Wall Mounted vs Recessed Electric Fireplace

On this page (15 sections)

1. Side by side: width, depth and heat
2. How a wall mounted unit and a recessed unit differ
3. What the install involves
4. Depth decides how much wall you need
5. Height decides how much wall each unit covers
6. Framing and stud fit for a recessed unit
7. Weight and lifting
8. Power: plug in or hardwire?
9. Heat and room size
10. Flame look, controls and the box
11. Warranty and certification
12. Can you hang a TV above either one?
13. Measure before you order
14. Which wall and which buyer suit which install?
15. Wall mounted or recessed electric fireplace: which to pick

A wall mounted electric fireplace is the simpler install, and a recessed one looks cleaner if you're willing to frame an opening.

Two 50 inch units show the gap. The R.W.FLAME 50 is 3.86 in deep and can hang or recess, and the Touchstone Sideline 50 is 5.5 in deep and built for an in-wall recess.

If you're still sizing the wall, start with what size electric fireplace do you need. For the full picture, read the wall mounted and recessed electric fireplace guide.

Both units are electric, so neither one needs a flue or chimney. The real choice is how the unit meets the wall, and how much work that takes.

Side by side: width, depth and heat

The R.W.FLAME 50 is 3.86 in deep and the Touchstone Sideline 50 is 5.5 in deep, and both are about 50 inches wide with a 1,500 W top setting.

We compared the specs and features of both units, then scored each one against what a wall mounted or recessed buyer needs. Our score weighs specs, features and buyer feedback against what you're shopping for.

How a wall mounted unit and a recessed unit differ

A wall mounted unit stays on the wall surface, so the wall stays closed. A recessed unit sits inside a framed opening, which takes stud fit, framing and often a drywall cut.

Hanging keeps the work on the surface: a solid wall, mounting hardware and a power plan. Recessing changes the wall itself, so you plan the framing, the cavity and the trim before you start.

The maker's manual sets the clearance and power rules for either path.

What the install involves

Hanging a unit is mostly surface work, while recessing adds framing and finish work. The two paths differ most in what happens to the wall.

A hung unit usually goes like this:

• Find the studs and check the wall for wires and pipes.
• Mount the hardware the manual calls for.
• Hang the unit and connect power the way the manual allows.

A recessed unit adds more:

• Check that the wall isn't load-bearing and has no wires or pipes in the way.
• Confirm the stud fit and cutout size from the manual.
• Frame the opening, with a pro's help.
• Cut the drywall and set the unit.
• Finish the trim around the front.

A pro should handle the framing, and a licensed electrician any hard-wired connection.

Depth decides how much wall you need

The Touchstone Sideline 50 takes more wall than the R.W.FLAME 50, at 5.5 in deep against 3.86 in. Depth is the first number to check on either unit.

A unit that's too deep for the cavity won't sit flush, so measure the space before you pick. Touchstone also gives a 6.2 in chamber depth for the Sideline 50, so check that number against your cavity.

Wall mounted or recessed electric fireplace depth: what each path needs

Hung on the wall, the R.W.FLAME 50 stands 3.86 in out from the surface. Recessed, the cavity has to match the unit's depth, so the 5.5 in Sideline 50 needs a deeper cavity than the R.W.FLAME 50.

A 2 x 4 stud wall is about 3.5 in deep and a 2 x 6 wall about 5.5 in, which is why the stud size matters.

Height decides how much wall each unit covers

The Sideline 50 is 21.5 in tall and the R.W.FLAME 50 is 18.11 in tall, so the Touchstone covers about 3.4 in more wall. That adds up under a TV or a shelf.

Measure the wall space above where the unit will sit before you pick, and keep the maker's notes for that space in mind.

Framing and stud fit for a recessed unit

R.W.FLAME says the 50 fits a 2 x 6 stud wall. If your wall is framed with 2 x 4s, check the manual before you plan a recess.

Touchstone doesn't state a stud size for the Sideline 50, which measures 50.4 in wide and 21.5 in tall. Confirm the framing in the manual before you plan the wall.

Never cut into a load-bearing wall or a wall with wires or pipes. Bring in a pro for the framing, and follow each step in the manual.

For the install overview, read how to install a recessed electric fireplace.

Weight and lifting

The Touchstone Sideline 50 weighs 59 lb, so plan for a helper. R.W.FLAME doesn't publish a weight for the 50, so check before you plan the lift.

A 59 lb unit is also awkward to hold steady while you fasten it, so line up a second person for the set-in. Whichever unit you pick, follow the manual's mounting steps so the studs or framing carry the weight.

Power: plug in or hardwire?

The Sideline 50 has a 3-prong plug and a hardwire option. The R.W.FLAME 50 is corded electric, so confirm in the manual whether it plugs in or is hard-wired, since that decides who installs it.

A hard-wired unit, or any new outlet, is a job for a licensed electrician. Decide where the power comes from before anyone frames an opening.

Heat and room size

Both units are rated at 1,500 W, which is about 5,100 BTU per hour on the top setting. Both also have a 750 W setting for milder days.

R.W.FLAME says the 50 covers up to 400 sq ft, and Touchstone gives 400 sq ft for the Sideline 50. Both are room size claims from the makers, not promises for your room.

An electric fireplace warms the zone it's in, so it works as supplemental heat rather than a whole-house heater.

