How to Install a Recessed Electric Fireplace

On this page (9 sections)

1. Can you install a recessed electric fireplace yourself?
2. What size opening does a recessed unit need?
3. How do you find the studs and check the wall?
4. How deep does the wall need to be?
5. Does your unit plug in or need hard-wiring?
6. What are the install steps, in order?
7. What about a TV above a recessed unit?
8. What do you check if it won't heat after the install?
9. When should you install a recessed unit, and when should you skip it?

Here is how to install a recessed electric fireplace at a high level: check the cutout size, find the studs, frame the opening, set the unit, connect power and test it.

This is an overview, not a wiring guide, so the maker's manual comes first and a pro handles the framing and any hard-wired connection.

A recessed unit sits inside the wall, so the wall has to be opened and framed to fit it. That's the main difference from a unit that hangs on the surface, which we cover in wall mounted vs recessed electric fireplace.

For the big picture on every type, read our wall mounted and recessed electric fireplace guide. If you're putting a unit into an existing firebox instead, the steps differ, so see how to install an electric fireplace insert.

Can you install a recessed electric fireplace yourself?

Parts of it, but the maker's manual and a pro should lead, since the job involves framing, a drywall cut and often electrical work. The manual sets the cutout, the stud fit and the clearances the maker expects.

If you're unsure about the framing or what's inside the wall, ask a pro to look before anyone cuts. That goes for an open wall during a remodel too.

What size opening does a recessed unit need?

The opening has to match the cutout size in your unit's manual, not just the width of the front. Width and height come from the cutout, and depth decides how far the unit sits inside the wall.

Measure the cutout twice before you frame, since a small error is hard to fix once the wall is up.

If you're still picking a width, see what size electric fireplace do you need, and for picks at each size, read best recessed electric fireplaces.

How do you find the studs and check the wall?

Use a stud finder to find each stud's center, then have a pro check the wall for wires and pipes before you cut. A stud finder shows you the framing, but it doesn't clear the wall for the job.

Finding studs for a recessed electric fireplace

Mark each stud's center on the wall before you start, so you can see where the framing runs.

DEWALT says its finder works to about 3/4 inch deep in wood and metal, and it has AC and live wire detection. It can't find plastic or non-ferrous pipes, and it won't see through plaster, tile or concrete.

Studs in most homes sit about 16 inches apart on center, but measure each one instead of assuming that spacing. The manual says how the opening should be framed around them.

How deep does the wall need to be?

The unit's depth has to fit the stud depth in your wall, and makers name the stud sizes each unit fits. A 2 x 4 stud is about 3.5 inches deep, and a 2 x 6 stud is about 5.5 inches deep.

R.W.FLAME says its 50-inch model fits a 2 x 6 wall, so check that against the studs in your wall. The three examples in this guide run from 3.86 to 5.5 inches deep, so depth varies a lot from one unit to the next.

RealSmart says its 50-inch unit can sit fully recessed, partially recessed or on the wall. Check the manual to see how much wall depth each option needs.

Does your unit plug in or need hard-wiring?

Check the manual first, since some units plug into an outlet and others are hard-wired by a licensed electrician. Confirm the setup before you order, since it decides where any outlet or electrician work goes.

Plug-in or hard-wired recessed electric fireplace

R.W.FLAME's 50-inch unit runs on corded electric power, so check the manual for the outlet it needs. Check whether the RealSmart plugs in or is hard-wired before you frame the wall.

For a smart 40-inch model with the same plug or hard-wire choice, see our Touchstone Forte 40 review.

Do you need an electrician to install it?

Yes, when the manual calls for one, which usually means a hard-wired unit, a new outlet or a new circuit. Plug-in units may only need an outlet within reach of the cord.

Don't run a unit on an extension cord or power strip unless the manual allows it. A licensed electrician should handle anything beyond plugging in.

What are the install steps, in order?

The job runs in order: read the manual, measure the cutout, find the studs, frame the opening, set the unit, make the power connection the manual describes, and test it. Each step is an overview, so the manual sets the details.

Steps to install a recessed electric fireplace

1. Read the manual and the trim notes first.
2. Measure the cutout, including width, height and depth.
3. Find the studs, and have a pro check the wall for wires and pipes.
4. Frame the opening the way the manual's stud notes describe.
5. Set the unit in the opening and secure it as the manual describes.
6. Make the power connection the manual describes, with an electrician for any hard-wired unit.
7. Run the heat and the flame, then check the clearances and the front vents.

Keep the manual open during each step. If you find wires, pipes or framing you didn't expect, stop and call a pro before you go on.

What about a TV above a recessed unit?

Read both the fireplace maker's heat and clearance notes and the TV maker's notes before you pick a height. Neither one settles the layout by itself, so check both before you mount the TV.

Touchstone recommends at least 8 inches of space above its 80004, and you should check each maker's own note for its unit. Your TV's manual may set its own limits for heat and placement, so read it as well.

For layout steps, see how to plan a TV wall with an electric fireplace.

For general heater safety tips, the NFPA's home fire safety pages are a good place to start.

What do you check if it won't heat after the install?

Check the heat setting, the thermostat and the timer first, then follow the manual. Make sure nothing blocks the front heater vents.

Our guide on electric fireplace not heating walks through the safe checks in order. If the unit still won't heat, contact the maker, and don't open the unit or touch the wiring.

When should you install a recessed unit, and when should you skip it?

Install a recessed electric fireplace when the wall is open or being rebuilt, the stud depth fits the unit and a pro has checked the wall. Skip the recess if the wall is load-bearing or has wires or pipes you can't rule out.

If the wall work is more than you want, a wall unit hangs on the surface and skips the cut. Compare the two in wall mounted vs recessed electric fireplace before you commit to a cut.

Frequently asked questions

Can you install a recessed electric fireplace without cutting the wall?

Usually not, since a recessed unit sits inside an opening, so the wall has to be opened and framed to fit it. A wall mounted unit hangs on the surface and skips that step, which can be the simpler route for an existing wall.

Do recessed electric fireplaces need a licensed electrician?

Sometimes, and the manual decides, since a licensed electrician is needed for a hard-wired unit, a new outlet or a new circuit. Plug-in units may only need an outlet within reach of the cord, but check the manual for cord and outlet rules before you plug in.

How deep does the wall need to be for a recessed electric fireplace?

It depends on the unit and your stud size, since the three examples in this guide run from 3.86 inches to 5.5 inches deep. Check the depth and the stud notes in the manual, since a unit that's too deep for the stud bay won't fit the framing.

Can a TV go above a recessed electric fireplace?

Read both the fireplace maker's heat and clearance notes and the TV maker's notes before you choose the height, since Touchstone's 80004 recommends at least 8 inches of space above the unit. Neither set of notes settles the layout alone.

Do you need a stud finder to install a recessed unit?

A stud finder helps you locate studs for framing, and DEWALT's model finds the center of a stud to 3/4 inch deep. It can't find plastic or non-ferrous pipes or see through plaster or tile, so it doesn't clear the wall for you.