Built-in Electric Fireplaces

Built-in electric fireplaces recess into a framed wall for a flush, custom look, with no venting, chimney, or gas line required. This collection spans linear and traditional profiles, single-sided and multi-sided viewing, in a range of heat outputs.

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What Is a Built-In Electric Fireplace?

A built-in electric fireplace, also called an in-wall or recessed electric fireplace, sits inside a framed wall opening so the glass finishes flush with the wall. No venting, chimney or gas line is required. Many models ship with a cord or plug kit, so power can be an outlet placed inside the framing; others are hardwired, and the product page says which.

Linear or Traditional Profile

Most models in this collection are wide-format linear fireplaces suited to a modern feature wall. A number are built around more traditional proportions instead, sized to sit inside a mantel surround. Several of these also work as electric fireplace inserts, worth a look if you are retrofitting an existing masonry opening rather than building new.

Single-Sided, See-Through, or Multi-Sided

Most fireplaces here are single-sided. A few are see-through, for a wall that divides two rooms, and some of those let you set the heat for each side separately, such as the Napoleon CLEARion Elite and the Modern Flames Nova Clear. Several other models offer full 3-sided viewing for a more open, architectural placement, among them the Dimplex Ignite XL Bold, the SimpliFire Triton and the Amantii TRU-VIEW. See all 3-sided electric fireplaces.

Heat Output and Room Coverage

Most built-in electric fireplaces draw about 1,500 watts on a 120V circuit, which is close to 5,000 BTU, enough to take the chill off roughly 400 to 500 square feet. Models that can be hardwired to 240V give up to about twice as much, enough for up to about 1,000 square feet. Either way it is supplemental heat for the room it is in, not your home's main heating, from a fan-forced heater that warms the air, and most run the flame with the heat off. See our Electric Fireplaces with Powerful Heaters collection if maximum heat is the priority.

Electric fireplaces put out less heat than gas or wood-burning fireplaces. In exchange, nothing burns, so there is no venting, no combustion and no fumes in the room.

Installation

A built-in goes into a framed opening sized to the model, so read the rough opening and depth on the product page before the wall goes up. Power is the other decision: a cord-and-plug model needs an outlet inside the framing, while a hardwired model, or any 240V installation, is electrician work. Wall depth requirements vary by model; see our Recessed Electric Fireplace for 2x4 Wall collection if you are working with a standard 2x4 wall. For a full walkthrough, see our Built-in Electric Fireplace Installation Guide.

Explore Related Fireplace Styles

Looking for something else? Browse our full range of fireplace styles:

Built-in Fireplaces to compare every fuel type that recesses into the wall, including built-in gas fireplaces if you want more heat and a real flame
Linear Electric Fireplaces for wide, low models for a media wall
Large Electric Fireplaces for models 60 inches and wider
Plug-in Electric Fireplaces for a simpler, no-hardwiring install
Electric Fireplace Inserts if you are retrofitting an existing fireplace opening
Smart Electric Fireplaces for more Wi-Fi app-controlled models
Modern Flames Orion, Dimplex Ignite, and Dimplex Revillusion Fireplaces to shop these collections by brand
Or return to our full Electric Fireplaces collection to compare every style

Frequently Asked Questions about Built-in Electric Fireplaces

Are built-in electric fireplaces worth it?

For most homeowners, yes. They give you the look of a real fireplace with no venting, chimney maintenance or fuel storage, and most add supplemental heat on top of the flame effect. The main cost is the framing, plus an electrician if the model you choose is hardwired or you want 240V heat.

What is the best built-in electric fireplace?

It depends on what you need, but realism is usually the top priority. For the most lifelike flame, look at a virtual electric fireplace, which plays a recorded video of real fire rather than an LED flame effect, such as the Modern Flames Orion or the Dynasty Tempo. If maximum heat output matters most, look at our Powerful Heaters collection. If you want a see-through fireplace with separate heat for each side, compare the Napoleon CLEARion Elite and the Modern Flames Nova Clear. If wall depth is limited, filter for 2x4-compatible models.

How much does it cost to add a built-in electric fireplace?

Much less than a gas fireplace, both to put in and to run. There is no gas line to run, no vent or chimney to build and no gas appliance to service, so installation comes down to framing the opening, finishing the wall, and power: an outlet inside the framing for a cord-and-plug model, or an electrician for a hardwired or 240V installation. Running it costs far less too. With the heater on, most models draw about 1,500 watts, the same as a portable space heater. Run the flame alone and it costs pennies, because the flame effect is just lighting.

Do built-in electric fireplaces use a lot of electricity?

No, they convert nearly all their energy into heat with no loss through a chimney or vent, and you can run the flame effect alone without the heater for minimal energy use.

Can a built-in electric fireplace put out real heat, or is it just for looks?

Both. Most heated models draw about 1,500 watts on a 120V circuit, close to 5,000 BTU, which is enough supplemental heat for roughly 400 to 500 square feet. Models that can be hardwired to 240V give up to about twice as much, enough for up to about 1,000 square feet. That is supplemental heat for one room, not a replacement for your home's heating system. A few models are flame-only with no heater, and most heated models run the flame with the heat off.

How is a built-in electric fireplace installed?

It recesses into a framed wall opening sized to the model. Many ship with a cord or plug kit and run from an outlet placed inside the framing; others are hardwired, which is electrician work, as is any 240V installation. Wall depth and framing requirements vary by model, so check the product page, and see our installation guide for a full walkthrough.