What Are the Best Electric Fireplace Inserts?

On this page (8 sections)

1. What makes an electric fireplace insert a good pick?
2. Which electric fireplace insert is best overall?
3. When is a log set the better choice?
4. How much does style matter in an electric insert?
5. How do you measure your fireplace opening for an insert?
6. What should you know about heat output and running costs?
7. What should you check before you buy?
8. Which electric insert should you pick?

The best electric fireplace inserts are plug-in units bought for the flame first and the heat second, so the right pick is the one whose outer frame and firebox fit your opening. The PuraFlame Western Insert is the top choice for most fireboxes, and a log set is the better fit when you have an open hearth and no insert frame to match.

Heat is the part buyers overestimate. These units warm a smaller area than a central system, so plan for supplemental comfort in one room rather than whole-home heating.

This guide explains what the best electric fireplace inserts share, which one suits each setup, and how to measure before you order.

What makes an electric fireplace insert a good pick?

A good pick fits your opening, gives realistic flames you can run without heat, and heats a defined room size. Those three things matter more than a long feature list.

Fit comes first because an insert that doesn't sit in the opening is not usable. Measure the width, height and depth of the firebox, then compare those against the unit's stated firebox dimensions rather than its outer frame.

The PuraFlame Western, for example, needs a 32 1/8 inch wide, 25 9/16 inch high and 7 51/64 inch deep opening, while its overall frame is 35 1/16 inches wide and 26 31/32 inches high.

Flame quality and controls come next. All three units here use LED lighting for the flame, so they can run the glow all year with the heat off.

Adjustable brightness and speed let you set the look, and a remote keeps the controls off the hearth.

Heat is the last box. Every unit in this guide tops out at 4600 BTUs and about 400 sq ft, which is supplemental warmth.

If you expect to replace a furnace or heat a large open-plan space, an electric insert is the wrong tool.

Which electric fireplace insert is best overall?

The PuraFlame Western Insert is the best overall for most fireboxes. It combines wide opening compatibility with a complete set of controls and a look that reads as a real fire.

Its three flame intensities run with or without heat, and the LED technology keeps the running cost to lighting alone when the heater is off. A life-like resin log sits 11 13/16 inches high on the grate above the ember bed, which gives the fire a raised, layered look rather than a flat glow.

The three-sided interior brick wall and clean glass front trim help the fire feel deeper than the frame suggests. The thermostat adjusts the heat, and the 750W or 1500W settings give you a low and high choice at about 4600 BTUs.

Installation is simple by design. The flat bottom lets the insert sit on the floor of the opening, and it plugs into a 120V outlet.

It cannot be hard wired, so keep an outlet within reach of its 6 ft cord, which exits on the right side.

When is a log set the better choice?

A log set is the better choice when you have an open hearth and don't want to fit a framed insert. It drops into an existing fireplace, plugs in, and leaves the masonry or surround untouched.

The duraflame set measures 20.5 inches wide, 12 inches high and 8.66 inches deep, so it takes up much less room than a full insert. It suits a shallow hearth or a fireplace you want to keep looking open.

The logs sit in the hearth and cast the flame effect onto the back wall.

Heat comes from a quartz element rated at 4600 BTUs for up to 400 sq ft. Flame speed, brightness and the on/off controls are on the remote, and the flame runs independently of the heater for year-round use.

It arrives assembled: plug it in, place it, and it's ready.

Skip it if you want the solid, built-in look of a framed insert. The log set reads as logs in an open firebox, not as a replacement unit with a glass door and brick interior.

If that look is what you want, read our comparison of an electric fireplace insert with logs.

How much does style matter in an electric insert?

Style matters as much as specs once the fit is settled, because the insert is furniture you look at every day. The PuraFlame Klaus 33 Inch Insert is the traditional option, with an antique design and a mesh screen over the glass.

Its three-sided brick wall, glass door and mesh screen mimic an old masonry fire more closely than a plain glass front. That makes it a natural fit in a room with a mantel or other period details.

It carries the same 4600 BTU heat output and 400 sq ft coverage as the Western, with a thermostat and remote.

The look costs you a little in simplicity. The screen adds a layer over the flame, so the fire reads softer than through clean glass.

Both PuraFlame units need an outlet and cannot be hard wired, and both sit on a flat bottom rather than being built into the wall.

Pick the Klaus when the room's style is the priority. Pick the Western when you want the wider opening fit and the cleaner glass front.

If you're weighing electric against a gas unit, our electric fireplace insert vs gas guide covers the venting and installation differences.

How do you measure your fireplace opening for an insert?

Measure width, height and depth at the tightest point of the opening, then compare against the unit's firebox dimensions, not its outer frame. The frame sits in front of the wall, so it can be wider than the opening.

