The Best Electric Fireplaces for 2026: Duraflame, Real Flame, Touchstone and More
By Claire Whitmore. Last updated October 2026.
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An electric fireplace gives a room the glow of a fire without a chimney, gas line, ash or smoke. Most double as a supplemental heater, and nearly all can run the flame effect with the heat off, so you can enjoy the ambiance year-round. The category now runs from small stove-style heaters to 60-inch linear units you recess into a wall like a built-in.
This guide draws on two main sources plus a third for context. The Spruce has tested 32 electric fireplaces in its writers’ homes, from snowbound Colorado to north Florida, scoring assembly, safety, design, performance and value. Good Housekeeping’s Institute engineers selected their picks using the Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab’s testing data, brand familiarity and owner reviews. Popular Mechanics’ buying advice helped us frame heat output. We haven’t tested these fireplaces ourselves.
Quick answer: the Duraflame 3D Infrared Electric Fireplace Stove is the best overall pick at both The Spruce and Good Housekeeping. For a traditional mantel look, choose the Real Flame Silverton. For a sleek wall-mounted or recessed unit, The Spruce likes the Touchstone Sideline Deluxe, the slim Silonn and, as a splurge, the 60-inch Modern Ember Highmark.
Our picks at a glance
| Fireplace | Style | Heat output (listed) | Who recommends it | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duraflame 3D Infrared Fireplace Stove | Freestanding stove | 5,200 Btu | The Spruce and Good Housekeeping: best overall | Most rooms |
| Real Flame Silverton | Mantel | 4,780 Btu | The Spruce: best with mantel, most realistic; GH: best with mantel | Traditional living rooms |
| Touchstone Sideline Deluxe Smart | Wall mount or recessed | 5,000 Btu | The Spruce: best wall mount | A modern, slim look |
| Silonn Smart Electric Fireplace | Recessed or flush mount | 5,300 Btu | The Spruce: best recessed | Built-in installs |
| Modern Ember Highmark (60-inch) | Wall mount or recessed | 5,000 Btu | The Spruce: best smart | Large media walls |
| R.W. Flame Electric Fireplace Heater | Freestanding stove | 5,100 Btu | The Spruce: best value | Colorful flames on a budget |
| Turbro Suburbs Compact Stove | Freestanding stove | Up to 400 sq ft (brand) | Good Housekeeping: best value | Small rooms and offices |
| PuraFlame Western Insert | Fireplace insert | Up to 400 sq ft (brand) | Good Housekeeping: most realistic | Reviving an unused fireplace |
| Walker Edison TV Stand with Fireplace | TV console | Not listed | The Spruce: best TV stand | Living rooms with a TV focal point |
Btu and coverage figures are as listed by the testers or manufacturers. Prices change often; check before you buy.
How we chose
We prioritized models that The Spruce has tested in real homes, often over multiple winters, and cross-checked them against Good Housekeeping’s Lab-informed selections. We weighed flame realism, heat performance, noise, safety features (overheat protection, auto-off timers, certifications and cool-to-touch surfaces), ease of installation and overall value. Every performance claim below is attributed to the outlet that made it.
Types of electric fireplaces
Good Housekeeping groups electric fireplaces into five types:
Freestanding units work much like space heaters with a flame effect, and you can move them room to room.
Inserts slide into an existing firebox, which adds realism and fills an unused fireplace. Measure the firebox opening carefully.
Wall-mount and recessed units give the most modern look and often allow multicolored flames, but they cost more and may need installation work. Popular Mechanics notes that many low- to mid-priced units can’t be hardwired.
Mantel fireplaces include a surround and transform a room quickly; TV consoles combine a fireplace with media storage.
The best electric fireplaces
1. Duraflame 3D Infrared Electric Fireplace Stove: best overall
Best for: almost any room.
The Spruce says this stove-style unit comes out on top every time; its writers have tested it four separate times, and one unit lasted through three years in an unfinished basement TV room. It’s quiet (The Spruce checked with a decibel meter), assembly is just four legs, and the flame and heat functions work independently. There are five flame brightness settings. The front grill gets hot during use, though the top and sides stay cooler. It’s UL-tested with overheat protection and a programmable auto shutoff timer.
Good Housekeeping also names it best overall, praising the layered 3D flame effect and infrared heat; Duraflame rates it for up to 1,000 square feet.
Pros
- Realistic flames
- Quiet
- Flame works without heat
- Easy to move
Cons
- Front grill gets hot
- Controls sit behind the door
2. Real Flame Silverton Electric Fireplace: best mantel and most realistic
Best for: traditional living rooms without a real fireplace.
The Spruce’s tester assembled it with a second person in just under an hour and found the white finish and molded trim gave it an authentic, custom-built look. LED flames and embers dim and dance, with five brightness settings and adjustable color. Six temperature settings run from 72 to 99°F. During testing the back of the CSA-certified firebox stayed cool, and the unit still worked like new after two years. The mantel suits decor but can’t support a TV, and the piece takes up a lot of space.
Pros
- Convincing traditional look
- Quiet blower
- Durable over two years
Cons
- Large
- Can’t hold a TV
- Assembly required
3. Touchstone Sideline Deluxe Smart Electric Fireplace: best wall mount
Best for: modern rooms without spare floor space.
At 5.25 inches deep, the Sideline Deluxe can mount flat on a wall or be recessed, and it can be plugged in or hardwired. The Spruce’s tester has used an earlier Touchstone model in a chilly basement office year-round; this smart version adds app and Alexa/Google voice control, nine flame colors, nine ember colors and five intensity levels. The Spruce advises choosing logs or crystals carefully at installation, since switching later takes two people to remove the glass.
