An electric fireplace is two things in one box: an LED flame and a small space heater. Most of the price difference sits in the flame and the cabinet, not in the heater. Here is what to check, in the order that saves you the most trouble.
1. Pick the type first
- Wall-mount or recessed: a long, thin unit that hangs on the wall or sits in it. Most are 3.5 to 5.5 in deep. Good for a modern living room or a bedroom.
- Insert: a box that slides into an existing firebox. Measure the opening (width, height and depth) before anything else.
- Log set: glowing logs that sit in an open masonry fireplace, often with a heater in the grate.
- Freestanding stove: a small cast-look stove on legs. Plug it in anywhere.
- TV stand or mantel: furniture with a fireplace built in. The fireplace part is often only 18 to 26 in wide, even on a 70 in stand.
2. Measure the wall or the opening
For a wall unit, leave at least a few inches on each side and keep the TV at least 12 in above it (check the manual, some ask for more). For an insert, the box has to fit the opening with room for the trim to cover the gap.
3. Heat: 1,500 W is the ceiling
Almost every plug-in fireplace has a 1,500 W heater, about 5,100 BTU. That warms a room of roughly 150 to 400 sq ft as extra heat. When a listing says "heats 1,000 sq ft", it uses the same 1,500 W heater as the one that says 400. Read our guide on running costs.
4. A thermostat beats a bigger number
A thermostat switches the heater off when the room reaches your setting. Without one, the heater runs until you turn it off. If you want to heat with it, buy one with a thermostat.
5. Flame-only mode
Most units run the flames without heat. Then it uses only a few dozen watts and you can run it in July. Check the listing says so.
6. Controls
A remote is standard. A phone app or voice control is nice if the fireplace sits behind furniture or you want it on a schedule.
7. Safety and warranty
Look for a UL, ETL or CSA listing and an overheat cut-off. Plug the fireplace straight into the wall, never into an extension cord or power strip. And check the warranty: many budget models on Amazon list none.
Where to start
Our fireplace finder asks five questions and shows the three that fit best. Or browse by type in categories.
