Electric Fireplaces

An electric fireplace is the most flexible way to add the warmth, glow, and presence of a fire to any room, in any home, with no chimney, no gas line, and no permit required.

Electric fireplaces produce supplemental heat through a quiet resistive element while LED flame technology creates the visual effect of a real fire. Most plug into a standard 120 volt outlet for ambiance only operation, with optional hardwired 240 volt installation when you want to use the unit as a primary heat source. Every electric fireplace at Fireplace Insider ships free nationwide with white glove delivery and is backed by our price match guarantee.

We carry the full range of electric formats from premium manufacturers like Dimplex, Amantii, Modern Flames, SimpliFire, British Fires, and Napoleon. That includes linear wall mount and recessed models, drop in inserts for converting an existing fireplace, freestanding stoves, traditional built in fireboxes, and water vapor fireplaces with three dimensional steam flames.

20 plus years in the hearth industry Factory authorized dealer NFI certified specialists 250 plus electric models in stock

How to Choose the Right Electric Fireplace

Six factors that separate a fireplace you love from one that disappoints.

Pick the installation format that fits your space

Wall mount and linear models hang flat on a wall or recess into a framed opening for a clean architectural look. Inserts drop into an existing fireplace opening to upgrade a wood or gas firebox without major construction. Stoves are freestanding units that move anywhere with an outlet. Built in fireboxes integrate into custom millwork or a TV wall for a fully finished installation. Choose the format first, then narrow by size.

Match width to your wall, not your room

A common mistake is sizing the unit to heat a room. Electric fireplaces are not primary heaters in most layouts, so width should be driven by the wall or alcove. As a visual rule, the fireplace should occupy 50 to 65 percent of the wall section it sits on, or be sized to match a TV mounted above it. Linear models range from 36 to 100 plus inches.

Decide whether heat matters

Most electric fireplaces produce 4,000 to 5,000 BTU on a standard 120 volt plug, enough to take the chill off a 400 square foot room. A few premium models support 240 volt hardwire installation for 9,000 BTU and true zone heating. If you want a real heat source rather than ambiance, confirm the unit ships with a 240 volt option before ordering.

Evaluate the flame technology

Three flame technologies dominate the market. Traditional LED uses backlit panels with rotating mirrors for a flickering effect, the most affordable option. Multi color LED adds ember beds, log glow, and adjustable flame color. Water vapor generates ultrasonic mist illuminated by LEDs to produce a three dimensional flame that looks remarkably real and produces no heat. Premium models from Modern Flames and Amantii sit at the top of the LED tier.

Plan the wiring before you buy

Plug in units (120 volt) need an outlet within reach of the supplied cord, typically 6 feet. For a clean wall mount installation with no visible cord, plan a recessed outlet behind the unit during framing. Hardwired models (240 volt) require a dedicated circuit run by a licensed electrician and a junction box behind the unit. Confirm wiring requirements on the product spec sheet before purchase.

Think about controls and smart home integration

Entry level units include a basic remote. Mid tier models add wall switch compatibility and adjustable flame color. Premium units from Dimplex, Modern Flames, and Amantii include WiFi connectivity, app control, voice control through Alexa or Google Home, and programmable thermostats. If the fireplace will live in a primary room you use daily, the upgrade to smart controls pays off.

Electric Fireplace Questions

The questions our hearth specialists answer most often before a customer places an order.

What is the downside of an electric fireplace?

Three honest considerations. First, the heat output is limited. A standard 120 volt plug in unit produces around 4,000 to 5,000 BTU, enough to feel warm in a small space but not enough to heat a great room on a cold night. Second, even the best LED flames are not identical to a real fire on close inspection. Water vapor models close that gap significantly but cost more. Third, the unit depends on a power source and stops working during an outage, unlike a gas fireplace with battery backup or a wood fireplace.

How much will my electric bill go up with an electric fireplace?

On flame only mode (no heat), electric fireplaces use about 100 watts, roughly the same as a few LED light bulbs. Running 8 hours a day at $0.16 per kilowatt hour costs about $4 per month. With heat on at the 1,500 watt maximum, the same 8 hours costs about $58 per month. Most owners run heat only when occupying the room, so real world cost lands between those two figures.

Can an electric fireplace heat 1,000 square feet?

A standard 120 volt electric fireplace (4,000 to 5,000 BTU) can heat up to 400 square feet of an average insulated room as supplemental heat. To cover 1,000 square feet you need either a 240 volt hardwired model producing 9,000 BTU or two units. Even then, electric fireplaces work best as supplemental heat in a single room, not as a whole house heating solution.

Who makes the most realistic electric fireplace?

Three brands consistently lead on flame realism. Dimplex pioneered the Opti-myst and Opti-V technologies that use water vapor or holographic projection for genuinely three dimensional flames. Amantii Symmetry and Tru-View series produce industry leading LED flame quality at a competitive price. Modern Flames Orion series uses a multi layered display to project flames forward and feature multi color ember beds. Water vapor models from Dimplex are the closest visual match to a real wood fire.

Do electric fireplaces add value to a home?

Yes, when installed as a built in. A flush mounted linear electric fireplace integrated into a great room wall is treated by appraisers and buyers as a real fireplace and typically returns 60 to 80 percent of the install cost at resale, similar to a gas insert. Freestanding plug in stoves are personal property rather than a fixed improvement, so they do not add appraised value but still help with buyer perception during showings.

FI

Curated by the Fireplace Insider hearth team

Fireplace Insider is operated by hearth specialists with more than two decades of fireplace installation experience and thousands of completed projects. Every product in this category has been vetted by an NFI certified specialist for fit, wiring requirements, and real world flame quality.

Talk to a hearth specialist