What Are the Best Electric Fireplaces?

On this page (9 sections)

1. What makes an electric fireplace the best choice for a room?
2. Should you recess it or wall mount it?
3. How much heat does an electric fireplace really give?
4. What does a flame only fireplace do for a room?
5. Which electric fireplace is best for a modern room?
6. How do you install one without wrecking the wall?
7. Does an electric fireplace look cheap once it's up?
8. Do controls and noise matter in daily use?
9. Which one is the best electric fireplace for most homes?

The best electric fireplace is the one that fits your wall, your heat needs and your room style, not the flashiest flame. Start with the install type and the depth you can spare, then match the heat output and controls to the room.

That order matters because a unit that doesn't fit is a unit you send back. Fit first, warmth second, looks third, and almost any room can take one.

What makes an electric fireplace the best choice for a room?

Fit, heat output and controls decide it, in that order. A unit that fits your wall and warms the space you sit in beats a larger one with better flames.

Fit covers the opening, the cavity depth and the front frame. Heat covers whether you want warmth at all, and how much.

Controls cover the remote, the timer and the noise level where you relax.

Style comes last because it is easy to adjust: flame color, brightness and fuel bed change the look without changing the install.

Decide which of those three you can't compromise on, then shop toward it. Our other picks for 3 sided electric fireplace units suit anyone planning a feature wall, while thin electric fireplace models suit a shallow cavity.

Should you recess it or wall mount it?

Recess it for a flush front; wall mount it if the depth suits your room. Recessed builds read as built in, while a wall mount is faster and needs no cavity.

The Euhomy EFL-50 does both. It is 50 inches wide, 17.01 inches tall and 4.13 inches deep, with a black tempered glass front panel.

You can fully recess it or hang it on the wall.

That flexibility helps if you're unsure about drywall work. Start on the wall, then recess it later if the look grows on you.

A cavity takes planning. Note the stud positions before you cut, and keep the opening clear of wiring you can't reroute.

Check the body depth before you choose

The number that decides your install is the body depth, not the flame size. The Euhomy EFL-50 measures 4.13 inches deep, so a recessed fit needs a cavity that swallows roughly that body plus room for the cord and frame.

Its chamber specs list 50 inches wide, 16 inches high and 4 inches deep, and the finished front sits in a polished black finish. Plan the opening a little wider than the body so the glass seats without pinching.

The Tangkula is the opposite case. Its overall dimensions are 3 inches deep, with a slim 2 inch profile the brand calls out for fitting into tight wall spaces.

That makes it the pick when your wall cavity is shallow and you don't need heat.

Measure the wall cavity first, then pick the unit that fits it. That single step rules out more bad buys than any flame comparison.

How much heat does an electric fireplace really give?

It gives supplemental heat, not whole home heat. A heated unit warms the zone around it, and the Euhomy is rated for up to 400 square feet as zone heat.

That suits a living room, a bedroom or a home office. It does not replace a furnace in an open plan space.

The Euhomy offers a 750W energy-saving mode and a 1500W heating mode. The thermostat runs from 62°F to 82°F, with a 1 to 8 hour timer and automatic heat-off safety.

Decibel level is part of warmth comfort. This one runs at about 45 decibels, quieter than ordinary conversation.

A flame-only insert gives none of that. The Tangkula model runs 40 decibels and adds light and mood, not degrees.

What does a flame only fireplace do for a room?

It gives the look of fire with no heat at all. A flame-only insert is for ambiance, so it suits rooms that already have a heat source.

The Tangkula 36 inch has 5 brightness levels and lifelike firewood decoration below the flames. Its body is cold-rolled carbon metal with a tempered glass front and a powder-coated finish that resists scratches.

At 2 inches deep, it fits into a shallow wall cavity in a living room, bedroom or entertainment center. It mounts recessed only, so this one is for anyone willing to open the wall.

A remote runs the timer, brightness and power, with a display that shows the settings. The 0 to 8 hour timer shuts it off at bedtime without you getting up.

If you only want warmth, skip it. If you want the glow without a second heater, it's the simpler pick.

Which electric fireplace is best for a modern room?

A linear unit wins for a modern room, because a wide, low rectangle matches clean-lined furniture. The Euhomy's 50 inch width and 17 inch height give that horizontal line without a deep box.

Flame control does the rest. Its 12 flame colors and 12 LED fuel bed colors mix with 5 brightness settings, so you can run warm amber or a cool tone to match the room.

The flames work with or without heat.

Our guide to linear electric fireplace models covers wider options if your wall runs longer than 50 inches.

For a room with a dark, matte palette, the Tangkula's traditional firewood look suits a more classic corner better than a bare linear wall.

Match the unit width to the wall, not to the room. A wide, low unit on a narrow wall looks cramped; the reverse leaves a thin strip of wall around it.

