Do Electric Fireplaces Give Off Heat? What to Expect

On this page (11 sections)

1. Do electric fireplaces give off heat in everyday use?
2. Where does the heat go in the room?
3. What do the watt settings mean for heat?
4. How do you compare the heat claims on two units?
5. How big a room can an electric fireplace heat?
6. Is an electric fireplace a whole-house heater?
7. How is an electric fireplace different from a space heater?
8. Which rooms suit electric fireplace heat?
9. What does flame-only mode do?
10. What temperature can the thermostat hold?
11. Pick an electric fireplace with heat if you need warmth in one room

Yes, most plug-in electric fireplaces give off real heat. The high setting on most models is 1,500 watts, which is about 5,100 BTU per hour.

That is enough to take the chill off one room. It is not enough to heat a whole house, and the room sizes brands list are only a guide.

This page covers how much heat to expect, what the settings do and where the heat stops. For the bigger picture, read our full guide to wall mounted and recessed electric fireplaces.

Do electric fireplaces give off heat in everyday use?

Yes. Most units send heat out the front, so you feel it most when you sit facing the unit.

Electric fireplace heat from a blower

Antarctic Star says its 36 inch unit has a front heater blower. A blower pushes the warm air out the front and into the room.

Blower models run a fan, so you may hear it. Check how loud the unit is before you put one in a bedroom or a home office.

For a shortlist of blower models, see the best electric fireplace inserts with a blower.

Infrared heat from a log set

The Duraflame electric log set uses a quartz infrared heater. Infrared heat warms the objects and people it faces more than the air between them.

Duraflame says the set needs no vents or gas lines, only an existing fireplace and an outlet.

Where does the heat go in the room?

The warmth is strongest close to the front of the unit and fades as you move away. A sofa set right in front of the unit gets the most, while a chair at the far wall may stay cool.

Closed doors help, since they keep the warm air in the room you are heating. A room with a high ceiling or a lot of glass takes longer to feel warm.

What do the watt settings mean for heat?

A 750 W setting gives about 2,560 BTU per hour, and 1,500 W gives about 5,100 BTU per hour. The high setting gives about twice the heat of the low one.

For electric heat, watts and BTUs measure the same energy in two units. That is why you can compare a unit's watts with the BTU numbers some brands print.

Many units offer both settings, so you can start on 750 W and move up when the room needs more. On a mild evening the low setting is often enough.

To see what those watts add up to on your power bill, read are electric fireplaces energy efficient?

Electric heaters can burn you or start a fire when they are used the wrong way. Follow the manual for placement and clearances.

For general heater tips, the Consumer Product Safety Commission site at cpsc.gov is a good place to start.

How do you compare the heat claims on two units?

Compare the watts on the high setting first, since that is the number that shows heat output. Then read the square feet as the brand's own estimate.

Two units with the same watts can list different square feet, because each brand sets its own room estimate. Look at the room you plan to heat and pick the unit that matches its size and layout.

How big a room can an electric fireplace heat?

Most brands, including R.W.FLAME, Antarctic Star and PuraFlame, say their units cover up to 400 square feet. Duraflame says its log set covers up to 1,000 square feet.

Treat those figures as brand claims, not promises for your room. A square room of 400 square feet is about 20 feet on each side, so measure yours before you compare.

Will an electric fireplace give off heat in a big room?

Not always. A big or open room can need more heat than one unit gives, and tall ceilings and big windows make a room harder to warm.

R.W.FLAME says its 60 inch unit is for up to 400 square feet, with settings of 750 W and 1,500 W.

Match the unit to your wall first with what size electric fireplace do you need.

Is an electric fireplace a whole-house heater?

No. Electric fireplaces are zone heaters, so they warm the room they sit in and not the rest of the house.

PuraFlame says its Western insert is supplemental heat for up to 400 square feet and not a main heat source. That is the right way to think about most units.

Keep your main heating on for the rest of the home. Use the fireplace as one warm spot, not the whole plan.

Whether one is worth it as extra warmth is covered in are electric fireplaces worth it.

How is an electric fireplace different from a space heater?

Both give zone heat from electricity, so both warm the room they are in. The fireplace adds a flame look that a plain space heater does not have.

If you only want warmth, a plain heater may be the simpler buy. If you want the glow and some heat in the same unit, the fireplace is the better match.

A gas fireplace gives heat a different way, and gas fireplace vs electric fireplace for a living room compares the two on install, venting and upkeep.

Which rooms suit electric fireplace heat?

Rooms near the 400 square feet most makers quote suit electric fireplace heat best. A living room corner, a den or a bedroom you sit in each evening all fit that size.

Large open spaces are harder. One unit can take the chill off a corner, but it will not warm a great hall or a basement by itself.

A plug-in unit is simplest in a room with an outlet already on the wall where you want the fireplace.

What does flame-only mode do?

Flame-only mode runs the flame effect with the heater off, so it gives off little or no heat. It is a look without warmth.

Many units let you switch the heat off while the flame keeps running. That is handy on mild days, or when you want the glow without the warmth.

Many units also have a timer from 1 to 8 hours, so the heat can shut off on its own.

If your unit won't give any heat at all, start with electric fireplace not heating.

What temperature can the thermostat hold?

Thermostat ranges differ by maker. Innoflame's 23 inch insert runs from 64°F to 82°F, and PuraFlame's Western insert and Duraflame's log set also have adjustable thermostats.

Once the room reaches the number you pick, the heat cycles off until the room cools. The thermostat decides when the heat stops, but it does not make the unit produce more heat.

Pick an electric fireplace with heat if you need warmth in one room

Pick a model with heat if you want supplemental warmth in one room. Pick a flame-only look if the room already stays warm.

Next, weigh the install and running trade-offs in are electric fireplaces worth it.

Frequently asked questions

How much heat does an electric fireplace give off?

Most plug-in models top out at about 1,500 watts, or about 5,100 BTU per hour, and the low setting is 750 watts. How far that heat reaches depends on your room, so check the brand's coverage claim against your own space.

Can an electric fireplace heat a whole house?

No, they are zone heaters that warm the room they sit in, so keep your main heating on for the rest of the home. Use the fireplace for extra warmth where you sit, since the warmth is strongest close to the unit.

Does flame-only mode give off any heat?

Flame-only mode gives off little or no heat, because the heating element is off and only the flame effect runs. Check your unit's controls, since some models have separate heat and flame switches and others do not, so check the manual for yours.