Pros
- Slim profile
- App and voice control
- Plug-in or hardwire
Cons
- Remote isn’t intuitive
4. Silonn Smart Electric Fireplace: best recessed
Best for: flush or recessed built-ins.
The Spruce says it’s its favorite for recessed installs because it’s very thin. Its tester flush-mounted it and liked the app controls (including a child lock), double-digit flame colors, five brightness levels and five flicker speeds over a crystal bed. Heat felt weak to the tester, and on a standard wall mount the exposed sides and power cord are visible, so recess it if you can.
Pros
- Very thin
- Excellent app with child lock
- Many flame options
Cons
- Heat feels weak
- Exposed sides on surface mount
5. Modern Ember Highmark Smart Linear Fireplace: best smart splurge
Best for: large family rooms and media walls.
This 60-inch unit brought ambiance and significant heat to The Spruce tester’s roughly 350-square-foot basement family room, with a thermostat that kept the room from overheating. He preferred the app (and Google or Alexa voice control) over the remote, and liked the 10 flame colors. Installation, recessed and hardwired, took about two hours. The Spruce notes it costs about $1,000 more than its best wall-mount pick.
Pros
- Huge, dramatic flame
- Good heat with thermostat
- Excellent app
Cons
- Expensive
- Challenging setup
6. R.W. Flame Electric Fireplace Heater: best value stove
Best for: colorful, fun flames on a budget.
The Spruce’s tester has used it for over a year. It has viewing windows on three sides and colored flame options that were a hit for holidays, though the flames aren’t as realistic as the Duraflame’s. It warmed a radius of about five feet rather than a whole room. Setup took about 20 minutes, and the control panel sits behind a door secured with a wingnut.
Pros
- Affordable
- Fun color options
- Three-sided view
Cons
- Less realistic
- Awkward control access
7. Turbro Suburbs Compact Electric Fireplace Stove: best compact value
Best for: dens, home offices and bedrooms.
Good Housekeeping’s value pick is plug-and-play out of the box, with a traditional arched-door stove look, metal construction and heat for up to 400 square feet per the brand. The flame effects aren’t customizable like higher-end models.
Pros
- No assembly
- Compact
- Affordable
Cons
- Fixed flame effect
8. PuraFlame Western Electric Fireplace Insert: best insert
Best for: bringing an unused fireplace back to life.
Good Housekeeping calls its three-sided brick-look interior, resin log set and glowing embers incredibly realistic, with crackling sound effects and adjustable flame brightness. You slide it into an existing opening and plug it in; heat is rated for up to 400 square feet.
Pros
- Very realistic
- Easy install in an existing firebox
Cons
- Smaller heating range
9. Walker Edison Modern TV Stand with Electric Fireplace: best TV stand
Best for: living rooms where the TV is the focal point.
The Spruce’s tester liked the coastal oak finish and found it easily warmed her 240-square-foot living room. Four brightness levels, a pause-the-flame option and a timer add flexibility. The fan is a bit loud, and assembly was a real effort, with cam locks that needed retightening.
Pros
- Strong heat
- Stylish console
Cons
- Fan noise
- Complicated assembly
How much heat can you expect?
The Spruce says most electric fireplaces put out 4,500 to 5,200 Btu. Popular Mechanics’ rule of thumb is that about 5,100 Btu warms roughly 400 square feet, and The Spruce notes infrared models are often rated for larger areas, up to about 1,000 square feet. Treat those figures as supplemental heat: John Crouch of the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association told The Spruce that electric fireplaces are primarily decorative and shouldn’t be confused with gas or pellet heaters.
Good Housekeeping explains the two heating styles: convection units warm the air and push it out with a fan (they can be noisier), while infrared units warm you and objects directly, can feel faster and quieter, but may be hotter to the touch. If you mainly want heat, compare with our best space heaters.
Safety and placement tips
Licensed electrical contractor Larry Campbell told The Spruce to place a fireplace where its cord reaches a wall outlet directly, never through an extension cord or power strip. Look for overheat protection, an auto shutoff timer and a safety certification such as UL, CSA or ETL, and supervise children and pets around hot grills. For recessed or hardwired installs, hire an electrician.
- Measure the wall, firebox or floor space, including clearance for a TV above.
- Decide whether you want logs, crystals or driftwood; changing later can be a hassle.
- Check that the flame can run without heat if you live somewhere mild.
- For media walls, plan cable routing and an outlet inside the recess before drywall goes up.
FAQ
Do electric fireplaces get hot to the touch?
Surfaces are designed to stay relatively cool, but grills near the heating element can get hot; The Spruce found the Duraflame’s front grill warm during use.
Can I use an electric fireplace without heat?
Most models let you run the flame effect alone, which is ideal in warm climates.
Can an electric fireplace heat a whole house?
No. They’re supplemental heaters, typically for one room of up to about 400 square feet, or larger for some infrared models.
Can I put a TV above an electric fireplace?
Many wall and recessed units are designed for media walls, but check the manufacturer’s clearance guidance. The Real Flame Silverton’s mantel isn’t designed to hold a TV.
The bottom line
If you want one answer, buy the Duraflame 3D Infrared stove: two independent sources rank it first, and it’s simple to set up and move. For the look of a traditional built-in, choose the Real Flame Silverton, and for a sleek wall or recessed install, start with the Touchstone Sideline Deluxe or Silonn.
