banner
News center
A joint endeavor will lead to a successful outcome.

Best Electric Fireplaces 2023

Apr 13, 2023

The best electric fireplaces set the perfect ambiance during winters while adding extra warmth to your space. But before you buy one, you’ll want to consider a few factors, like your location for instance. "Are you in Fairbanks or in Tallahassee? You’re more likely to heat 1,000 square feet in Nashville because it's warmer. If you’re in Portland, Maine or Plattsburgh, New York, it takes a lot more to heat in that part of the country," says John Crouch, director of Public Affairs for the Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association. "The other thing people have to keep in mind is the age of their house," he adds. A home built in 1913 most likely uses more heat to feel warm than a house that was built last month.

sfsdf

Additional factors to consider? Electric fireplaces take several forms, so they can be freestanding, in the form of a stove or space heater, built into a wall or inserted into an existing fireplace. Some are just decorative and have no heating element, others are decorative and push out heat. How much heat they generate in a space will depend on the aforementioned factors and the BTU measurement of the unit you’re looking at. While several electric heaters provide around 5,000 BTUs per hour of heat output, Crouch says it's important to put a BTU measurement in context. "It's not uncommon to have a whole house furnace that is 100,000 to 200,000 BTUs," he explains.

Ahead, we scoured reviews and ratings to determine the best options on the market, fleshing out some of the key things to know about them. Our top pick is the Duraflame Electric Infrared Quartz Fireplace that has a classic look and works well for most homes, but there are a slew of options to suit every home. So whether you want to simply elevate your decor or raise the heat levels during the cooler months, scroll down for the best electric fireplaces to get the job done.

Amazon

Dimensions: 13.07 x 24 x 23.4 inches | Weight: 28.6 pounds | Assembly required: No

Easy-to-assemble, emits a good amount of heat, outstanding ambiance—these are just a few of the things reviewers love about the Duraflame Electric Infrared Fireplace. While the 3D flame effect technology creates realistic-looking flames behind a set of faux logs, with a remote you can choose one of five brightness settings to set the mood. For those who prefer soothing flames but no heat, set the fake embers to "burn" for the instant calm of a fire in warm weather where heat isn't needed. The 5,200 BTU heater—which has a metal body and aesthetically pleasing beveled glass doors—features infrared quartz heat which helps to maintain the natural humidity in your space. The unit also has an automatic shut off feature to prevent overheating.

Pros:

Cons:

Amazon

Dimensions: 5 x 48 x 19.5 inches | Weight: 41 pounds | Assembly required: Yes

There are three different ways to mount the remote-controlled Dimplex Sierra: build it into a wall, hang it on a wall or attach it to the table top stand it comes with. You also have three different sizes to choose from: 70-inch, 60-inch and 48-inch. Reviews report that it is easy to assemble (it takes 30 minutes, according to the manufacturer and several customers confirmed it). If you’re looking for a unique look, the Sierra has several options to choose from: crystals, logs or pebbles for the style of the ember bed. Use touch screen controls or the remote to choose between eight ember bed and flame colors. It also has a handy built-in timer.

Pros:

Cons:

Amazon

Dimensions: 10.75 x 7.88 x 14.13 inches | Weight: 5.33 pounds | Assembly required: No

The struggle is real when a guest comes to visit and they think their room is too cold or the chill in your home office keeps you from being productive. There are many potential scenarios where this Comfort Zone space heater can swoop in to provide quick heat. This nearly five pound unit is portable, lightweight, comes in two attractive colors and stows away easily. It has the look of a diminutive fireplace with a 3D flame. You can place it on the floor or on a desk where reviews say its fan-forced heating warms a small room well (it has two settings, 600 or 1200 watts). For added safety, it has a tip-over switch and an overheat protection sensor so that it automatically turns off if it overheats or falls over.

Pros:

Cons:

Amazon

Dimensions: 12.6 x 69.3 x 44.72 inches | Weight: 108 pounds | Assembly required: Yes

The best freestanding electric fireplace for many consumers is one that looks like the real deal. The Real Flame Centennial Grand Electric Fireplace brings authenticity to your space with a contemporary mantel, plus bookcases on either side to display your items (it's not strong enough to hold a TV). Receiving upwards of 4,000 glowing reviews on Amazon, shoppers love the unit but also have one major gripe: it is time consuming and difficult to assemble. The 26-inch fireplace—which is actually an insert surrounded by MDF and particleboard—has a flame effect created by long-lasting LED lights that can be put on with or without the heating element. It easily warms small rooms up to 400 square feet.

Pros:

Cons:

Amazon

Dimensions: 32 x 20 x 47.25 inches | Weight: 107 pounds | Assembly required: Yes

The unique shape of this corner unit makes it stand out and so does its versatility. It holds a 55-inch television set weighing up to 100 pounds and provides heat and ambiance. Customers like the way it looks and the fact that it includes storage for personal items inside the tempered glass doors. The drawbacks are that it requires assembly (some reported having a difficult time, others say it was easy) and that it doesn't have a remote control for convenient operation. Use the switch on the unit to turn on fire or a combo of heat and fire. With a max heat output of just 400 square feet it definitely won't warm large spaces, but both the shape and heating output capacity will work well for people with limited space.

Pros:

Cons:

Amazon

Dimensions: 5.5 x 49.75 x 19.25 inches | Weight: 55 pounds | Assembly required: No

If you’re a tech lover, you’ll feel right at home with this sleek in-wall recessed unit that has over 60 flame combinations, can be plugged into a standard plug or hard-wired into the electrics, and is compatible with Amazon's Alexa, who can be commanded to turn the LED fireplace on. Customers report that it's easy-to-install, has a realistic feel and is worth the hefty price, which hovers far above all the other electric fireplaces on this list. The contemporary-looking unit includes a faux fire log set, driftwood and crystals that create the illusion of a fire. On the technical side, the Sideline Elite's heat output is 5100 BTUs, warming about 400 square feet, so it's not going to warm large spaces. The thermostat has a low and high setting that ranges from 68 to 88 degrees.

Pros:

Cons:

Amazon

Dimensions: 8.78 x 35.04 x 26.99 inches | Weight: 46.74 pounds | Assembly required: No

Reviewers rave about the realistic appearance of the PuraFlame Western Electric Fireplace Insert. This easy-to-install unit brings the same look of the real thing but with none of the hassle of stoking or cleaning out ashes. Simply use the handles to place the insert, featuring faux burned logs resting on a grate, inside a wood burning fireplace and then plug it into a standard electrical outlet (it cannot be hard-wired into your electrics). It can also be used as a freestanding unit or mounted to a wall. This model has a remote control that easily adjusts the three flame settings, which vary in intensity and brightness. It can also be operated with or without heat, warming spaces 400 square feet or smaller. Adding to the authenticity is the three-sided interior brick wall, glass front trim and crackling sounds that it makes. Hide the cord and you’ll really create the illusion of a roaring fire.

Pros:

Cons:

Dimensions: Weight: Assembly required: Pros: Cons: Dimensions: Weight: Assembly required: Pros: Cons: Dimensions: Weight: Assembly required: Pros: Cons: Dimensions: Weight: Assembly required: Pros: Cons: Dimensions: Weight: Assembly required: Pros: Cons: Dimensions: Weight: Assembly required: Pros: Cons: Dimensions: Weight: Assembly required: Pros: Cons: