireplace insert for about 186 days per year.
Let’s overestimate and say average usage is 1 bag of pellets per day = $8.
On average, the pellet stove user will burn 186 bags of pellets per year.
This translates to just under four tons of pellets for an average cost of $1488/ year.

What does it cost to burn a pellet stove or pellet fireplace insert yearly?

How many pounds of wood pellet fuel are in a bag?
- 1 bag of pellets = 40lbs
How many bags of wood pellet fuel are in a palletized ton?
- 50 bags of pellets = 1 ton
How much does one bag of quality hardwood pellets cost at The Stove Shop
- $9/bag or $400/ton
How many tons does the average pellet stove user burn yearly?
- 2-4 tons per 186 day burn season.
  - Heavily dependent on your usage and fuel demands. Some folks run these units 24/7 throughout the winter.
  - We find 1 bag per day is our average usage on the coldest of days. That 1 bag will output heat all day and warm the space to a toasty 70+ degrees with ease.

How many hours do most folks use their pellet stove for each day?

Overall burn time for pellet stove and pellet fireplace insert users is much higher than gas. Pellet stoves and pellet fireplace inserts are excellent options for folks who want to run their alternative heating appliance all of the time, even when no one is home to tend the fire.

The average pellet stove user burns their unit for 12 – 18 hours per day. Common rule of thumb: a bag of pellets lasts about 24 hours (although this is heavily dependent on your heat settings).

Who should buy a pellet stove or pellet fireplace insert?

Every fuel type serves a different need. Pellet, gas and wood all have good and bad.

Pros: Pellets are wonderful if you want constant heat, even when you are not home. They are like a small furnace, typically less visually appealing than a gas or wood unit. Pellet stoves and fireplace inserts are great for people who want to use their unit all day with very little friction. Pellet stoves can be set on a schedule and are a tremendous ally throughout the winter. Families everywhere love their basement pellet stoves.

Cons: You need a place to store your bags of pellets and the strength to pick up a 40 pound bag and pour it into the pellet stove. Regular cleaning and maintenance is needed. Pellet stoves & inserts require more maintenance than both gas or wood due to the buildup of ash near electronic components and high heat. (We recommend a Cougar Ash Vac.)

Learn more about pellet stoves and pellet fireplace inserts:

Fireplace Fuel | Wood

Average fuel cost: $.60 per hour or $900 per season average

How much wood do most wood stove users burn yearly and what do they spend?

A cord of wood costs on average $300/cord and has 550-650 pieces of 16 inch firewood.
- How Many Pieces of Firewood are in a Cord?
- How to Best Store Firewood for Winter?
- Vendor and location has been found to impact firewood quality.
  - Where to Buy Firewood for my Wood Stove in Chester County, PA?
A piece of wood costs roughly $.50 per piece of wood.
Wood burners use their wood stove or wood insert for an average of 8 hours per day.
Burn season is 186 days with an average of 1488 burn hours per year for wood stove and wood fireplace insert users.
Wood stove users (on average) should expect to buy 2-4 cords of wood per year.
- Usage varies widely between users and their commitment to wood burning.
Wood stove users spend about $600 – $1200 per year on firewood.

Who should buy a wood stove or wood fireplace insert?

Wood is reliable. It just works!

If you want consistent heat, even when the world ends, wood works. As long a you burn seasoned wood you are good to go. Wood keeps fire simple and only requires chimney sweeping for maintenance. Wood burning is for people who have the time and space to tend to a fire. You need to add logs manually and manage the burn, unlike with both gas and pellet.

Wood offers a unique type of special heat that evokes nostalgia. There is nothing quite like a wood fire. Wood is great if you have oil heat and need a way to heat where you live during the cold months (zone heating). It can help families save big money during the winter and ensures that you will always have a heat source, even when the power goes out.

It is important to understand how the EPA forces manufacturers to test their stoves using crib wood instead of cord wood in order to get the most out of your personal stove in your home’s unique conditions.

Learn more about wood burning:

Energy Cost | Electric

Average fuel cost: $.39 per hour or $580 per season average

How much power does an electric fireplace use?

750 watts – 1500 watts per hour depending on if your appliance is 120 volts or 240 volts. The most heat an electric fireplace can provide is either 5,000 or 10,000 BTUs. The nicest electric fireplaces use 1500 watts hourly and cost about .39 cents per hour.

How often do most homeowners use their electric fireplace?

We find that electric fireplaces are so easy to set and forget that they can become nearly permanent fixtures in a home during the winter. Many folks prefer to turn off all the power hungry appliances at night. Electric fireplaces are all about the ambiance meaning that they need to be ON to create their true impact. The heat is a secondary benefit of electric fireplaces for most folks. We see an average usage for most electric fireplaces of 8 hours per day.

