There's nothing quite as cozy as snuggling up with a warm drink and your favorite blanket next to a roaring fireplace — until you have to tend to the fire and clean up the ashes. The best electric fireplaces have all the homey benefits of a traditional fireplace, but without the annoying prep and clean-up. They're also customizable and adjustable, rivaling the best space heaters for ease of use and warmth.
We spoke to two experts — Robbi King, a former 20-year veteran firefighter and a director of manager solutions at Vector Solutions Inc., and Rick Morrison, vice president of home and commercial of the CSA group — to learn what features to look for in an electric fireplace. From there, we researched electric fireplaces across reputable retailers to assemble our recommendations. Our top pick is the Real Flame Tejon Freestanding Electric Fireplace, a beautiful mantel-style electric fireplace with impressive heating and extra customization. For a vintage look with powerful heating, we recommend the Duraflame Electric Stove, our best value electric fireplace.
Learn more about how Business Insider Reviews tests and researches home products.
Our top picks for the best electric fireplaces
Best overall: Real Flame Tejon Freestanding Electric Fireplace - See at Home Depot
Best value: Duraflame Electric Stove - See at Amazon
Best wall mount: Dimplex Sierra Built-in Linear Electric Fireplace - See at Home Depot
Best smart: Touchstone Smart Electric Fireplace - See at Amazon
Best mantel: Winston Porter Ceonna Electric Fireplace - See at Wayfair
Best TV stand: Ameriwood Electric Fireplace TV Stand - See at Amazon
Best log insert: Duraflame Electric Log Insert - See at Wayfair
Best overall
The Real Flame Freestanding Electric Fireplace is CSA and FCC-certified, with fully adjustable flame colors, brightness, and heat output.
What we like
What we don't like
With a gorgeous and stately design, the Real Flame Tejon Slim Freestanding Fireplace has impressive features that make it our top pick — including a mantel, adjustable flames, and multiple safety certifications. This freestanding fireplace blends perfectly into any living room and adds a warm accent to the home. You may almost mistake it for a real hearth, making it one of the best freestanding electric fireplaces you can find.
It's not just pretty, though — it's functional, too. This fireplace heats up to 1,000 square feet, though you can also enjoy the flames without the heat if you plan to use it in the warmer months as well. It can be set to temperatures ranging from 72 to 99 degrees Fahrenheit, and the heating automatically turns off once it reaches the set temperature.
There are five flame brightness levels and six flame colors, including orange, red-orange, white, blue, blue-white, and rainbow. The fireplace exterior is available in bone white and gray. The mantel only supports 30 pounds, and the manufacturer advises against placing a TV on top.
Assembly takes around an hour and requires basic tools like a screwdriver. Since it weighs 85 pounds and wall mounting is recommended, I suggest having someone to help you assemble it.
Best value
Duraflame’s Electric Stove is compact yet still heats up to 1,000 square feet. It has a classic, rustic stove look.
What we like
What we don't like
The Duraflame Electric Stove is a small fireplace but still heats up to 1,000 square feet, rivaling the power of much larger electric fireplaces on our list. It's also one of the most affordable and is backed by a trusted company in electric heating.
The flames look realistic, leaping from faux logs inside a firebox. The heat adjusts with a remote, and the flames can run without the heat being on. Assembly is easy and doable for one person — just attach the legs to the fireplace body and it's good to go.
While some might appreciate the stand-alone, vintage look, it could be a drawback for people on the hunt for something more modern. It doesn't blend in with home decor as well as wall-mounted or mantel electric fireplaces do. It comes in six finishes: black, bronze, red, gray, navy, and cream.
Best wall-mount
For a sleek wall-mount electric fireplace, the Dimplex Sierra Wall/Built-in Linear Fireplace is a great choice with interchangeable base options and multi-colored flame options.
What we like
What we don't like
Wall-mount electric fireplaces hang on the wall or fit into a recessed space for a built-in look. The Dimplex Sierra does all of this and more, with included feet to help it transition to a freestanding tabletop fireplace.
The design also reflects structural versatility. The heat is completely adjustable, down to the degree, via touchscreen controls or the included remote. The display can feature flames from logs, crystals, or pebbles, and you can adjust the color of both the bed and flames. It's available in 48-, 60-, and 72-inch lengths.
Even when heating, the glass front stays cool, and the flames are available without heat. Keep in mind that if you're going the built-in route, you'll need to contact a professional for installation.
Best smart
The Touchstone Sideline connects to an app and voice assistants to adjust heat output, brightness, and colors.
What we like
What we don't like
The Touchstone Sideline Smart Electric Fireplace connects to WiFi, so it can be controlled through a remote, accompanying app, or connected to voice assistants like Alexa or Google Echo. It's an extra convenience so you don't have to worry about losing the remote or getting up to adjust the controls.
The Touchstone Sideline is impressively customizable, boasting adjustable flame brightness, flame intensity, flame colors, ember colors, and log and crystal settings. It works as either a wall-mounted or recessed fireplace.
I'm also impressed with the range of sizes Touchstone offers. The width of the fireplace ranges from 36 to 100 inches, so you can match the fireplace with an existing recessed area in your home or build out your own ideal fit, from small-space friendly to a sweeping statement.
This isn't the most powerful electric fireplace on our list; it only heats around 400 square feet. Like our other wall-mount option, you'll need professional installation help if you plan to place it in a recessed area.
Best mantel
The Winston Porter Ceonna Electric Fireplace has a stone-and-wood look that looks gorgeous in any living room.
What we like
What we don't like
When you're looking for a traditional fireplace look, you can't skip the mantel. Fireplaces with a mantel are classic, perfect for showcasing your favorite pictures or trinkets. The Winston Porter Ceonna Electric Fireplace combines a beautiful design and a sturdy mantel, along with realistic flames and heating.
