FirePlace
Best Electric Fireplace Picks of 2026: Wall Mount, Insert and Built-In
Sep
Our best electric fireplace picks for 2026 cover wall mount, insert, linear, three-sided and outdoor models from Napoleon, Modern Flames and SimpliFire. Start with our five-minute buying guide, then compare the nine picks for your space.
The best electric fireplace for you depends on your wall, room and budget. Every model in this ranking comes from Napoleon, Modern Flames or SimpliFire, and we sell and support each as an authorized dealer. We focus on fireplaces from fireplace manufacturers, rather than the same three Amazon space heaters you may see on other lists. You can choose a wall mount to hang in an afternoon, an insert for an old wood-burning firebox, a linear built-in for a TV wall, a three-sided model or an outdoor option. Start with this five-minute buying guide.
Jump to a Pick
- Our overall wall mount pick: Napoleon Entice 50
- Our budget pick: Napoleon Allure 32 Vertical
- For an existing fireplace: Modern Flames RedStone
- For the most realistic flame: Modern Flames Orion V2
- For a TV wall: Modern Flames Landscape Pro Slim
- For linear wall mount value: SimpliFire Allusion Platinum
- For a traditional look: SimpliFire Inception
- Our three-sided pick: Napoleon Luminex 65
- Our outdoor pick: SimpliFire Forum
Best Electric Fireplace Buying Guide: How to Choose
Wall mount, electric fireplace insert or built-in?
A wall-mounted fireplace hangs like a TV and plugs into a standard electrical outlet. It is the quickest fireplace type to install. A built-in fits fully or partly into a recessed wall cavity. Many wall-mount models can recess too. An electric fireplace insert slides into the firebox of an unused wood-burning fireplace. Fireplace inserts are the cheapest way to use that old hearth again, and none require a chimney. We skip the freestanding electric fireplace stove and TV stand consoles from big-box brands such as Duraflame and R.W.Flame. We focus on units from fireplace manufacturers.
How realistic is the flame?
The flame effect separates a fireplace-brand unit from a space heater with a screen. Look for layered LED flames, adjustable flame color and realistic ember colors. Higher-end virtual fireplace technology plays digital footage of a real fire to look like a real wood-burning fireplace across the room. We consider a crackling sound option essential to any modern flame effect worth buying. Modern Flames and SimpliFire lead here. Our guide to the most realistic electric fireplace compares the leading options and less common technology, including Ortal holographic and NetZero E-One 3D flame effect units we don’t carry.
How much heat do you get?
Most 120V units deliver around 5,000 BTU from a built-in electric fireplace heater. That is a useful amount of heat for a 400 sq ft room, rather than a whole house. Some larger units offer a 240V hardwire option, connected directly to your electrical wiring, for roughly twice the output. The Modern Flames Orion line is rated at 8,300/5,000 BTU depending on wiring. Multiple heat settings and overheating protection are standard on everything we sell. Every pick below runs its flames without heat, so you can enjoy the ambiance in July too.
Size, mantel and media
Measure your wall first. Linear electric fireplace models have a wide, horizontal shape and run from 26 inch to 96 inch widths. A 60 inch or 72 inch flame window looks different over a mantel than on an open wall. Most units include both log and crystal media. You aren’t limited to fake logs glued in place, so you can rearrange the ember bed for a different flame look each season. Several picks offer mantel or cabinet kits for a framed look without construction or a TV stand console. Those kits can offer the best value.
Controls and smart features
Remotes are standard. Newer models add a phone app, touch panels, timers, child lock functions and smart electric fireplace voice control through Alexa and Google Home. If you use your fireplace daily, look for eco and boost heat modes, ember bed color cycling and scheduled heating.
What about Dimplex and Touchstone?
Dimplex, including its Revillusion and Opti-Myst lines, and Touchstone make some of the best looking electric fireplaces on the market too. We don’t carry them, so they aren’t ranked among our best sellers here. For the models we stock, we provide full manufacturer warranties, honest lead times and spec sheets before you order.
The 9 Best Electric Fireplaces of 2026
1. Napoleon Entice 50 Wall Mount Electric Fireplace, Best Wall Mount Overall
The Entice 50 has a full flame pattern with adjustable colors and ember bed lighting. A reflective rear panel gives the flames depth, while its shallow body and nearly frameless front take up little room. Hang it and plug it in without a gas fitter or construction, or recess it fully for a built-in look. The remote controls flame intensity, brightness, blower fan, heat and timer. It also comes in 42, 60 and 72 inches. From $1,229 at the time of writing.
2. Napoleon Allure 32 Vertical, Best Budget Electric Fireplace
The Allure is the most affordable fireplace we sell and the only vertical model here. Its upright flame display fits narrow walls, entryways and bedrooms where a wider unit won’t fit. The LED ember bed, flames and side accent lights offer more than six color options. You can use them with or without heat. From $429 at the time of writing.
3. Modern Flames RedStone, Best Value Electric Fireplace Insert
The RedStone offers value when you’re converting an old firebox. Its Hybrid-FX flame technology makes the flames taller within an enlarged vertical viewing area, filling the opening like a real fire. You get three flame patterns and six colors. It fits a roughly framed wall or a finished opening. Our range of fireplace inserts includes every size we stock for conversions. From $999 at the time of writing.
