Complete guide to buying an electric fireplace

Electric fires are a safe and aesthetically pleasing way to create the ambiance of a fire. 

However, they aren’t as powerful as their gas and wood counterparts, so they won’t add as much heat to a room. Plus, they can be expensive to run. 

Our guide covers all the key information on electric fires and stoves, including insights provided by real electric fireplace owners. 

If you want a stove that produces heat, see our guide to gas stoves

What is an electric fireplace?

Electric fireplaces are designed to look like real fireplaces, but without the hassle. 

They don't give off as much heat as real fires, but they can create a cosy ambience in your room. 

How do electric fireplaces work?

Electric fireplaces consist of a heating element and a flame effect.

The heating element is typically a metal coil, which is heated by an electrical current. This heat is circulated around the room using a fan or ceramic plate. 

Traditional electric fires (called mechanical electric fires) create a flame effect using flickering LED lights. 

However, more modern designs use different technology, designed to have more realistic flame effects. 

Water vapour electric fires create a flame effect by reflecting LED lights off a fine mist of water (from an attached water tank). Holographic electric fires create an ultra-realistic fire by projecting the image of a flame onto a log bed.

Do electric fireplaces need a chimney?

No, electric fireplaces do not need a chimney - or any form of ventilation. 

They do not burn wood or natural gas, so they do not produce any fumes that need to be cleared from the room. 

Types of electric fireplace

The main thing you need to decide about an electric stove is where you would like it to be placed in your room.

Unlike with gas fires and stoves, you don’t need to worry about connecting your fire to a flue or vent, so you can place it anywhere that it can be plugged in.

• Freestanding fires can be flat against a wall with a fireplace surround to create the effect of a fireplace without needing a chimney or a recess.
• Inset fires can go in the recess of traditional fireplaces, or you can create a cavity in a wall to place them in – a good choice if you have limited floor space.
• Wall-mounted electric fires are another option if you’re short on space.

You should also consider the type of 'fuel bed' you want (this is the fuel that appears to be burning when the fire is on). 

Most realistic electric fireplaces

The most realistic fireplaces include a bed of fake logs or coal to give the impression that a real fire is burning. 

Water vapour and holographic fireplaces are more realistic than mechanical electrical fires. 

Can you have an electric fireplace with a TV above?

Yes, provided the two units are more than 8 inches apart. 

Any closer and you risk the heat from the fireplace damaging your TV. If possible, it's best to have them 12 or more inches apart. 

Electric fireplace efficiency and heat output

Electric fires are 100% efficient, meaning all the heat they produce is pushed out into the room. This is because no heat is lost in a chimney or flue.

However, electricity is much more expensive than gas - it costs more to generate each kW of heat, and therefore it is much more expensive to heat a room with electricity alone. 

That's why heat outputs from electric fires are usually limited to just 2kW or less. They don't give off a lot of heat. 

If you want to heat your room fully, electric fireplaces are not an efficient way to do so. However, if you want the ambiance of a fire (plus a little extra warmth), an electric fireplace could be a good option. 

What size electric fireplace do I need?

Electric fireplaces typically have a heat output of up to 2kW. Because electricity is quite expensive, larger fireplaces would be very costly to run. 

Smaller fires will produce less heat, so they are a good choice if you are only looking for the ambiance of a fire, and plan to continue using your central heating. 

You may be able to find larger fireplaces if you prefer, but if you do want to use your fire as a source of heat, a gas fire is probably a better option. 

Will a 2KW electric fireplace heat a room?

A 2kW stove might be enough to heat a small, well-insulated living room.

However, it is unlikely that an electric fireplace will be sufficient in very cold weather.

Another option – albeit a less aesthetically pleasing one – is to buy a portable electric heater. Check out our reviews of the best electric heaters.

Electric fireplace unit cost

To find out more about how much real owners typically spend on their electric fire (and how satisfied they are), in 2024 we asked 122 Which? readers who bought an electric stove in the last 5 years to tell us more about their experience. 

Log in or join Which? to see how much they report spending on their electric fireplace unit.

Electric fireplace installation

Unlike with gas fires and stoves, you won’t always need to get a professional to install an electric fire or stove, particularly if you’re choosing a very simple model. With some basic electric stoves, for example, you can simply put it down in the room, plug it in and switch it on.

Log in or join Which? to see what percentage of our readers reported using a professional to install their stove.

You might want professional help if you’re not very confident with DIY, particularly if you need structural work carried out to install an inset or ‘hole in the wall’ fire, or to conceal electrical cables.

Electric fireplace running costs

To calculate a very rough running cost for an electric fire, you need to multiply the output in kWs by the price of electric in kWs. 

For example, between October and December 2025, the Ofgem electricity price cap is 26.35p per kW. So it would cost about 50p to run a 2kW stove for an hour at full power. 

Here are some costs based on this example.

To get a better sense of how much it costs to use an electric fireplace, we asked our readers if they feel their fire is too expensive to run. 

We also asked whether or not they use their heating less since having the fire installed. 

Log in or join Which? to see what they said.  

If your central heating needs an upgrade, see our guide to the best gas boilers. 

Electric fireplace pros and cons 

The main pros of electric fires are the ambiance, and the main downsides are the higher running costs. 

Pros of electric fires:

• Ambiance: these stoves have the appearance of a real flame
• Easy to install: you only need to purchase the stove and plug it in
• Low maintenance: electric stoves do not need to be cleaned or serviced
• Sustainability: compared to gas or wood fires, electric fires are more sustainable because they do not use combustion

Cons of gas fires:

• Running costs: electricity is more expensive than gas, so you will pay more per kW of output than for your central heating or a gas stove
• Low heat output: if you are looking to heat your room, most electric stoves will not generate the amount of heat required 

Are electric fireplaces worth it?

To find out if electric fireplaces owners feel their stoves are worth the price, we asked 122 Which? readers who own an electric stove if they are satisfied with their purchase. 

Log in or join Which? to see the percentage of our readers who are satisfied (and dissatisfied) with their stoves.

Most common electric fireplace problems

We also asked our readers whether they had any problems with their fireplace. 

Log in or join Which? to see how many of our readers report having problems and the most commonly reported electric fireplace problems.

Electric fireplace FAQs

Do electric fireplaces give off heat?

Yes, electric fires give off heat. 

They are not the most powerful way to heat your home, but they can add additional warmth to a room. 

You may also be able to turn off the heat setting if you choose, so you just have the effect of a fire. 

Do electric fires use a lot of electricity?

In general, most models have up to a 2kW output – compared to gas stoves, which go up to 6kW.

This isn't huge compared to some appliances, but costs do build up. A 2kW stove costs around 50p an hour to run at current electricity prices.

Are electric fires expensive to run?

Unfortunately, because of the price of electricity, electric fires are expensive to run. Or at least they are more expensive to run than gas fires. 

According to our estimates, you can expect to spend around £45 a month running your fire – assuming you use it every day. 

Are electric fires noisy?

No, electric fires are very quiet. 

This is because they are not burning anything. 

However, if they include features like fans (for distributing heat), they may make some noise.