Both top out at 1,500 W, so the Touchstone's higher price tier doesn't buy more heat. It buys a built-for-recess design, a glass front with a log and crystals, and a plug-or-hardwire choice.

The Sideline 50 has a thermostat that runs from 68 to 88 degrees F, and its flame works without heat. R.W.FLAME says the 50 also shuts off the heat automatically to prevent overheating.

Flame look, controls and the box

The R.W.FLAME 50 uses a touch screen and a remote with a timer, and the Sideline 50 uses a remote with a 1 to 8 hour shut-off timer.

R.W.FLAME says the 50 has 12 flame and flame bed color modes, 5 flame speeds and 5 brightness levels. It also calls the unit low noise, which is a claim, not a number.

The Sideline 50 puts the flame behind glass with a faux log and clear crystals, in 3 flame colors. Its remote sets the flame color and intensity, the heater and the timer.

The Sideline 50's box adds drywall anchors and screws and a user manual.

Warranty and certification

Touchstone gives the Sideline 50 a 1-year limited warranty. R.W.FLAME says the 50 is ETL approved but doesn't state a warranty length, so confirm one before you buy.

Can you hang a TV above either one?

Only after you read both the fireplace maker's and the TV maker's heat and clearance notes. Touchstone's note for the Sideline 50 says to allow at least 8 inches of space above the unit.

R.W.FLAME doesn't give a TV clearance number, so check its manual. Nothing here means a TV is safe above or beside a heater, so follow both manuals.

For general home fire safety basics, the NFPA home fire safety pages are a good place to start.

Measure before you order

Five numbers decide whether either unit fits and how hard the install will be.

• The depth of the wall space or cavity, measured at the top, middle and bottom.
• The width and height of the opening, with any trim or outlet in the way (18.11 in tall for the R.W.FLAME 50, 21.5 in for the Sideline 50).
• Where the outlet sits and whether the cord reaches it.
• The stud width, if you plan to recess the unit.
• The weight of the unit and whether you can lift it with help.

Compare the numbers with the depth and width figures in the table above. If a freestanding unit is also on your list, see wall mounted vs freestanding electric fireplace before you decide.

Which wall and which buyer suit which install?

A finished wall with no opening suits a hanging unit, and a wall you're already opening suits a recess. Both paths work, but they start from different walls.

If the wall is finished and you don't want to cut drywall, hang the unit on a wall that can carry its weight. R.W.FLAME sells the 50 for both recessed and wall mounted installs, so it gives you that choice.

If you're building or opening a wall anyway, a recess keeps most of the unit's depth inside the wall. The Sideline 50 is built for that job, but its 5.5 in depth and 59 lb mean more planning.

The R.W.FLAME 50 suits a buyer who wants to keep the wall closed, likes touch controls and wants to tune flame speed and brightness. It sits in the budget tier.

The Sideline 50 suits a buyer who is already framing or remodeling, wants a glass-front flame with logs and crystals, and has a helper for the lift. It leans premium.

Skip the R.W.FLAME 50 if you can't confirm how it connects to power, or if you only have 2 x 4 framing and the manual doesn't confirm a fit. Skip the Sideline 50 if the wall can't spare 5.5 in of depth.

Wall mounted or recessed electric fireplace: which to pick

Pick the R.W.FLAME 50 if you want a thin unit that can hang now and, with a 2 x 6 stud wall, recess later. Pick the Touchstone Sideline 50 if you're building a recess and can handle its depth and weight.

If you don't want to open a wall, a wall mounted unit is the simpler start. If you already have a framed opening that fits, a recessed unit keeps the front close to the wall.

Before you plan the work, read how to install a recessed electric fireplace. For more options in each group, see the best wall mounted electric fireplaces and the best recessed electric fireplaces.

If the 40 inch Touchstone fits your opening better, our Touchstone Forte 40 review covers that model.

Frequently asked questions

Is a wall mounted fireplace easier to install than a recessed one?

Usually yes, because it hangs on the wall surface and needs no cutout. A recessed unit needs framing, a stud fit and often a drywall cut, so plan for more work, a pro's advice on the framing, and the maker's manual for clearance and power.

Can the R.W.FLAME 50 be both wall mounted and recessed?

Yes, R.W.FLAME sells it for both, and at 3.86 in deep it can hang on the wall or sit in a recess that fits a 2 x 6 stud wall. Check whether it plugs in or is hard-wired, and follow the manual for the install.

Which is deeper, the Touchstone Sideline 50 or the R.W.FLAME 50?

The Touchstone Sideline 50 is deeper at 5.5 in, while the R.W.FLAME 50 is 3.86 in. Touchstone also gives a 6.2 in chamber depth, so use the cutout numbers in the manual and measure your cavity at several points before you buy.

Are the two 50 inch units rated the same for heat?

Both are rated at 1,500 W, which is about 5,100 BTU per hour on the top setting, and both makers claim coverage up to 400 square feet. That figure is a claim about room size, not a promise for your room.

Do you need a TV clearance check for either one?

Yes, so read both the fireplace maker's and the TV maker's heat and clearance notes before you mount a TV above or beside either unit, and follow both manuals. Nothing here promises the wall or the TV is safe, so ask a pro if the setup leaves you unsure.