What does it cost to run my electric fireplace?

$.39 x hours you have it on is a straightforward calculation for all electric appliances.
An average usage of 8 hours across 186 days of burn season.
1488 hours of total burn time for an electric fireplace.
$580.32 per burn season to run your electric fireplace.
- If you run your electric fireplace 24/7 all year it costs $3416.

How do I read my electricity bill?

You would think that you pay for the electricity you use, but you also pay to maintain the system in order to have electricity. This distribution charge accounts for nearly half of your overall electricity bill.

Supply charges
- Per kilowatt-hour (kwh) used currently $.11 (as of December 1, 2025)
Distribution charges
- $.096 per kilowatt-hour (kWh)

Learn more about your electricity bill:

Energy Cost | Oil

Average fuel cost: $.42 /hour or $3644 /year average

Why do homeowners use oil to heat their homes?

Oil is the primary home heating option for many homeowners in Pennsylvania. Heating oil is used in many homes as a primary heat source via boilers and furnaces. If you have radiators in your older home, there is a high chance you have oil.

Why would someone burn wood, pellet or gas instead of oil to heat their home?

Using Oil as your only source of heat in the winter is an expensive heating option because it runs all day. Radiators located all around your home don’t heat a specific space comfortably. (You can’t turn the heat up in one specific room in your home, causing some rooms to get too hot or too cold.)

Experienced fireplace and stove guys like to say, “heat where you live.” Do not waste money heating rooms that you do not spend any time in throughout the day. A wood stove for example creates tremendous, impactful heating in your primary living space. A pellet stove can take the chill off in a garage or basement. Gas inserts can be turned on with the touch of a button and create heat for a few hours while you watch TV at the end of the day.

Reducing oil usage and heating a specific zone in your home saves money by using less oil. Now you only need to heat one or two rooms, rather than your entire home! Oil burns all year and is required for elements of your home to run, it will be used up primarily for heating water. The goal here is to reduce overall heating oil usage as much as possible.

What does residential heating oil cost right now in Pennsylvania?

As of January 2026 residential heating oil costs $3.35 per gallon. (Residential Heating Oil Prices)
Typically, homes have oil tanks that are either 220 gallons or 440 gallons.
It costs $1474 to fill 440 gallons.
Most homeowners on average will refill their 440 gallon oil tanks two and a half times per year totaling $3685.
Oil costs the average homeowner roughly $0.42 per hour on average throughout the year.
Save up to $800 per year with a wood stove in your living room! Heat with wood instead of oil to stay warm and save money.

What do you know about using wood to save money on heating oil?

From the author and owner of The Stove Shop in Phoenixville, PA: “As a person who still uses primarily heating oil in my historic Pennsylvania farm home, I have lots of experience paying the oil company. We have baseboard heat powered by an oil burner. The oil burner also acts as a boiler and provides my home with hot water. We use a lot of oil and filling up with 440 gallons of oil empties my bank account at least twice a year. My goal is to reduce oil usage as much as possible.

Zone heating with a wood stove in my living room allows for me to turn down my thermostat in the home. My wood stove decreases my oil usage significantly. We feel the impact most on cold-ish days when we don’t want to turn on the heat in months like October, November, March and April. Those early fall and spring months can be expensive with baseboard heat and a wood stove’s direct heat takes off some serious chill.”

Happy Heating!

– Patrick

Which fireplace fuel type is the best for my home?

Every fuel type serves a different need. Here are some things to consider when choosing the best fuel type for your fireplace or stove in Pennsylvania.

Gas Fireplaces or Gas Stoves

Natural gas & propane fuel are wonderful if you want to hit a button and have an instant flame. Gas fireplaces, stoves and inserts are the perfect solution for families who want to use their fireplace for 3-6 hours per day with very little inconvenience.

Pellet Fireplace Inserts or Pellet Stoves

Pellet is good for very cold spaces that need constant heat without needing to be babysat. The flame is not as beautiful, but the heat from a pellet stove fireplace insert is eye watering. The Harman Accentra52i and Absolute63 can reach upwards of 60,000 BTU’s!

Wood Fireplace Inserts or Wood Stoves

Wood fuel provides a beautiful flame and quality heat that is best for folks who can tend the fire every few hours. If you have wood available and a place to store it with the time to load it into your wood fireplace or wood stove then this is the best solution. Wood tends to be a young man’s game for most folks considering the additional work involved with storing and managing wood fuel.

Electric Fireplaces or Electric Inserts

Electric provides ambient warmth for any budget or home project. The convenience and ease of installation makes this fuel type very appealing for many folks without access to traditional wood, gas or pellet fuels. Electric fireplaces are wonderful for apartments and new construction homes that want a fireplace without the high cost of a direct vent gas fireplace.