The 6 Best Electric Fireplaces, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall

Duraflame 3D Infrared Electric Fireplace Stove

$300 $230 at Amazon $230 at Wayfair $300 at Target

We’ve tested dozens of space heaters in our lab, including 43 space heaters and 23 electric fireplaces, and the Duraflame Infrared Quartz Fireplace Stove continues to stand out for its compact, stylish design, quiet operation, and effective heat settings. After testing it three different times (initially at a home in Colorado, during our larger test of space heaters, and in our long-term testing at home for six months), we think it's the best option for almost any space.

We love that it requires no installation, very little assembly, and can be used with or without heat. Plus, it comes in a variety of finishes to suit your space, including bronze, cream, French gray, and classic black. While this is an infrared heater (it only heats the people and objects in the room, and not the entire room itself), we found that it heated us effectively in all settings while testing.

The heat and flame functions are independent of one another, so you can enjoy the ambiance when you don’t need the heat. We also loved that you can adjust the brightness of the flames, thanks to the five different brightness settings, to customize the look (although you can't change the color).

We also appreciate all of the safety features this UL-tested unit offers, including overheating protection on the plug, and a programmable automatic shutoff timer. The timer allows the electric fireplace to operate for a 30-minute session or up to nine hours before turning the unit off.

While testing the heat settings, we noticed that the top and sides of the heater did not get hot. However, the front grill is under the firebox and exposed, and does get hot, so keep that in mind when considering placement. 

_{Dimensions: 13.07 x 24 x 23.4 inches | Mount Type: Freestanding | Heat Output: 5,200 Btu}

Best TV Stand

Walker Edison Fireplace TV Stand

$373 at Amazon $228 at Walmart $410 at Home Depot

The Walker Edison Fireplace TV Stand is the perfect solution for smaller rooms, combining storage space, a TV stand, and an electric heater into one relatively compact footprint. The top can accommodate up to a 65-inch TV. And since this is a freestanding unit, after assembly, you simply have to plug it in.

While it took us over two and a half hours to assemble this unit in our lab (tricky instructions and over 20 steps!), we were impressed by the results. The finished product is sturdy and stylish, with two glass cabinets (one on either side of the firebox) and open storage shelves above.

We also appreciate the heat output. While testing the heating function in our lab, we found that this heater kept us feeling warmer than our readings showed. We could feel the heat strongly from 3 feet and even up to 7 feet away.

The controls on the fireplace are simple to use with two settings: an on/off switch for the heat and a similar switch for the multicolored flames. This is a great feature in summer, when you may want the cozy ambiance of the fireplace but do not need the heat.

We used this fireplace TV stand for over six months in a basement both with and without the heat. We were incredibly impressed with the coziness and warmth it provided, transforming the room into a functional and inviting living space. It heated our long and narrow basement effectively, and we appreciated all of the storage it provided.

We wish this unit came with a remote (for instance, if you wanted to turn the heat off while watching TV), but overall, we were impressed with both the look and function of this piece.

_{Dimensions: 32 x 15.75 x 58 | Mount Type: Freestanding | Heat Output: 4,600 Btu}

Best Wall Mount

Touchstone 80026 Electric Fireplace

$199 at Amazon

The Touchstone Stainless Electric Fireplace is the best option if you want to add an electric fireplace to your room, but you don’t have enough floor space or the budget for a recessed or built-in installation. We hung one in our basement and enjoyed the coziness on cooler fall nights.

This fireplace features a modern stainless steel frame. It looked great in our basement, but we think the clean, sleek aesthetic would go well in a big kitchen with stainless steel appliances too. Or if stainless isn’t your thing, it’s also available in a mirror finish.

The stainless steel frames a tempered glass panel that holds in your choice of logs or crystals. We chose the logs, which look pretty fake at first, but that wasn’t as noticeable once we turned on the flame effect. We appreciate that we were able to choose between heat and flame or just flame, since the realistic flame effect sets a nice ambiance even when heat isn’t needed.

The heat output of this fireplace isn’t a replacement for other heat sources (at least not in a cold climate). We definitely felt the room get warmer after several hours of use, but we were also able to stand right in front of it without feeling overly hot. An audible fan blows heat upward from behind the stainless steel frame, but it wasn’t too noisy.

We like that there are two options for changing the settings: the control panel on the side of the heater and a remote control. The timer options and other settings are clearly displayed on the side of the unit, but the options on the remote took more time to figure out. Still, we found it nice to have the ability to control the unit from our couch.

This wall-mounted fireplace took a fair amount of work to install, but we love how straightforward and easy it was. It took two people due to how big the fireplace is, but it wasn’t difficult to figure out despite fairly simplistic instructions. We do recommend giving some serious thought between the logs and crystals when installing though, since you’ll need two people to take the glass off if you want to switch later on.

