15 Small Electric Fireplaces for Apartments That Feel Like the Real Thing
Most apartments ban real fires, and most renters cannot cut into a wall or add a vent. A plug-in electric fireplace asks for none of that. It needs a standard outlet and a patch of floor or wall.
This list gathers the best small electric fireplaces for apartments, checked one by one against manuals, maker pages, and brand listings. Every heat and size figure below is stated as its source states it.
One fact runs through the whole list: units in this class are supplemental heaters. They warm the zone you sit in. Where a brand claims a large coverage area, the copy says so and names the brand.
Renters setting up a first small room can pair these picks with our small living room ideas for a first apartment move in. The five types here run from stoves to a TV stand.
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1. Duraflame 3D Infrared Electric Fireplace Stove DFI-5010-03 — The full-size stove pick with a 3D flame
This freestanding stove measures 13.07 inches deep, 24 inches wide, and 23.4 inches high, and it weighs 28.6 lb. The manual lists glass and metal in the build, with a 3D flame effect.
Heat output is 5,200 BTU at 1,500W, from infrared quartz heating. The flame has 5 adjustable brightness settings and runs with or without heat. An adjustable thermostat and an automatic timed shut-off are fitted.
The manual words its coverage as supplemental zone heating for up to 1,000 square feet, and that is the brand claim, not a whole-home rating. A remote control is included, with the 2 AAA batteries in the box.
2. Duraflame Infrared Quartz Electric Fireplace Stove DFI-550-22 — The smaller Duraflame footprint
This stove is the compact sibling in the Duraflame line. It measures 10.75 inches deep, 21 inches wide, and 23 inches high, and it weighs 19.14 lb, so one person can move it between rooms.
Heat output matches its bigger sibling: 5,200 BTU at 1,500W, from infrared quartz heating. The flame effect runs on its own, with brightness adjustment, and a thermostat holds the temperature you set.
One watch for: the manual states no timer for this model, so do not count on a timed shut-off. The brand states heating coverage of up to 1,000 square feet as supplemental heat. A remote control is included.
3. TURBRO Suburbs TS17 Compact Electric Fireplace Stove — The smallest full stove here
The TS17 is the smallest full stove in this list. The manual gives its size as 18 inches high, 15 inches wide, and 9 inches deep, and it weighs 13 lb. A 6 ft cord reaches the outlet.
Rated power is 1,400W, or 4,777 BTU, from a convective heating element. The manual recommends it for an area of 400 square feet. The brand comparison table states a thermostat range of 68 to 95 degrees.
The manual states noise at or below 37 dBA, with overheating protection fitted. One watch for: there is no remote with this model. The brand directs remote buyers to its larger TS23 and TS25. The manual states CSA certification for North America.
4. TURBRO Suburbs TS20 Electric Fireplace Infrared Heater — The compact stove with crackling sound
The TS20 steps up in size from the TS17. It measures 10 inches deep, 17 inches wide, and 20 inches high. The brand specification list gives its weight as 15.5 lb. The cord is 6 ft long.
Heat output is 4,777 BTU at 1,400W, from an infrared element in a metal body. The manual states a thermostat range of 68 to 95 degrees, and the flame can run without heat.
Its party piece is a crackling sound feature you can switch on its own, per the manual. One watch for: there is no remote. Brand materials also state coverage inconsistently, so no coverage figure is printed here. The manual states CSA certification.
5. R.W.FLAME 25-Inch Electric Fireplace Heater S230B — The cathedral-style steel stove
This freestanding stove has a cathedral-style design in carbon steel. It measures 10.67 inches deep, 23.46 inches wide, and 24.25 inches high, and it weighs 32 lb, the heaviest of the stoves here.
The manual states two heat settings, 500W and 1,500W, with a heat output of 5,100 BTU from infrared heating. Heating and flame work separately, so the flame can glow on a warm night with no heat.
