Electric Fireplace Insert for a TV Stand: Will It Fit?

On this page (9 sections)

1. Can an electric fireplace insert fit in any TV stand?
2. How deep does the cabinet need to be?
3. Can a shelf sit above the insert?
4. What heat clearance does a TV stand need?
5. Which inserts are sold for TV stands?
6. Does a TV stand insert need air to flow?
7. How do you power an insert in a cabinet?
8. What if your TV stand is too small?
9. Pick an electric fireplace insert for your stand if the opening fits

Yes, you can put an electric fireplace insert in a TV stand, as long as the stand's opening, depth and airflow match the insert. Many 23 inch inserts are sold for exactly this job, and a few stands come with a fireplace already built in.

Read the insert maker's notes and the stand maker's heat notes before you buy, since both set limits on where the heater can go.

This guide covers measuring, depth, heat clearance and the power cord. For the wider wall plan, see the wall mounted and recessed electric fireplace guide.

Can an electric fireplace insert fit in any TV stand?

No, the stand needs an opening that fits the insert's width and height, and enough depth behind the front for the unit. A stand that looks roomy from the front can still be too shallow or too narrow inside.

Start with the front opening, since that is the space the insert's frame has to fill. Then check how the unit goes in, because some inserts install from behind the stand and need room to reach the back.

Measure the stand's fireplace insert opening

Innoflame's 23 inch insert shows why the name can mislead you. Its front opening is 23 inches wide by 19 3/4 inches high, while the rear opening has to be at least 24 inches wide by 20 3/16 inches high.

Write down the opening's width at the top and bottom and its height at both sides, then compare each number with the insert's sizes. Measure the rear opening as well, since this unit slides in from the back.

If the stand has a shelf or crossbar behind the opening, include it in your depth reading. The insert needs a clear box of space, not just a hole in the front panel.

How deep does the cabinet need to be?

The 23 inch inserts in this guide are about 5 to 5.5 inches deep, so measure from the front edge of the opening to the back panel. Measure the depth at the top, middle and bottom, since shelves and back panels are often not square.

Innoflame's 23 inch unit is 5 inches deep. ORALNER's depth is 5.1 inches in one spec and 5.51 inches in another, so check your stand's inside depth against the larger number.

Height and width matter too. Innoflame's unit is 24 inches wide by 20.2 inches high, and ORALNER is named for 23 inches but gives its width as 24.17 inches, so measure against the larger numbers.

Can a shelf sit above the insert?

Only if the maker's clearance notes allow it, since a shelf right above a heater may get warm. Many TV stands have a top shelf or a cabinet top that sits close to the insert, so measure that gap before you choose the unit.

Read the insert's clearance notes for the space above the unit. If a TV will sit on that shelf, read the TV maker's notes as well.

What heat clearance does a TV stand need?

Read the insert maker's clearance notes and the stand maker's heat notes, and follow whichever one asks for more space. Don't assume a stand can take heat just because it's sturdy.

If a TV will sit above the stand, read the TV maker's heat and clearance notes too, since the heater and the TV are separate products with separate limits. A TV can't be assumed safe above or beside a heater just because the stand holds it.

For a TV that hangs on the wall over the stand, the TV wall planning guide covers heat, outlets and framing.

Check the insert manual and the cabinet

Check the insert's manual for the clearance it needs around the unit. Then check the cabinet for any shelf or panel that sits closer to the heater than those notes allow.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission publishes space heater safety tips that are worth reading alongside both sets of notes.

Which inserts are sold for TV stands?

Innoflame and ORALNER both sell 23 inch inserts aimed at TV stands and cabinets, and OneBlis sells a stand with its own removable insert. For more small models, see the best small electric fireplace inserts.

Innoflame's 23 inch insert mounts from the rear of a TV stand or mantel, and it weighs 19 pounds. You slide it forward into the opening until it sits flush with the front frame.

ORALNER's insert is made for a recessed opening under a TV, and it weighs 16 pounds. ORALNER describes recessing it into a cabinet from the back of the mantel, but it gives one set of sizes where Innoflame gives separate front and rear openings.

Both rate their heat at 5,000 BTU per hour. ORALNER's coverage claim is 225 square feet, less than the 400 square feet Innoflame claims.

Does a TV stand insert need air to flow?

Yes, most electric inserts need open air around the unit, so keep the grilles and the back of the cabinet clear. An electric insert needs no chimney, but it still needs room for air to move.

Check that doors, shelves or the back panel don't cover the grilles, and follow the manual on how much open space the unit needs. Because the Innoflame slides in from the back, keep the rear of the cabinet clear and follow the manual for the open space it needs.

The venting guide explains the chimney side of this question in more detail.

How do you power an insert in a cabinet?

Most inserts in this guide are corded, so plan an outlet within reach of the cord before the unit goes in. The cord route matters more in a cabinet, since there is little room to hide it.

Innoflame says to plug in the power supply once the unit is in place, and ORALNER runs on corded electric power. Route the cord before you slide the unit in, so it doesn't get pinched behind the back panel.

A stand with a cord opening in the back panel makes that route easier.

Check the manual before you use an extension cord or power strip. Hard-wired units need a licensed electrician, so don't wire one into a stand yourself.

What if your TV stand is too small?

Choose a different stand or a smaller insert, because a short opening can stop the unit from sliding in. Measure again before you buy anything, and write down the width, height and depth numbers.

A smaller insert suits a tight opening. A stand with its own fireplace skips the fitting work altogether.

OneBlis's stand weighs 94.8 pounds, so plan on help when you move it. If warmth matters to you, ask OneBlis for the heat output before you buy.

If you'd rather use an older firebox than a stand, see putting an electric insert in an existing fireplace.

Pick an electric fireplace insert for your stand if the opening fits

Pick Innoflame if you can reach the back of the stand and want to slide the insert in from behind. Pick ORALNER for a smaller room.

Pick the OneBlis stand if you want a new piece with the fireplace built in. Measure the opening, check the depth, and read both makers' heat notes before you order.

For the set-in steps, read how to install an electric fireplace insert. To compare more models, see the best electric fireplace inserts.

Frequently asked questions

Can an electric fireplace insert go in a TV stand?

Yes, when the stand's opening, depth and airflow match the insert. Measure the opening's width, height and depth, read the insert maker's clearance notes and the stand maker's heat notes, and plan an outlet within reach of the cord before you slide the unit in.

How deep should a TV stand be for a 23 inch insert?

The 23 inch inserts in this guide are about 5 to 5.5 inches deep, so measure from the front edge of the opening to the back panel. Measure at the top, middle and bottom, because shelves and back panels can sit out of square, and use the smallest reading.

Can you put a TV on top of an electric fireplace in a stand?

Don't assume it is safe: read the insert maker's, the stand maker's and the TV maker's heat and clearance notes first, and follow the strictest one. A TV can't be assumed safe above or beside a heater, even when the stand is built to hold it.

Do TV stand inserts need a chimney?

No, electric inserts burn nothing at all, so they need no chimney, flue or vent pipe. They still need open air around the unit, so keep the grilles and the back of the cabinet clear and follow the clearances in the manual.