_{Dimensions: 5.5 x 50.4 x 21.65 inches | Mount Type: Wall | Heat Output: 5,100 Btu}

Best Value

R.W.Flame Electric Fireplace Heater

$231 at Wayfair

We tested the R.W. Flame Electric Fireplace Heater in a living room with a brick column that looked like the perfect place for a wood stove and it fit in perfectly. We loved the realistic details, like the glass door with a metal handle, and viewing windows as well on the side. Over several months, it's added both warmth and ambiance to our space, and we use it daily.

With a heat output that’s just a little less than our overall best recommendation (also a stove-style heater) and a price that’s typically about $100 less, we think this is a solid alternative.

The flame effects aren’t as realistic as our overall best recommendation (especially with the option to set colors like purple and green), but we had a lot of fun trying out the different options and think that it’s great for setting a mood—standard flames for a cozy ambiance, or maybe green for a Halloween party?

The heat output isn’t high enough to heat up the whole room, but it does put out serious warmth in a radius of about 5 feet. We first started testing in November when it was still warm enough out that we weren’t using our central heat, so we found it very comfortable to sit in front of on some of the chillier days.

We loved how easy this fireplace was to set up, with most of the 20-minute setup time consumed by attaching the legs. The predrilled holes didn’t line up that well, but we were able to assemble it without any custom modifications. We also had to place the logs and embers by hand, which was very easy thanks to the included directions.

We do wish it was easier to access the control panel—it's behind the door which is secured by a wingnut (also known as a butterfly nut), so you have to turn it every time you want to open or close the door, but we liked that it came with a remote control.

_{Dimensions: 23.5 x 24.3 x 10.7 inches | Mount Type: Freestanding | Heat Output: 5,100 Btu}

Best Smart

Modern Ember Highmark Electric Fireplace

$1,400 at Amazon

The Modern Ember Highmark Smart Linear Electric Fireplace is a huge 60-inch fireplace that brought an inviting ambiance to our basement family room while also providing a significant amount of heat. We love the smart app controls that are easier to understand and use than the physical remote, and all of the flame colors and other options.

We placed this fireplace in our basement family room that’s about 350 square feet, and were impressed with the amount of heat it produced. We had to use the temperature control to prevent the room from getting too hot, and it kept us warm and cozy even on chillier nights.

This fireplace has two installation options—wall mount or recessed—and we chose a recessed installation that left the thin frame flush with the wall a lot like a wall-mounted TV. Hard-wiring it and installing it recessed added to the time it took us to set up, but we still had it in and ready to go in about two hours.

We love how many options this fireplace offers, all of which are easy to control through the phone app and voice controls if you have a Google Home or Alexa smart speaker. We thought it looked pretty realistic with the right color settings and flame speed (not enough to convince anyone it’s real, but close enough). It has a bunch of other fun flame color, ember color, brightness, and flame speed settings though (and even a night-light that just uses the downlight).

This fireplace is significantly more expensive than most other options at about $1,300 more than our best wall-mounted pick, but we think it’s worth the investment for the huge size, option to recess-mount, and excellent app controls.

_{Dimensions: 6.4 x 60 x 18.13 inches | Mount Type: Wall Mount, Recessed | Heat Output: 5,000 Btu}

Best with Mantel

Real Flame Silverton Electric Fireplace

$580 at Amazon $608 at Walmart $583 at Wayfair

If you’ve always wanted a custom-made, traditional living room fireplace, we recommend the Silverton model from Real Flame. Since it is electric and doesn’t require a chimney, all you need is the space for it and a nearby outlet. While testing in our lab, we loved how easy it was to put together (it took two of us just under an hour), and how the white finish and molded trim gave it an authentic look.

We think the mantel is perfect for displaying holiday decorations, picture frames, and other decor items (although it cannot support a TV). The Real Flame uses LED technology to give the flames and embers a life-like glow and dynamic movements that mimic a real fire that dances and dims. You can choose from five brightness settings and also customize the flame color.

The unit can be operated by using the touchscreen panel or by a remote that can function up to 25 feet away. (We found both methods easy to use.) You also can operate the flame feature without the heat, so you can enjoy the ambiance year-round. Plus, the blower on the heater is relatively quiet, so it doesn't take away from the ambiance of the fire.

Unlike many other options on this list, this fireplace can warm larger rooms (1,000 square feet, according to the manufacturer) and has six different temperature settings, ranging from 72 to 99°F so you can customize the heat. During testing, the back of the CSA-certified firebox did not get hot, and there is a two-inch gap between the firebox and the cabinet to provide additional airflow when placed against a wall.

While testing this unit in our home for six months, we found that it heated the space quickly, and added a beautiful focal point to the room. It remained in perfect condition even when we moved it from a bedroom to a dining room during home renovations. Our only caveat is that it does take up a larger footprint, so it's not the best option for compact spaces.

_{Dimensions: 41 x 48 x 13 inches | Mount type: Freestanding | Heat Output: 4,780 Btu}