Electric Fireplaces

An electric fireplace heater, sometimes called an electric fire, is a radiant and fan-forced heater with a flame effect built in. The heating element is what warms the room; the flames are LED and produce no heat at all. Most of our range runs at 1500W on high and 750W on low, and a few models go up to 1800W. 

In practical terms, 1500W will take the chill off a medium living room of roughly 35 square metres. It is zone heating rather than whole-house heating, so think of it as warming the room you are sitting in, not the entire floor plan. In a smaller bedroom or home office, the 750W setting is usually plenty and costs less to run. 

Two things worth knowing before you buy. The built-in timer, found on most models, lets you set it to switch off automatically, which matters if you tend to fall asleep in front of it. And on many models the heater only works when the flame effect is on, so you can have flames without heat, but not heat without flames. Most models are controlled by remote, including heat level, flame brightness and the timer. 

For more on where electric heating fits in an Australian home, read why electric fireplaces suit Australian homes . 

Mantel fireplaces are the most traditional looking and the most popular in our range. The firebox sits inside a full surround with a mantelpiece shelf on top, so it reads as a proper fireplace rather than an appliance. Ours come in white and black, and they only need basic assembly to attach the mantel to the unit. If you want a focal point on a blank wall, this is the one. 

Freestanding fireplaces are the most flexible. They stand on the floor, need no fixing and can move between rooms or go into storage over summer. Renters tend to pick these for obvious reasons, and you can read more in our guide on why portable electric fireplaces work for renters . 

Wall mounted fireplaces fix to the wall and take up no floor space, which suits narrow rooms, media walls and modern interiors. Wider models suit a feature wall. See the full selection in wall mounted fireplaces . 

Built-in models, often called inbuilt fireplaces in Australia, recess into a wall or cabinet for a flush finish. They can also be used freestanding, which is useful if you are not ready to commit to cutting into a wall. 

Still deciding? Our comparison of mantel versus wall mounted designs works through which suits which room. 

There is no flue and no gas line, and every unit plugs into a standard 240V outlet. Freestanding models need nothing more than a power point. A licensed electrician is only needed if you want new wiring added. Mantel models take about 45 minutes to assemble with a screwdriver, according to our customers. Wall mounted and built-in units need fixing into the wall, and our installation height guide covers the clearances. 

On placement, the most common setup is under a wall mounted television. That works, but leave adequate clearance so rising warm air does not sit against the screen. Our guide on hanging a TV above an electric fireplace goes through it properly, and you can pair one with a TV unit to finish the wall. In a lounge, angle your sofa towards the fireplace rather than the screen if the fire is the focal point, and anchor the arrangement with a rug . 

Running costs are simple to work out because nearly all the power drawn becomes heat. A 1500W heater uses 1.5kWh per hour on high, so at a typical Australian electricity rate that is roughly 45 to 50 cents an hour. On the 750W setting it halves. Flame-only mode uses far less power than the heater, so running the glow all evening costs very little. We go into the numbers in our guide to electric fireplace running costs . 

Every fireplace in this range lists Australian electrical safety approval, either SAA certification or AS/NZS 60335.2.30 compliance, and several also carry CE, GS or CSA marks from other markets. The practical safety features matter more day to day. All models have overheat protection, and several have cool-touch tempered glass, which answers the question most parents ask first. And because nothing burns, there is no carbon monoxide, no sparks and no ash. 

Maintenance is close to nothing. Wipe the glass and the surround occasionally with a dry cloth, keep the vents clear of dust, and that is it. No chimney sweep, no flue inspection, no ash to carry out. 

On leaving one running unattended, our overnight safety guide covers it in detail, and the timer function is the sensible answer for most people.