The highlight of this fireplace is its design. The firebox is surrounded by faux stone, then topped off with an MDF mantel. Impressively, this mantel can hold up to 80 pounds, and there's plenty of space for decor, pictures, or stockings. I'd advise against placing a TV on top, though.
There are no fancy color settings, but you can adjust the thermostat and brightness, or set up a timer with the provided remote. It heats up to 423 square feet. The Ceonna Electric Fireplace weighs over 100 pounds and requires tools for assembly, so two people are suggested for assembly.
Best TV stand
The Ameriwood Home Lumina 64.75-inch Freestanding Electric Fireplace TV Stand is the ultimate entertainment center. It's equipped with open glass shelves for storage and can support a flat-paneled TV of up to 70 inches and 120 pounds.
What we like
What we don't like
Fireplace TV stands combine the conveniences of a media console with a built-in fireplace, making it ideal for living rooms that don't have a fireplace already.The Ameriwood Home's Electric Fireplace TV Stand has a sleek, modern design with open glass shelving accentuated with LED lights to store game consoles or decor, a built-in fireplace in the center and enough strength to support a 70-inch TV up to 120 pounds.There are no doors, though, so all items will be on display. The MDF exterior is available in a variety of color options, ranging from natural walnut wood to deep black.
The fireplace can be used with or without heat. It has a fully adjustable thermostat, which can be set to 64 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit, and is controlled with the included remote. The flames aren't the most realistic-looking, and you can't customize the colors of the flames.
Best log insert
The Duraflame log insert fits into an existing fireplace cavity, with a realistic wood look and soothing crackling fire sounds.
What we like
What we don't like
When your home already has a fireplace but you don't want to deal with lugging around firewood, tending to the fire, and cleaning the chimney or its inoperable, log inserts give you the traditional fireplace look and heating without all of the work. Duraflame's log insert is realistic, powerful, and easy to install.
Just like real wood, Duraflame's faux logs glow, emit heat, and even crackle (you can adjust the volume with the included remote). It looks and sounds shockingly real, but you won't have to worry about clearing out ash or buying new logs.
It heats up to 1,000 square feet and has an adjustable thermostat that can be turned off as needed. It comes in three different sizes to best fit inside an existing fireplace. One drawback: Like all electric fireplaces, it needs to be plugged into an outlet, so you could have to deal with unsightly cords running from out of the fireplace, unless you work with an electrician to convert an inoperable fireplace into a functioning one.
What to look for in an electric fireplace
When shopping for an electric fireplace, experts recommend looking for the following:
Heat type
Electric fireplaces have two main forms of heating: forced fan and infrared quartz. Forced fan heaters blow out air that's been warmed by a heating element, similar to a space heater. Infrared fireplaces use light to heat up a space. Generally, forced fan heating is more powerful, but infrared is subtle and won't dry out a room.
Safety features
King recommends keeping an eye out for fireplaces with a Canadian Standards Association (CSA) certification.
According to Morrison, the CSA mark means a product has been tested and meets safety, performance, and energy efficiency requirements for the US and Canada. The certification process for electric fireplaces involves a testing and construction review to assess shock and potential mechanical and fire hazards, says Morrison. Other third-party safety certifications include Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and Société Générale de Surveillance (SGS). All options on our list have at least one safety certification.
Outside of official certifications, look for other features like auto-shutoff and tip-over protection. Auto-shutoff prevents an electric fireplace from overheating, while tip-over protection automatically turns off the electric fireplace if it senses it has fallen over.
Set up
Larger models — especially TV stands and mantels — can require significant assembly, requiring an extra person and tools. The smaller, simple models typically require less setup. Keep in mind that any built-in or recessed electric fireplaces require professional assembly.
Extra features
Our list of the best electric fireplaces includes models that offer a solid balance between cost and features. We selected options for different budgets and needs, from picks with multiple bells and whistles to simple, no-frills models.
The ability to use the flame and heat functions independently is a must, especially if you plan to use the unit year-round. Other features include color-changing flames and embers, adjustable flame brightness, and crackling sounds. Smart models are emerging too, that work with voice assistants and an app.
Electric fireplace FAQs
Do electric fireplaces use a lot of energy?
Yes. A unit will draw more energy with the heating function turned on, but most electric fireplaces use about 1,500 watts of power. This is similar to running some portable air conditioners.
Does an electric fireplace actually heat a room?
Yes. Most electric fireplaces also double as room heaters, usually capable of heating rooms between 400 to 1,000 square feet.
Can I leave my electric fireplace on all night?
Think of an electric fireplace as a space heater. You should always turn off a heater if you plan to leave it unattended for an extended period of time, says King. Even better, always shut it off whenever you leave a room. While most units have automatic shut-off mechanisms to prevent overheating, an electric fireplace can overheat if you leave it on all day, which can be a fire risk, he says.
King recommends the following safety precautions to prevent electric fireplace-related fires:
- Always be in the room to monitor the heating device.
- Avoid buying a unit secondhand.
- Ensure your home's electrical system is up to date and follows the latest safety protocols.
- Don't use extension cords, which can lead to overheating and fires.
- Read installation instructions carefully and leave breathing room for any vents.
Are electric fireplaces safe?
While there are many certifications and safety features that make electric fireplaces safe, always be sure to use them with caution to prevent burns or fires.
Do you need an electrician to install an electric fireplace?
If you're planning on installing an electric fireplace directly into your home, you'll need professional help. Many built-in fireplaces can also be wall-mounted and plugged into an outlet.
You can purchase logo and accolade licensing to this story here.
Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at reviews@jkmperu.com.
