What Size Electric Fireplace Do You Need?

On this page (9 sections)

1. How wide should your electric fireplace be?
2. How the common sizes compare
3. Use painter's tape before you commit
4. How deep should the unit be for your wall?
5. How tall should the unit be under a TV?
6. Does heat output change the size you need?
7. What cutout size does your electric fireplace need?
8. Will a small insert fit a cabinet or TV stand?
9. Pick the electric fireplace size you need for your wall

Pick the width from your wall first, then check the depth and height. The TV matters too, but the wall decides whether a unit fits at all.

This guide covers what to measure, how the common sizes compare, and how to read the heat claims on the box. For the bigger picture on wall, recessed and insert units, start with the wall mounted and recessed electric fireplace guide.

How wide should your electric fireplace be?

Pick 36 inches for a small wall, 50 inches for most living rooms, and 60 inches for a big wall or a wide TV. Those three sizes are the usual starting points.

Start with the open wall, not the room, since the fireplace has to fit between the corners, a door or a window. Leave even space on each side so the unit looks planned rather than squeezed in.

Electric fireplace size: measure the wall in three places

Measure the wall width at the top, middle and bottom, and use the smallest number. Walls are rarely perfectly even, and a trim board or baseboard can change the reading.

Write down all three numbers before you compare them with any unit.

A 50 inch unit is the common middle size for a living room wall. EUHOMY's 50 inch model is 4 inches deep and 17 inches tall.

If you're comparing that width, the best 50 inch recessed electric fireplaces show the recessed options side by side.

A 60 inch unit suits a big wall or a wide TV, but the wall must be at least that wide with room on each side.

If your wall runs wide, compare the best 60 inch electric fireplaces for depth and heat.

When a unit looks too small or too big

A small unit on a big wall looks lost, and a big unit on a small wall crowds the room. Think about how the wall reads from the sofa and from the doorway, since those are the views you see most.

If you're between two sizes, pick the one that leaves even space on both sides. Then check that the depth fits the wall before you commit.

How the common sizes compare

Width is the big difference between the common sizes, while the wall units here all sit near 4 inches deep. The Giantex insert is the outlier at 6 inches deep, which suits a cabinet.

Use painter's tape before you commit

Mark the unit's width and height on the wall with painter's tape, then look at it from the sofa and the doorway. A tape outline shows the size in the room, which is easier to judge than a number on a page.

Leave the tape up for a day or two, and check it in daylight and in the evening. If the outline crowds a window or a door, look at the next size down.

How deep should the unit be for your wall?

Most wall units are about 4 inches deep, so the depth you can fit matters as much as the width. Check the depth before you fall for a model.

Antarctic Star's 36 inch and R.W.FLAME's 60 inch units both measure 3.86 inches deep, while Giantex's 28.5 inch insert is 6 inches deep. A deeper unit needs more room in the wall or the cabinet.

If you're deciding between the two styles, wall mounted vs recessed electric fireplace explains the trade-offs.

Stud fit for a recessed unit

A recessed unit needs framing that fits its stud size, and most of the planning happens inside the wall. R.W.FLAME says its 60 inch unit fits a 2 by 6 stud, so check whether your wall uses 2 by 4 or 2 by 6 framing.

Recessed units often need a drywall cut, and the wall must be free of wires and pipes. If you're unsure what's inside the wall or what it carries, ask a pro, and leave the framing and the cut to the manual.

How tall should the unit be under a TV?

Most units in this range are 17 to 21 inches tall, so the gap under the TV decides whether that height works. Measure the space before you pick a model.

Giantex's 28.5 inch insert is the tallest of the four, at 21 inches, so measure the cabinet opening before you buy it.

Measure the space from the top of the unit to the bottom of the TV, and check it against both makers' clearance notes. For units that hang under a TV, see the best wall mounted electric fireplaces to hang under a TV.

Does heat output change the size you need?

No, heat output doesn't change the width you need, because width comes from your wall. A fireplace is a zone heater, so it warms the area near it more than the whole house.

A 1,500 watt setting puts out about 5,100 BTU per hour, and 750 watts is about half of that. Use those numbers to compare units, not to size a room.

Makers often list room sizes, such as 400 square feet for Antarctic Star and R.W.FLAME. Treat those numbers as the makers' claims and compare them with your own room.

The Department of Energy's Energy Saver site covers how heating and power use add up in a home.

What cutout size does your electric fireplace need?

The cutout in the manual sets the opening size, so use that number instead of guessing from the unit's overall size. The install style matters too, since Antarctic Star says its 36 inch unit can be recessed, semi-recessed or wall mounted.

EUHOMY says its 50 inch unit can go fully recessed or on the wall, so a wall mounted install needs no cutout at all.

For a wider look at how the choices fit together, the electric fireplace buying guide for the living room covers each decision.

Will a small insert fit a cabinet or TV stand?

A 28.5 inch insert such as Giantex's fits a cabinet or narrow nook, but only if the opening is deep enough for its 6 inch depth. Measure the cabinet's opening and depth before you buy.

A shallow cabinet won't take a 6 inch insert, so the depth check comes first. If the insert goes into a TV stand, read the stand maker's heat notes too.

Pick the electric fireplace size you need for your wall

Pick a 36 inch electric fireplace if your wall is small or your gap is narrow, and check its depth against your framing. Pick a 50 inch unit for the common middle size, and a 60 inch unit if your wall or TV is wide.

Read the plan a TV wall with an electric fireplace guide next if your TV is part of the plan.

Frequently asked questions

What size electric fireplace fits under a 65 inch TV?

Start with your wall width and the gap under the TV, not the TV size alone. A 50 or 60 inch unit suits a wide wall, a 36 to 40 inch unit suits a narrower one, and both makers' clearance notes set the final spot.

Is a 36 inch electric fireplace big enough for a living room?

A 36 inch unit can work in a small living room or on a narrow wall, but it may look small on a large wall. Makers often list room sizes, such as 400 square feet, and those are maker claims, so compare them with your own room.

How deep is a wall mounted electric fireplace?

Many wall mounted units are about 4 inches deep, such as Antarctic Star's 36 inch unit and R.W.FLAME's 60 inch unit at 3.86 inches. Giantex's 28.5 inch insert is 6 inches deep, so check the depth against your wall before you choose.

Do I need to measure the cutout before I buy?

Yes, if the unit goes into a wall or cabinet opening. The cutout decides whether the unit fits, so measure the opening's width, height and depth, then match them to the manual's cutout size before you order and keep those numbers with you when you shop.