How do you install one without wrecking the wall?

Find the studs first, then decide on recess or wall mount. Stud positions tell you where the unit can hang and where a cavity can be cut safely.

A stud finder helps before any drilling. The DEWALT DW0100 has center-find technology with a 3/4 inch detection depth for wood and metal, and it also detects AC and live wire for safety.

Its constant auto-calibration saves setup time, and the audible alert plus directional arrows mark the stud. A center marking channel lets you pencil the line without guessing.

It won't detect objects in concrete, brick, tile or foil-faced materials, so don't count on it on a masonry wall. It also isn't built for plastic or non-ferrous pipes.

Use a licensed electrician for any new outlet, and give the unit its own circuit where the manual calls for it. That step protects both the fireplace and the room.

Weigh the weight and the mount before you lift

The Euhomy weighs 22.7 pounds, which is light enough for one person to lift but still worth a second pair of hands for a wall mount.

Its chamber depth of 4 inches means the unit sits in the cavity rather than on top of it, so the mount carries less overhang than a thick box. That helps when you're fixing to drywall over studs.

The Tangkula carries no heater, so its body stays slim and light behind the glass. Recessed-only mounting means the cavity framing does the holding, so get the frame square before the unit goes in.

Plan the cord route at the same time. Leave slack behind the frame so the unit can slide in without stressing the plug.

Does an electric fireplace look cheap once it's up?

Fit and finish decide that, not the technology. A flush front, a bright flame and a matching fuel bed read as intentional, while a thick box that sits proud of the wall looks added on.

So consider the honest question: are electric fireplaces tacky? Often the answer is no, as long as the unit is sized to the wall and installed cleanly.

Recessing the Euhomy to leave only its glass front showing is the strongest version of that look.

Flame realism is the other half. High-intensity LED lights behind a wide glass panel, with color choices for the flame and the bed, come closer to a real fire than a single orange glow.

Skip the temptation to overdecorate around the unit. A squared opening and a plain surround beat a busy mantel.

Let the flames be the detail.

Do controls and noise matter in daily use?

They matter more than the look after the first week. A remote, a readable display and a quiet fan are the features you touch every day.

The Euhomy pairs a remote with a touchscreen, so you can change heat or flame from the sofa or at the unit. Its heat-off safety and timer mean you don't need to remember to switch it off.

The Tangkula uses a remote with a clear display showing timer, brightness and power. It's a simple, low-friction set of controls.

Noise separates the two in use. At about 45 decibels, the Euhomy sits at a gentle hum, while the Tangkula at 40 decibels has no fan at all because it makes no heat.

In a bedroom or office, quiet matters most. In a busy living room, both fade into background sound.

Which one is the best electric fireplace for most homes?

For most homes, the Euhomy 50 Inch Recessed Fireplace is the best all-round pick, because it fits flush or on the wall and can heat or just glow. Our score weighs specs, features and fit against what you're shopping for, and this one covers the widest range of rooms.

Choose the Euhomy for a heated living room, bedroom or office, or for an RV where a 400 square foot zone matters. Choose the Tangkula 36 if you already have heat and want a shallow, recessed flame only look.

Add the DEWALT stud finder before either install. It turns the wall work from guesswork into a marked line.

Whichever you pick, answer the fit question before the style one. That's how you end up with one of the best electric fireplaces for your room rather than one you have to return.

Frequently asked questions

Should I choose a recessed or wall mounted electric fireplace?

Recess it if you want the front flush with the wall and can open a cavity; wall mount it if the unit's depth is fine sitting proud. Recessed builds look cleaner on a feature wall, while wall mounts skip drywall work.

What depth do I need behind the wall for an electric fireplace?

Plan around the unit's body, not the flame: the Euhomy EFL-50 is 4.13 inches deep and the Tangkula is 2 inches deep. Open a cavity a little wider than the body so wiring and the front frame seat cleanly.

Can an electric fireplace heat a whole room?

Treat it as supplemental heat. A unit rated for 400 square feet warms the zone in front of it, while a flame-only insert adds no warmth at all.

Pair heat with your main system rather than relying on it alone.

Are electric fireplaces tacky?

Not by default. A recessed, flush front with realistic flame colors and a choice of fuel bed reads as a design feature, while a thick unit that sits proud of the wall looks added on.

Fit and finish decide more than the technology.

Do electric fireplaces work in an RV or a small office?

Yes, if the unit fits and the circuit handles it. The Euhomy lists RVs among its spaces, and it runs at 45 decibels, so a small office stays quiet while it heats.

Check the outlet and cord route before mounting.

Can I run the flames without heat in summer?

On heat-plus-flame models, yes: the Euhomy runs with or without heat, and flame-only inserts by design never produce warmth. That makes a fireplace usable all year for ambiance rather than only in cold months.