4. Modern Flames Orion V2 Traditional, Most Realistic Flame
The Orion projects layered flames that move like a real fire. You control it by phone app or remote, with RGB color selection, which mixes red, green and blue light, and smart home integration. The V2 fits openings in existing fireplaces or builds in with a clean-face kit for a neat front finish. It is rated for indoor and outdoor use. Sizes run from 26 to 54 inches, with an 8,300/5,000 BTU heating element. The ultra-slim Orion Slim built-in and three-sided Orion Multi use the same fire display. From $2,499 at the time of writing.
5. Modern Flames Landscape Pro Slim, Best for TV Walls
Modern Flames designed the Landscape Pro Slim to sit alongside a TV on one entertainment wall. Its slim body works on almost any wall type. Flames, downward lighting and ember bed colors use the full RGB spectrum. Pair it with a floating mantel from the brand’s Studio Suites line, and the whole TV wall comes as a kit. From $2,299 at the time of writing.
6. SimpliFire Allusion Platinum, Best Linear Wall Mount Value
The Allusion Platinum offers fifty, sixty or seventy-two inches of linear flame for less than premium built-ins. Mount it on the wall surface with an optional wall kit, or recess it fully to sit flush. It includes clear crystals and ceramic white stones and runs year-round with or without heat. The 60- and 72-inch versions offer an affordable larger display. From $1,499 at the time of writing.
7. SimpliFire Inception, Best Traditional Look
The Inception uses DigitalSpark technology to play footage of real flames, with six selectable crackle-and-fire sound effects. Its classic 36-inch firebox is the closest electric option to a brick or stone hearth. Install it in the wall, or use the Wescott mantel kit without construction. Control it through the IntelliFire app, a smart speaker or remote. From $4,999 at the time of writing.
8. Napoleon Luminex 65, Best Three-Sided
The Luminex 65 shows flames on three sides and is built into a framed wall. You can also set it up for corner or front-only viewing. The LCD display has three flame patterns in six colors each, with a colored ember bed and top light and built-in speakers for crackling sounds. Beach Fire Logs and the Woodland media kit are included, with up to 10,000 BTU of heat and control by remote, Napoleon Home app or voice through Google Home or Alexa. For fire visible from two rooms, Napoleon’s CLEARion Elite offers a see-through version of the idea. $5,029 at the time of writing.
9. SimpliFire Forum, Best Outdoor Electric Fireplace
The Forum is built for outdoor sun and weather, with a 43- or 55-inch linear flame for a covered patio. It needs no propane tanks, gas lines or firewood. You get four flame colors, thirteen ember bed colors and crystal or driftwood decorations. It produces no heat, so you can hang a TV directly above it. Browse our outdoor electric models for flush-mount versions. From $2,099 at the time of writing.
Best Electric Fireplace FAQ
Are electric fireplaces worth it?
Yes, if you want flames without venting, gas lines or chimney work. An electric fireplace installs anywhere with an outlet and costs pennies per hour with flames alone. Models with heat provide useful extra warmth. They won’t replace a furnace or give you the deep warmth of a gas fireplace. Our guide to choosing a fireplace compares all three fuels.
Which brand of electric fireplace is best?
Among our brands, choose Modern Flames for realistic flames and TV walls, Napoleon for range and value from budget to premium, and SimpliFire for traditional looks and outdoor models. All three manufacture fireplaces rather than import appliances.
How much does it cost to run an electric fireplace heater?
Flames alone use about as much electricity as an LED TV. With heat on, a standard 1,500-watt unit costs roughly 20 cents per hour at average U.S. electric rates. Because you’re heating one room, many owners turn the furnace lower.
Can an electric fireplace look like a real fire?
Yes. Current virtual flame models such as the Orion V2 and DigitalSpark models such as the Inception use footage instead of LEDs with spinning mirrors. They look most realistic with amber flames and the crackling sound on. We compare them directly in the most realistic electric fireplace guide.
Do I need an electrician?
Most units plug into a standard 120V outlet. Hardwired built-ins and 240V heater options need an electrician. Check the product page, and we’ll confirm the electrical requirements before you order.
Will an electric fireplace insert fit my old fireplace opening?
It can fit; first, measure your opening’s width, height and depth. The Modern Flames RedStone comes in five sizes (width by height): 26 x 21, 30 x 21, 36 x 26, 42 x 29 and 54 x 35 inches. The Orion V2 Traditional comes in the same five widths. RedStone’s 26, 30 and 36 inch surrounds cover gaps in larger openings. Each size has a dimension drawing in its product page’s Specifications tab. An insert plugs into a standard 120 volt outlet. Call us with your three measurements and we will help you match a size.
Shop the Best Electric Fireplaces
Every pick ships from My Cozy Outdoors, an authorized dealer, with full manufacturer warranties. We offer free shipping on most brands (exceptions apply) and no sales tax (except WY). Our fireplace specialists discuss wall sizes and wiring every day. Browse our complete electric fireplace collection, wall-mounted fireplace range or linear electric fireplace lineup. If you’re choosing between two, call or chat and we’ll help you find the best electric fireplace for your wall.
