6 Best Electric Fireplaces (2023 Guide)

The inviting aura of an electric fireplace can make any house feel like a home. While traditional fireplaces require maintenance and constant attention, an electric fireplace takes the chill out of the air without the work or smell.

To help you find a fireplace that fits your home, we’ve researched online models and created this guide to the six best electric fireplaces.

Top 6 Electric Fireplaces

• Best Overall: R.W.FLAME Fireplace
• Best Fireplace Insert: PuraFlame Klaus Insert
• Best Large Fireplace: Touchstone Onyx
• Best Fireplace Console: Ameriwood Home Chicago
• Best Electric Stove: Duraflame 3D Infrared Stove
• Best Open Fireplace: TURBRO Eternal Flame Logs

Best Electric Fireplace Overall

Pros and Cons

✔ Contains an automatic heat kill switch to avoid overheating
✔ Heats rooms that are up to 400 square feet
✔ Offers several settings, including five flame speeds and 12 flame colors

✘ Makes a dull grinding noise during operation, according to some customers
✘Is not the most realistic electric fireplace

What Customers Are Saying

We found that customers who were happy with this product said that it was easy to install and operate and had an elegant design. However, some unhappy customers claimed that it arrived damaged from the manufacturer. Others said that it had a lower heat output than they expected.

Best Fireplace Insert

Pros and Cons

✔ Has lifelike resin logs
✔ Comes with a glass door and mesh screen to keep you protected from direct heat
✔ Compatible with its included remote control

✘ Takes longer to install with its inserted design
✘ Can’t be moved from room to room

What Customers Are Saying

Customers who liked this fireplace said it was bright, easy to control, and simple to install. However, we also encountered some unsatisfied customers who claimed that the heater stopped working after minimal use and that the thermostat was inconsistent.

Best Large Fireplace

Pros and Cons

✔ Has a glass door that stays cool to the touch
✔ Has flames that sit in your choice of included faux logs or crystals
✔ Has vents along the top to allow heat to escape

✘ Doesn’t produce realistic flames
✘ May be too large for smaller living rooms

What Customers Are Saying

When checking reviews for this product, we found that those who left positive reviews often liked that it had an easy assembly process, a sleek design, and a realistic-looking flame. However, customers who gave negative reviews said that it stopped working after a short period because of its poor design.

Best Fireplace Console

Pros and Cons

✔ Supports televisions that are up to 50 inches
✔ Contains a divided top shelf and two side cabinets
✔ Can support over 100 pounds

✘ Has customer complaints about difficult installation
✘ Takes up floor space

What Customers Are Saying

We saw that several customers said that this fireplace was made from durable material, had an elegant, modern design, and featured an effective heating element. However, we also noticed that some customers complained about the involved installation process and the lack of a remote.

Best Electric Stove

Pros and Cons

✔ Can open the door to roast marshmallows or cook other food
✔ Has an adjustable digital thermostat
✔ Produces 5,200 British Thermal Units of heat to warm spaces that are up to 1,000 square feet

✘ Has comments from users about little heat production
✘ Doesn’t give your cooked food a smoky flavor

What Customers Are Saying

We saw that several customers said that this electric fireplace was durable, had realistic flames, and heated large rooms. However, we also saw that some dissatisfied customers said that it died quickly and created a harsh burning smell.

Best Open Electric Fireplace

Pros and Cons

✔ Has adjustable flames with three brightness levels
✔ Comes with an adjustable thermostat and simplified control panel
✔ Includes built-in overheating protection

✘ Has a relatively short 6-foot power cord
✘ The remote control won’t work if you’re more than 13 feet away from the fireplace

What Customers Are Saying

Our team found that customers who left positive reviews of this openly designed electric log fireplace found it a handy addition to their existing TV stand or entertainment center. They also liked that the fireplace could be used right out of the box and stated that the heat output was satisfactory. On the other hand, we also noticed some users complained that the wood logs and flame effects didn’t look realistic.

Electric Fireplace Buying Guide

When selecting our top picks for electric fireplaces, we looked into five features—installation, flame settings, heat control, ease of use, and safety.

Fireplace Installation

While setting up electric fireplaces doesn’t typically require professional help, their ease of installation will depend on their type. For example, we learned that filling an existing fireplace area with an electric insert should be straightforward, but carving out space for a recessed mount might require extra planning.

To see the process of installing an electric fireplace in an unusual opening in the home, check out the video below.

Flame Settings

Electric fireplace settings include everything from flicker speed to flame brightness. Our team found that electric fireplaces typically have buttons on the base or a separate remote to control these settings. Some even offer both.

