Small Electric Fireplaces

Small electric fireplaces fit rooms and walls that cannot take a full-size firebox, and because they are electric they need no venting, no gas line, and usually just a standard outlet. This collection covers compact built-ins, inserts for existing openings, and wall mounted units, most rated near 5,000 BTU.

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Small electric fireplaces solve a constraint rather than a preference: the room, or the wall, will not take a full-size firebox. Because they run on electricity there is no venting, no gas line, and on nearly every model no wiring work either.

What small means here

Roughly 50 inches wide and under, with a large share at 29 inches and less. That band suits a bedroom, an apartment living room, a home office, or a wall already interrupted by a doorway or furniture. Wider than that and the fireplace becomes the room's focal point, which is a different design decision.

Small does not mean less capable. The flame technology, the app control, and the heat output on a compact unit are typically the same as on its larger siblings from the same series. What changes is the size of the picture.

Insert, built-in, or wall mounted

Three shapes, and the right one is decided by what your wall already looks like.

Inserts slide into an opening that already exists, usually a masonry firebox nobody uses any more, and are finished only on the front. If you have the hole, this is the cheapest path to a working fireplace. See electric fireplace inserts.

Built-ins are framed into a wall you open up for them, giving the flush, frameless look. See built-in electric fireplaces.

Wall mounted units hang on brackets and need no construction at all, only a fixing and a nearby outlet, which is why they are the usual answer in a rental. See wall mounted fireplaces.

Depth is the specification that decides the job

A 2x4 wall gives 3.5 inches of usable depth and a 2x6 gives 5.5. A fireplace deeper than the cavity cannot recess into it, whatever a product description implies, so compare the unit's depth against your framing directly. Several models here are built specifically for shallow walls; many others need 2x6 or a furred-out wall.

That single number resolves most installation questions before you open anything.

Heat, honestly

Anything on a standard 120V outlet tops out near 5,000 BTU, because a 15-amp circuit safely carries about 1,500 watts and that is what converts to roughly 5,100 BTU. Most units here land between 3,000 and 7,000. Treat it as supplemental heat for the room you are in, and plug it directly into the wall rather than a power strip.

For a broader comparison of the technologies, read our electric fireplace buying guide, or browse every size in electric fireplaces.

Frequently Asked Questions about Small Electric Fireplaces

What counts as a small electric fireplace?

In this collection it means roughly 50 inches wide and under, with a large share at 29 inches and less. That is the band that suits a bedroom, an apartment living room, a home office, or a wall already crowded by furniture or a doorway. Above that width you are into standard-size units, which read as the room's focal point rather than an addition to it.

Can a small electric fireplace actually heat a room?

It will take the chill off one room, not heat a house. Most models here produce 3,000 to 7,000 BTU, and the ceiling for anything on a standard 120V outlet is around 5,000 BTU, because a 1,500W element is what a 15-amp circuit safely allows. Manufacturers generally rate that for a few hundred square feet as supplemental heat.

Does a small electric fireplace need special wiring?

Usually not. The great majority plug into an ordinary 120V outlet. What matters is that a 1,500W heater draws about 12.5 amps, so it should not share a circuit with another heavy load, and it should go straight into the wall rather than through an extension cord or power strip. A few larger models offer a hardwired option for more heat.

What is the difference between a small insert and a small built-in?

An insert is designed to slide into an opening that already exists, typically a masonry firebox you no longer use, and is finished only on the front. A built-in is framed into a wall you construct or open up for it. If you already have a hole, you want an insert. If you do not, a built-in or a wall mounted unit avoids masonry work entirely.

Will a small electric fireplace fit a 2x4 wall?

Some will, and it is worth checking rather than assuming, because a 2x4 wall gives only 3.5 inches of depth. Compare the unit's depth against that figure directly: a fireplace deeper than the cavity cannot recess into it, whatever the marketing says. Several models in this collection are built specifically for shallow framing, and a number of others need 2x6.

Can you run a small electric fireplace without heat?

Yes, on every model here, and it is the feature owners use most. The flame effect and the heating element are independent, so the fireplace can run year round for ambiance on a few cents of electricity a day, with the heater switched on only when you want it.