Home The 9 Best Electric Fireplaces for Cozy Ambiance Snuggle up to these top-rated electric fireplaces that reviewers say look and feel just as good as the real deal. By Kaitlyn Yarborough Kaitlyn Yarborough Part of the Southern Living team since 2017, Kaitlyn Yarborough is a Georgia native living in Austin, Texas, who covers a wide variety of topics for both the magazine and website, focusing on culture and lifestyle content, as well as travel in the South. Southern Living's editorial guidelines and Emily Belfiore Updated on January 18, 2023 Share Tweet Pin Email We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Amazon For those without a fireplace in their homes, an electric fireplace can make a great addition. It captures that same comfort at a fraction of the price and without a chimney. Electric fireplaces emit heat and replicate the look of an actual burning fire, which can lend an air of coziness and warmth to any space at the press of a button. Many allow users to control the heat level via thermostats and remotes, and most offer the option to forgo the heat setting altogether, so you can opt for only a pleasing burning fire facade in the background. Whether you're looking to warm up a small space come wintertime, create a warm glow in the house at night, or mimic the look of a real fireplace, these are the best electric fireplaces on the market that can turn up the coziness without having to deal with real fire. Shop customer-favorite picks below. The 9 Best Electric Fireplaces for Cozy Ambiance Our Top Picks Best Freestanding Option: Duraflame 3D Infrared Electric Fireplace Stove at Amazon Jump to Review Best With Mantel: Home Decorators Collection Highland 50 in. Mantel Electric Fireplace at Home Depot Jump to Review Best for Small Spaces: Donyer Power Mini Electric Fireplace at Amazon Jump to Review Best Wall-Mounted: R.W.FLAME 50-Inch Electric Fireplace at Amazon Jump to Review Best With TV Stand: Ameriwood Home Chicago Fireplace TV Console at Amazon Jump to Review Best Insert: PuraFlame Western Fireplace Insert at Amazon Jump to Review Best Budget: Comfort Zone Black Electric Fireplace Stove Heater with Realistic 3D Flame Effect at Home Depot Jump to Review Best Modern: Touchstone Sideline Elite Smart Electric Fireplace at Amazon Jump to Review Best Rustic: Ameriwood Home Farmington Electric Fireplace at Amazon Jump to Review Best Freestanding Option Duraflame 3D Infrared Electric Fireplace Stove with Remote Control Amazon View On Amazon On almost any online store, you'll find this tops the list as the best freestanding electric fireplace out there if you want a combination of performance and style. It's equipped with 3D LED flame effect technology that creates a layered flame look and five adjustable brightness settings. Plus, its faux logs add cozy charm and make the flames look more authentic. It can be operated with or without heat using a remote (it warms rooms up to 1,000 square feet), and it comes in seven color options—we're partial to the French Grey. "This little powerhouse is warming up our entire downstairs floor," an Amazon reviewer wrote. "This includes a large kitchen/family room area and a large hallway/stairway and the dining room and formal living room off the kitchen. I can't get over it." As for its realistic flames, another Amazon shopper remarked, "The flames look better than any of the other brands I saw in stores. The 3-D logs really make the difference, and the beveled glass helps the illusion." Best With Mantel Home Decorators Collection Highland 50 in. Faux Stone Mantel Electric Fireplace Courtesy of Home Depot View On Home Depot This electric fireplace gets high marks for its realistic, stylish freestanding exterior, which has a mantel that can double as a media center with your television on top. It also has a built-in timer to eliminate worry about accidentally leaving it on, as well as a heating range of 1,000 square feet at multiple heat level options. Choose between antique white and antique cherry finishes. "If you can't have a real fireplace, this is definitely the next best thing," a Home Depot customer said. "The flames do look extremely realistic. If the room is quiet you can even hear it make little soft 'fireplace noises' too." Best for Small Spaces Donyer Power Mini Electric Fireplace Courtesy of Amazon View On Amazon Even small homes and apartments can get in on the cozy electric fireplace action. Many models are upwards of 20 inches in length and width, but this miniature electric fireplace is just 7.5 by 14.5 inches and under a foot tall. The freestanding model can heat up to 200 square feet, is housed within a cool-touch wooden cabinet, and has an automatic shut-off safety feature. Users can choose between two heat settings, but if you just want to set the mood, you can turn on the flames without cranking up the heat. "I was pleasantly surprised at this adorable fireplace," a reviewer wrote. "It's beautiful, very sturdy, and even bigger than I expected. Much warmer too (yet very touchable). It fits on top of a bookshelf in my bedroom perfectly giving a cozy and relaxing feel." They added that "the logs and flames are very realistic" and "the blower is quite impressive, taking the chill out of the air rather quickly." Best Wall-Mounted R.W.FLAME 50-Inch Electric Fireplace Amazon View On Amazon Go for a more modern look with a savvy and space-saving electric fireplace