Heat Control

Electric fireplaces can be a more aesthetically pleasing way to provide supplemental heat than a space heater. A benefit of electric fireplaces is the ability to control the temperature and amount of heat produced. We found Some electric fireplaces offer two or three heat settings, while others provide an adjustable thermostat.

Ease of Use

Another significant benefit of using an electric fireplace is convenience. Rather than purchasing firewood and going to the trouble of building a fire, you should be able to flick a switch or press a button to turn your electric fireplace on or off. If ease of use is a priority to you, look for an electric fireplace model that can be plugged in directly out of the box with little to no setup.

Fireplace Safety

The nice part about owning an electric fireplace is that there’s no need to worry about dozing off in front of its flame. While this already makes it safer than wood- and gas fireplaces, we found that some models even have a timer that includes automatic shut off of the unit after a certain amount of time.

Types of Electric Fireplaces

Our research indicates that you can separate electric fireplaces into five distinct categories.

Stove

Freestanding or stove electric fireplaces are heaters with an old, rustic look. This type of fireplace is portable, so you can move it from room to room as needed. Plus, we like that you can open its doors and use its roomy interior to warm food.

Mantel

When you think of a fireplace, what typically comes to mind is likely a mantel model fueled by wood or propane. However, we found that many electric fireplaces mimic this style.

Corner

These electric fireplaces fit snugly into a corner to maximize space while still producing heat. Many corner fireplaces double as television stands.

Wall-Mounted

Wall-mounted fireplaces add a modern feel to your home. In our experience, this type of fireplace resembles a high-definition TV.

Insert

You install an electric fireplace insert within a recessed space, such as a fireplace TV stand. It starts working as soon as you plug it in.

Fire Safety Tips

Here are a few safety tips to consider when you’re operating an electric fireplace:

• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions during installation.
• Don’t use an extension cord or power strip to power your electric fireplace.
• Keep objects away from the intake fans and heaters.
• Keep children and pets away from an electric fireplace that’s hot to the touch.
• Keep electric fireplaces dry and indoors at all times.

Electric Fireplaces FAQ

How do electric fireplaces work?

There are two kinds of electric fireplaces: infrared and forced-fan. Infrared fireplaces send a beam of light that warms the surrounding area, while forced-fan fireplaces take in cool air, heat it with a coil, and push it back into the room. While the latter type is more effective, it’s also louder.

Are electric fireplaces safe?

Our research shows that electric fireplaces are significantly safer than traditional fireplaces because you don’t have to worry about burning yourself on real flames or breathing in ashes or fumes.

What are the disadvantages of an electric fireplace?

We found that the disadvantages of using an electric fireplace to heat your home include the unit’s potential limited heat output, lack of a natural firewood smell, energy consumption, and lack of charm or fulfillment compared to using a real-wood fireplace. However, the inherent safety features and the convenience of heating your home with the flick of a switch outweigh the disadvantages of using an electric fireplace.

Are electric fireplaces expensive to use?

In our experience, electric fireplaces are much more cost- and energy-efficient than gas-powered or wood-burning fireplaces. On average, they cost about 18 cents per hour to run. Many models have adjustable brightness and heat settings as well as a no-heat option to conserve even more energy.

How We Selected the Best Electric Fireplaces

To provide our readers with the best fireplace recommendations possible, we rely on several key sources of information to help guide our selection process.

Initial Research: Our research process began by generating a list of products with a significant number of verified-buyer reviews and an average customer review rating of 4–5 stars. We looked at positive and negative reviews alike, focusing on information from both satisfied and critical buyers. 

Expert Insights: Through our years of experience, we’ve learned that listening to what others have to say is critical to building accurate, well-rounded articles. To complement our in-house expertise, our team looked at reviews and videos from trusted publications and independent testers, spoke with subject matter experts, and drew insights from reader contributions.

Final Product Selection: We then began fine-tuning our list by replacing older models with the latest versions and eliminating any discontinued models. From there, we pared the list down further by comparing each model’s feature set and selecting the best-in-class options for various buyers, budgets, and scenarios.

Why You Can Trust Us

This Old House has empowered homeowners and DIY-ers for more than four decades with top-notch home improvement advice in the form of television programs, print media, and digital content. 

Our team focuses on creating in-depth product and service review content. To date, we’ve published over 1,600 reviews on products in the home improvement space, from ceiling fans and floor coating to doorbell cameras and garage door openers.

Once we conclude our research, we craft a comprehensive, user-friendly article of recommended products and additional information to help our readers make the right purchase.

Questions or Comments?

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