The manual gives 4 flame colour settings and 4 log-bed colour settings, with 5 brightness and 5 speed settings. One watch for: retailer copy claims up to 1,000 square feet for this model. The manual states up to 300. This block follows the manual.
6. COSTWAY 32-Inch Electric Fireplace with Mantel — The small mantel package
A mantel gives an apartment a focal point without any building work. This package measures 13 inches deep, 32 inches wide, and 31 inches high overall, per the manual.
The insert inside is 19 by 5 by 17.5 inches. It suits the mantel styling in our cozy fall small living room ideas.
The build is engineered wood and MDF with metal and tempered glass, at 50.9 lb. Power is 1,400W, heat output 5,000 BTU, and coverage is stated as up to 400 square feet.
The thermostat runs 62 to 82 degrees, the timer 0.5 to 6 hours, and the 3D flame has 3 brightness levels. The manual states this product is CSA Listed and UL Certificated.
7. COSTWAY 13-Inch Small Electric Fireplace Heater SF701-13A — The tabletop unit
This is the tabletop pick. Brand copy says it can sit on a desktop or on the floor. It measures 13.1 inches wide, 6.7 inches deep, and 11.4 inches high, and it weighs 12 lb.
The build is MDF, particleboard, and metal. Power is a single 750W setting, with a heat output of 2,550 BTU. The brand states heating coverage of up to 200 square feet, on a 6 ft cord.
Honest framing: at 750W this is a personal heater for the seat you sit in, not a room heater for a whole living room. The flame can run without heat. No thermostat, timer, or remote is stated in the listing.
8. PuraFlame Western Electric Fireplace Insert EF43D-FGF — The insert for an existing opening
An insert suits an apartment with a dead fireplace opening or a cabinet gap. This metal unit measures 8.78 inches deep, 27.95 inches wide, and 24.61 inches high. It plugs into a grounded outlet and cannot be hard-wired.
Power is 750W or 1,500W, and the manual states heating coverage of up to 400 square feet as supplemental heat. The original manual gives the opening as 26 to 27.2 inches wide and 23.2 to 24.4 inches high.
Three flame settings vary in intensity and brightness, a rotary dial sets the thermostat, and a remote is included. The model page also states crackling sound. One watch for: no timer is stated for this model.
9. LegendFlame Jaden 28-Inch Electric Fireplace Insert EF321 — The slim 6 inch deep insert
Depth is the apartment problem with inserts, and the Jaden answers it at 6 inches. With its front trim kit it measures 28 11/32 inches wide and 21 27/32 inches high. Without the trim, the box is 23 by 19 inches.
It runs on a standard 120V, 15-amp circuit. Heat output is 750W or 1,500W, at 5,100 BTU, and the manual states it heats up to 400 square feet. The manual also says the unit is not a primary heat source.
An adjustable thermostat, a programmable timer from 0.5 to 9 hours, and a weekly timer are fitted. The remote has an LCD display. The manual states CSA certification.
10. Touchstone Sideline 36-Inch Recessed Smart Electric Fireplace 80014 — The compact smart wall unit
The Sideline 36 is the compact wall unit here. Touchstone’s own page gives the fireplace as 36 inches wide, 21.5 inches high, and 5.5 inches deep, with a firebox 32.5 by 20.25 by 5.25 inches.
Touchstone states 5,000 BTU of supplemental heat for up to 400 square feet at 1,500W, and a fireplace weight of 37.2 lb. Retailer spec blocks list other figures for this model, so this block follows the manufacturer page.
The same page states 3 flame colour options, 5 flame speed levels, and a 10-colour ember bed. A Wi-Fi app works with Alexa and Google. A thermostat, a timer to 7.5 hours, and log and crystal sets are included.
11. R.W.FLAME 36-Inch Recessed and Wall-Mounted Electric Fireplace RFH-3601L — The ultrathin profile
At 3.86 inches deep, this linear unit sits nearly flat to the wall. It measures 36 inches wide and 18.11 inches high, weighs 33 lb, and is made of metal, per its manual.