that can be mounted on the wall, indoors or out. This best-seller on Amazon ranges from 36 inches to 50 inches and features a remote-controllable thermostat, touch screen capability, and adjustable flame colors to customize the vibe on any night to suit your desires. Overall, it's sleek, thin to conserve space, and ready to add a touch of warmth to any space. "I love this wall unit," raved one shopper. "It looks great and just hangs on the wall nice; not hanging out too far." Another shared, "It keeps the living room toasty warm in the fall and winter and has a lower setting that is perfect for those rainy and cool days." Best With TV Stand Ameriwood Home Chicago Fireplace TV Console Courtesy of Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Homesquare.com This media console electric fireplace supports televisions up to 50 inches and has a weight capacity of 70 pounds. There are plenty of shelves within its two side cabinets to store games, movies, and consoles, and it even has two hidden outlets so that you can plug in your tech discreetly. The 18-inch fireplace heats up to 400 square feet, and the brand's Altraflame reflectors give the fire a realistic crackle and glow. "The heater is both powerful and energy-efficient. Actually, this past winter we didn't even utilize the heater in our apartment and ran this and a small bedroom heater to heat 1400 square feet without a problem," one Amazon shopper said, adding, "If you're looking for a heater that can be a fine piece of furniture in your household, think of giving this product a try." Best Insert PuraFlame Western Electric Fireplace Insert Amazon View On Amazon View On Home Depot This contemporary insert, which measures 25 inches wide, nearly 9 inches long, and 22 inches high, is perfect for homeowners that want the look of a fireplace without the messy maintenance that comes with a real one. It can heat up to 400 square feet and easily slides into your fireplace outline thanks to its flat bottom, removable handles, and discreet heat outlet. You have power over the flame intensity, thermostat temperature, and brightness level through its handy remote. Crackling noises and realistic-looking logs add to the ambiance. "It slid right into the box and fit perfectly, but most importantly it looks beautiful," one reviewer exclaimed. "It doesn't have a cheap look, a fake plastic-y look, or a super swanky nightclub feel. Just traditional, clean, nice-looking fireplace. Visiting friends all thought it was a real gas flame." Best Budget Comfort Zone Black Electric Fireplace Stove Heater with Realistic 3D Flame Effect Courtesy of Amazon View On Home Depot At just $70, the Comfort Zone Electric Fireplace is one of the most budget-friendly models available, and reviewers vouch that it doesn't compromise on performance. The affordable electric fireplace is powerful enough to heat rooms up to 1,600 square feet and features a fan-forced design that enables an even distribution of warmth. It has an automatic shut-off feature that kicks in if the model has been knocked over and a sensor that prevents it from getting too hot. Dabble between its three heat settings to find your perfect temperature, then kick back and enjoy those realistic-looking 3D flames. "We love this heater," a Home Depot shopper said. "The heater gives awesome heat and the ambiance is wonderful." Another shared that it "heats up the room quickly and looks great." Best Modern Touchstone Sideline Elite Smart Electric Fireplace Amazon View On Amazon View On Modernblaze.com This wall-mounted electric fireplace complements modern aesthetics with its sleek and durable glass exterior that easily mounts to your wall. It heats rooms up to 400 square feet and offers two temperature settings, five brightness levels, and your choice of log flames or crystal flame effects. The electric fireplace also has an adjustable automatic shut-off feature and gives you the option to enjoy the dazzling sparks without the heat. "This is by far the best electric fireplace on the market," an Amazon shopper remarked. "Looks so real and I get compliments all the time." Many noted that the location of the vent makes the heater blow heat upwards and slightly outwards; "just make sure you don't place the heater too close to something above it so that you avoid a potential fire hazard," another reviewer warned. Best Rustic Ameriwood Home Farmington Electric Fireplace TV Console Walmart View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Lowe's Use the Ameriwood Home Farmington Electric Fireplace to enhance the farmhouse aesthetic in your bedroom, living room, or dining room. Its wooden exterior has a rustic vibe that's equal parts charming and unique, and its versatile media console design makes it more than just decor. The unit can support televisions up to 60 inches, and the fireplace efficiently heats rooms up to 400 square feet. Built-in reflectors create an authentic-looking fire, which lasts up to 50,000 hours thanks to smart AltraFlame LED lights. "The fireplace does not look fake (what makes it realistic is the flame is in the back of the logs, instead of the front)," a customer shared. "I loved the barn wood look. It completely blew my husband and I away with its sturdiness and quality — it truly looks like we paid a lot more for this than what we did. Score!" Was this page helpful? 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