How much does it cost to run a bioethanol fireplace in NZ?
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Short answer: between about $1.70 and $6 an hour at full flame, depending on the burner. Here is how that is worked out, and how to bring it down.
The two numbers that matter
Running cost comes down to how much fuel the burner uses in an hour and what you pay for a litre.
- Fuel use. At full flame, EcoSmart's burners use from 0.31 litres an hour for the small AB3 to 1.1 litres an hour for the AB8. A bigger flame uses more.
- Fuel price. Our bioethanol is $110 for 20 litres (four 5 litre bottles, unscented), which is $5.50 a litre. That price is current as at October 2026 and does not include delivery.
Running cost by burner
| Burner | Holds | Fuel use at full flame | Cost per hour | With Fuel on Repeat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AB3 | 2.5 L | 0.31 L/h | $1.71 | $1.53 |
| XS340 | 2.5 L | 0.45 L/h | $2.48 | $2.23 |
| VB2 | 2 L | 0.5 L/h | $2.75 | $2.48 |
| XL500 | 5 L | 0.5 L/h | $2.75 | $2.48 |
| BK5 | 5 L | 0.64 L/h | $3.52 | $3.17 |
| XL700 | 7 L | 0.7 L/h | $3.85 | $3.47 |
| XL900 | 9 L | 0.8 L/h | $4.40 | $3.96 |
| XL1200 | 10 L | 0.87 L/h | $4.79 | $4.31 |
| AB8 | 8 L | 1.1 L/h | $6.05 | $5.45 |
Fuel use is EcoSmart's published maximum for each burner, so a lower flame costs less. Indoors the AB8 runs with its Efficiency Ring fitted, which EcoSmart rates at 0.7 litres an hour, or about $3.85. Other makers differ: the Cocoon burner uses about 0.3 litres an hour and the Iconic 900 about 0.6. Each product page names the burner in that fire.
What does an evening cost?
Take a fire with an XL900 burner running for three hours at full flame. It uses about 2.4 litres, which is $13.20 of fuel, or $11.88 on Fuel on Repeat. A 20 litre carton gives that burner about 25 hours of flame. A small AB3 fire uses under a litre over the same evening, about $5.
Four ways to spend less
- Put fuel on repeat. Fuel on Repeat delivers 20 litres every 1, 2 or 3 months at 10% off every delivery. You can skip or cancel any time.
- Turn the flame down. Many manual burners let you adjust the flame with the slide. A lower flame uses less fuel and stretches a fill further.
- Match the burner to the room. A burner that is too big for the space burns fuel you do not need. The Technical Specs page pairs burner size with room volume.
- Put it out when you leave. Close the burner when you are done for the night instead of letting the fill burn through.
How that compares
Bioethanol is not the cheapest way to heat a room. A heat pump costs less per hour to run. People choose a bioethanol fire for the real flame and for what it does not need: no flue, no gas connection and no gas fitter servicing it every year or so. If you are weighing it up against gas, read bioethanol or open-fronted gas.
Want a number for your room?
Tell us the room and how often you expect to use the fire, and we will tell you which burner suits and what it will cost to run. Call 0800 468 836 or see the range lit in our Takapuna showroom, open seven days.