The 6 Best Electric Fireplaces, Tested by BHG

Overall, the best electric fireplace is this compact choice from Costway. The unit looks like a much heavier iron fireplace, but you can easily move this unit wherever you want the glow of warmth in your space. During testing, we found it was easy to set it up as all that was needed was a screwdriver to attach the legs.

The CSA-certified unit is cool to the touch, so you can even use the top as a surface for decor. It’s got an overheat protection feature for safety and is sturdy enough to stay in place even when bumped. The unit is small but it did put out a lot of heat during testing. However, we didn’t detect much of a change between the temperature settings. 

The flames move and have give off a nice orange glow without being too bright and fake. There's a three-sided view, so you can see the flames “dancing” from multiple directions. Want ambiance without the heat? You can turn on the flame effect independently from the heating element, making it a great value for year-round use.

We used this fireplace several times a week for six months, and the heat output was consistent from the first use. It's very durable yet lightweight, so it's easy to move from room to room.

Product Details: Dimensions: 20 x 11 x 23 in. | Area Heated: Not listed | Total BTU: 4,777 BTU | Temperature Range: 68-95°F

This insert-style electric fireplace offers a contemporary vibe with a sleek profile that only sticks out about five inches from the wall. Installing it was simple but required a drill, tape measure, level, and two people—one to hold the unit and one to mount it to the wall. Removing the glass in order to insert the crystals while also trying to avoid leaving handprints was the trickiest part of the process. 

We've been testing this fireplace for about three months, and it's helped to warm up a chilly bedroom in the back of our house. It has excellent warming power that hasn't decreased with consistent use.

The unit warmed our 200 sq. ft. room on low in less than 10 minutes, so it works quickly. The room got noticeably warmer on the higher setting, though not uncomfortably so. The heat settings were both quieter than a typical space heater. When using the flame only mode, we noticed a slight noise, but it didn’t interfere with watching TV or daily activities. 

While controls are located directly on the unit, they’re hard to see because they aren’t lit. The remote is more convenient to use and lets you choose from five flame speeds, 12 colors for each of the two flames, and a dimming option to create customized looks. We would have preferred an automatic shut-off feature, but it does include a timer that offers some peace of mind. 

Product Details: Dimensions: 50 x 18.11 x 3.86 in. | Area Heated: Up to 400 sq. ft. | Total BTU: Not listed | Temperature Range: Not listed

The Real Flame Silverton Electric Fireplace takes about an hour for two people to assemble, but the extra features make it worth the effort. We've been using it for six months in our primary bedroom, and it still works like new. During the warmer weather, we love turning on the flames without the heat for a relaxing ambiance.

There are seven heat settings, ranging from 72-99°F, plus 15 timer settings—from 15 minutes to nine hours—so you can create a cozy vibe for long or short intervals. It also has an auto-shutoff function once you reach your desired temperature. During testing, we were impressed by how quickly it warmed our space. After six months of testing, the fireplace still looks and functions like new.

The design has the look of a traditional fireplace and operates via remote control. The remote control works from up to 25 feet away, making it easy to adjust the warmth and ambiance from a distance. You can also use the touchscreen panel to shuffle through the settings to find what works for your space.

While this is one of the pricier models on our list, we think its effectiveness and high-end look justify the cost. True to the Real Flame name, the flames look realistic and also have their own settings to adjust the color, brightness, and intensity. There's only one speed for the heat blower, but we found it very quiet.

Product Details: Dimensions: 41 x 48 x 8.75 in. | Area Heated: 1,000 sq. ft. | Total BTU: 4,780 BTU | Temperature Range: 72-99°F

A natural wood mantel helps ensure this 5100 BTU Real Flame fireplace looks like the real deal. The mantel is spacious enough to decorate with trinkets, books, or Christmas stockings. It has an impressive heat output up to 1000 feet and a beautiful flame display in six colors. 

During testing, we felt the heat in all corners of the room, and even in the adjacent rooms of our house. We found it convenient to use—settings are controlled via a remote and a touch screen on the fireplace. The remote works up to 15 or 20 feet away. 

It is also CSA certified and FCC-compliant, with two anti-topple safety devices and an automatic shutoff that made us feel safe putting it to use in our home. However, the fireplace is really heavy, so you can’t move it around even though it’s freestanding. 

While this is the best electric fireplace for an inviting ambiance, it doesn’t come with any audible crackle effects, which we would have loved for even more realism, and the mantel can’t hold more than 30 pounds, so it’s best not to put a TV on it.   

Product Details: Dimensions: 49.25 x 13.25 x 40.75 in. | Area Heated: Up to 1000 ft. | Total Btu: 5100 | Temperature Range: 71℉ to 99℉

We were impressed with this 5,100 BTU freestanding fireplace, and it’s another excellent choice if you’re looking for a traditional mantel to hold decor or keep everyday necessities handy. It gives you the option of heat and flame or flame only, all wrapped up in an appealing farmhouse style. 

Assembly took 1.5 hours and was fairly straightforward, though the firebox manual was a bit more challenging as it required drilling holes. Once set up, we loved the look and sturdiness of the fireplace and found the remote intuitive to use for controlling temperature, flame color, brightness, and the timer. 

The six preset temps range between 71 to 99°F in four-degree intervals. We would have liked the option to choose any temperature, but the fireplace nicely warmed a 500 sq. ft. room without overheating it. 

This model comes with anti-tip hardware as well as an automatic shut-off for added safety. We used this fireplace several times a week for about three months and didn't notice any changes in the heat output. Overall, we thought the features and quality of this stylish (and quiet) electric fireplace earned it a place on our list. 

Product Details: Dimensions: 49 x 38 x 11.75 in. | Area Heated: Up to 1,000 sq. ft. | Total BTU: 5,100 BTU | Temperature Range: 71-99°F

If you’d like to use your electric fireplace to display a television, this Mainstay option is wide enough to hold a flat-screen. Since it doubles as an entertainment center and storage option, with shelved cabinets on either side, it serves a variety of functions.

The fireplace is no-frills, with only one heat setting and no remote control or timer settings. We were impressed by the unit’s design, especially for the price—the top piece is solid wood, which makes it look a bit more premium, though the rest is particle board.

It adequately warmed the area near the heater, but wasn’t powerful enough to heat our entire open plan kitchen and living room. With a listed heating range of 400 square feet, that’s to be expected. The heater automatically shuts off after three minutes once it reaches 99°F.

We tested this fireplace for four months and used it almost every night, and we didn't notice any wear or tear at the end of testing. We liked not worrying about forgetting to turn it off, though we would have liked a timer option for better control. While the instructions were straightforward, it took us several hours to install. We thought the flames and logs looked obviously fake, but it still created a nice ambiance in the room.

Product Details: Dimensions: 50 x 15.5 x 30 in. | Area Heated: 400 sq. ft. | Total Btu: 5,200 BTU | Temperature Range: Up to 99℉