Small Electric Fireplaces: Where They Fit and How to Use One Safely

A small electric fireplace is usually a freestanding electric stove or compact unit that plugs into a standard 120 volt outlet and needs no vent, so it suits apartments, bedrooms and tiny homes. Treat it as a space heater: keep 3 feet clear around it, plug it straight into the wall, and switch the heater off before you sleep.

What counts as a small electric fireplace

A small electric fireplace is any plug-in flame unit sized for one room rather than a feature wall. The most common shape is the freestanding electric stove, a small box with legs and a glass front that looks like a wood stove. Dimplex says its electric stoves plug into a standard 120 volt outlet, need no venting and suit renters.

Two other shapes also work in tight spaces. A narrow unit that hangs on the wall takes no floor space at all; our guide to wall-mounted electric fireplaces covers height, studs and wiring. If you already have an unused wood fireplace, an electric log set or insert fits inside the opening.

Will a small electric fireplace heat a room?

A small electric fireplace takes the chill off the room you sit in, but it is extra heat, not a furnace. Dimplex says most electric fireplaces can heat rooms of up to about 400 square feet, and it describes the heat from its stoves as optional supplemental heat.

The flame and the heater are separate. Dimplex says the two run independently on its stoves, so you can use the flame on its own all year and turn the heat on only on cold evenings. In a small bedroom or studio, that flame-only mode is often the setting you use most.

Our main electric fireplace guide covers wattage and what the flame effect is made of.

Where a small electric fireplace fits safely

Small rooms are where the safety rules bite, because the 3 foot clearance takes up a big share of the floor. The CPSC says to keep anything that can burn, including curtains, beds, sofas, paper and clothing, at least 3 feet from the front, sides and rear of a portable electric heater.

Measure the spot before you buy. Mark the unit’s footprint plus 3 feet on each side, and check that nothing in that zone can burn.

Moving a small electric stove between rooms

One draw of a freestanding stove is that it can follow you from the living room to the bedroom. Dimplex says its stoves can move between rooms as long as the new room has a suitable circuit. It also warns that some are heavier than they appear, so lift with care and set the stove down on a level floor.

Each time you move it, run through the same checks. Keep the cord in the open rather than under a rug, plug it into the wall rather than a strip, and clear 3 feet around it again in the new room.

Plug-in or hardwired for a small space

Nearly every small electric fireplace is a plug-in model. Dimplex says plug-in models are treated as appliances and do not need a permit. Hardwired models are a different job: Dimplex says to check local codes or ask a licensed electrician before you install one.

What to check before you buy a small electric fireplace

The CPSC suggests asking whether a heater is safety-certified; a certified heater carries a certification mark from a testing laboratory. Before winter, inspect the unit and cord for damage, and check for recalls at cpsc.gov or SaferProducts.gov, as the CPSC advises. A flame-only setting matters too, since it lets you enjoy the glow on warmer nights without running the heater.

More ways to warm a small room

A small electric fireplace adds glow and quick heat. Once the heater is off for the night, a heated throw or a plain throw blanket keeps you warm on the sofa. For lighting, rugs and draft fixes, see how to make a room cozy.