Heat settings are 750W and 1,500W, and the manual states heating coverage of up to 400 square feet as supplemental zone heating. It mounts on a bracket or recesses into the wall, in 2 by 4 or 2 by 6 stud walls.
The manual states 12 flame colours and 12 flame-bed colours, with 5 brightness and 5 speed levels, plus a timer from 1 to 8 hours. One watch for: the manual sets a minimum clearance of 3 ft from combustible materials.
12. Xbeauty 42-Inch Electric Fireplace RFH-4201LC — The wide linear wall unit
This is the widest wall unit in the list at 42 inches. It measures 3.8 inches deep and 18.1 inches high, and it weighs 33 lb. It runs from a 120V outlet at 12.5 amps, per the manual.
Heat output is 5,100 BTU, on 750W or 1,500W settings, with coverage stated as up to 400 square feet. Install options are wall mount, recessed, or semi-recessed, and the manual notes it fits a 2 by 6 stud wall.
The manual states 12 flame colour options and 12 ember bed options, with 5 brightness and 5 speed levels. A remote and touch screen are fitted, crystal media is included, and the timer runs 1 to 8 hours.
13. Dimplex Slim Built-In Linear Electric Fireplace PLF4214-XS — The shallowest unit here
The Dimplex is the shallowest pick in this list at 3.75 inches deep. It measures 42 inches wide and 19.5 inches high. It is also the heaviest pick at 64.8 lb, so plan the lift before it arrives.
Heat output is 4,200 BTU, and the manual states coverage of 400 square feet as supplemental heat, which can run with or without the flame. The ember bed is acrylic crystal, lit by the brand’s Multi-Fire colour technology.
Install is flush into 2 by 4 framing, or surface wall-mount with the included bracket. It hardwires or uses an optional plug-in cord kit. One watch for: even bracket-mounted, this built-in is the least renter-friendly pick here.
14. PuraFlame Klaus Electric Fireplace Insert — The traditional insert with a glass door
The Klaus line comes in several sizes, so this block pins one variant only: the 24.81 inch model in its own manual. It measures 8.78 inches deep and 21.44 inches high, and weighs 31.3 lb.
That variant fits an opening 22 13/16 to 24 inches wide and 20 1/4 to 21 1/4 inches high, at a suggested depth of 8 3/16 inches. It can also stand freestanding on the floor, with no brackets in most openings.
Heat is 750W or 1,500W, at 5,100 BTU, for up to 400 square feet. Three flame settings, crackling sound, and an adjustable thermostat dial are fitted. Resin logs sit behind a glass door and mesh screen, over a brick-style interior.
15. AMERLIFE Fireplace TV Stand CFT001 — The TV stand with a 36 inch fireplace
This stand pairs storage with a fire. It measures 70 inches long, 13.8 inches wide, and 23 inches high, and it holds TVs up to 80 inches, per the manual. The integrated fireplace is 36 by 18.5 inches.
The fireplace gives 3 changeable flame colours with 5 dimmer levels. Heat tops out at 4,800 BTU on 750W or 1,500W, for up to 400 square feet, with a timer from 0 to 8 hours and temperature control.
An LED accent kit adds 12 changeable colours around the stand. The manual states a weight of 105 lb and CSA Listed status. It suits the long-wall layouts in our roundup of TV stands with storage for small living rooms.
Match the type to your lease first. Stoves and the tabletop unit move out with you. Recessed and built-in units suit owners, or renters whose landlord agrees in writing before any wall work starts.
Then match the heat to the seat, not the whole flat. A 1,500W unit by the sofa does more for comfort than a bigger claim across the room.
Soft layers help too, like the picks in our waterproof pet blankets for couches roundup if a pet owns that sofa.
Save this list of the best small electric fireplaces for apartments to your Electric Fireplace Ideas board. Measure the wall or opening twice, and check the outlet position before the box arrives.