Start with the opening width at the top, middle and bottom, and use the smallest figure. Repeat for height at both sides and the center.

Measure depth from the front face to the back wall, and check for a gas line, damper or other obstruction that reduces usable space.

Then check the outer frame against the surround. The PuraFlame Western's frame is 35 1/16 inches wide and 26 31/32 inches high, so it needs clear wall or surround space around the opening to sit flush.

A frame that overhangs brick or tile can look off even when the firebox fits.

Our electric fireplace insert size guide takes you through the full measuring process, including what to do when your opening sits between two standard sizes. Measure twice and keep the numbers with you before you order.

What should you know about heat output and running costs?

Every insert here is a supplemental heater rated for about 400 sq ft, so expect it to take the chill off one room, not to replace your main heat. The 750W setting gives a gentler warm-up; 1500W gives the full 4600 BTUs.

That limit is stated plainly by PuraFlame: its inserts are not a main heat source. A den, bedroom or basement is the right target.

An open-plan space with high ceilings will feel the heat fade before the room warms.

Running costs depend on how often the heater is on. With the heat off, the unit draws only what the LED flame needs, so you can leave the glow on through the evening.

Turn the heater on when you're in the room and off when you leave, and the insert behaves like a space heater rather than a whole-house system.

Check the outlet and circuit before you buy. A 1500W heater is a real electrical load, so avoid sharing the circuit with other high-draw appliances.

If you're unsure how does an electric fireplace insert work covers the heating element and flame parts in plain terms.

What should you check before you buy?

Check fit, outlet access, heat expectations and the chimney before you order. These four checks prevent most returns and disappointments with electric inserts.

Fit is the opening and the frame, as covered above. Outlet access means a 120V receptacle near the opening within reach of the cord; the PuraFlame cord is 6 ft and exits on the right.

Heat expectations mean accepting the 400 sq ft supplemental limit and buying for the flame first.

The chimney check matters when you're replacing a wood fire. PuraFlame says to remove the old logs and block the chimney before fitting its insert.

A blocked flue keeps cold air and drafts out of the room.

Finally, confirm the unit's power needs. These inserts plug in and cannot be hard wired, so a nearby outlet is not optional.

If you'd rather have a wired-in look or a gas flame, compare the options in our electric fireplace insert vs gas article before you commit.

Which electric insert should you pick?

Pick the PuraFlame Western Insert for most fireboxes, the duraflame log set for an open hearth, and the PuraFlame Klaus when a traditional look matters most. That covers the three common setups, and each pick is the best of the group for its specific need.

For the widest opening fit, the Western's 32 1/8 inch firebox width, crackling sound and clean glass front make it the safest first choice. For a shallow hearth or an open fireplace you want to keep looking open, the log set's 20.5 inch width and assembled, plug-in design make it the easier fit.

For a period room, the Klaus's antique design and mesh screen carry the look.

Whatever you choose, measure your opening first and expect supplemental heat rather than whole-room warmth. If you're still deciding between an insert and a log set, our guide to the best electric fireplace inserts with logs covers the log-style options in more detail.

For fit questions, start with the size guide and keep your measurements on hand when you order.

Our score weighs specs, features and buyer feedback against what you're shopping for.

Frequently asked questions

What are the best electric fireplace inserts for most homes?

The PuraFlame Western Insert is the best pick for most fireboxes because its 32 1/8 inch firebox width and 25 9/16 inch height fit many standard openings. It has three flame settings, a crackling sound, a remote, and 750W or 1500W heat for rooms up to 400 sq ft.

Can an electric fireplace insert heat a whole room?

No, treat it as supplemental heat. PuraFlame says its inserts warm up to 400 sq ft and are not a main heat source.

They suit a den, bedroom or basement where you want spot warmth without changing the home's main heating system.

Do electric fireplace inserts need a chimney or venting?

No venting or gas line is needed. An insert plugs into a 120V outlet, and the chimney should be blocked when replacing a wood fire.

You need an outlet near the opening and enough depth for the unit, about 8 25/32 inches on the PuraFlame Western.

How do I know which insert size fits my fireplace?

Measure the opening's width, height and depth before buying. The PuraFlame Western needs a 32 1/8 inch wide, 25 9/16 inch high and 7 51/64 inch deep firebox, while its outer frame is wider.

Our electric fireplace insert size guide walks through the measuring steps.

Can I use an electric insert in a fireplace that still burns wood?

Only if the fireplace is retired from wood burning and the chimney is blocked. PuraFlame says you should remove the old logs and block the chimney before fitting its insert.

Do not run wood fires and an electric insert in the same firebox.

Do these inserts work without heat?

Yes. PuraFlame's inserts let you run the flame with or without heat all year, using LED lighting.

That makes them useful for ambiance in summer and for warmth in cooler months, with the heat switched on only when you want it.