Pick the type by where it will live: a freestanding electric stove if you want to move it between rooms, a wall-mounted fire if floor space is tight, an inset fire for an existing chimney breast, and a wide fireplace unit if you want a proper focal point on a living-room wall. Most electric fires run at 1kW or 2kW, which costs about 26p or 53p an hour at the October–December 2026 price cap.
An electric fire gives you the look of a real fire with no flue, no chimney sweep and no ash. Seven of the eight fires below say their flame effect runs without the heat, so they work as a focal point all year round.
The five types of electric fire
- Freestanding electric stove: a log-burner look on small feet. Plug it in anywhere and move it from room to room. The cheapest way in.
- Wall-mounted electric fire: a slim glass panel, 11.5cm to 13.5cm deep, that keeps the floor clear.
- Inset electric fire: fits into a chimney breast or stands against a flat wall. The classic coal-effect living-room fire.
- Wide fireplace unit: a 105cm or 121cm white fireplace with a large flame window. It is a piece of furniture as much as a heater, so it needs the wall space but no building work.
- Fire with surround: a mantel and fire in one piece, with a shelf on top.
Electric fireplaces compared
| Electric fire | Type | Size (W × D × H) | Heat settings | Room size | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freestanding Electric Fireplace Stove, 1000W/2000W | Stove | 39 × 24 × 56.5cm | 1kW / 2kW | 20–25m² | £59.95 |
| Double Door Electric Fireplace Stove | Stove | 51 × 28 × 60cm | 1kW / 2kW | 20–25m² | £93.95 |
| Electric Wall Fireplace with 7 Colour Flames and Timer | Wall-mounted | 72.5 × 11.5 × 40cm | 1kW / 2kW | 20–25m² | £107.95 |
| Electric Inset Fireplace with Coal Flame Effect, Silver | Inset | 48.2 × 18.5 × 59.2cm | 1kW / 2kW | up to 30m² | £119.95 |
| Wall Mounted Electric Fireplace with Curved Glass | Wall-mounted | 89.2 × 13.5 × 48cm | 1kW / 2kW | 25–30m² | £144.95 |
| 19 Inch Electric Fireplace with Surround and Mantel Shelf | Fire with surround | 48 × 22 × 75cm | 1kW / 2kW | 15–30m² | £158.95 |
| Electric Fireplace with RGB Flame and 1800W Heater, 105cm | Wide unit | 105 × 27 × 97cm | 1.8kW | up to 30m² | £200.95 |
| Electric Fireplace with 5-Level Faux Flame, 121cm | Wide unit | 121 × 25 × 77cm | 1kW / 2kW | up to 30m² | £279.95 |
Electric Fireplace with Multicolour RGB LED Flame Effect and 1800W Heater 105 x 27 x 97cm White
Electric Fireplace with 5-Level Faux Flame and Remote Control 121 x 25 x 77cm White
What does an electric fire cost to run?
Running cost is the heater's power in kilowatts multiplied by your electricity price. Ofgem's price cap for 1 October to 31 December 2026 is 26.32p per kWh (Direct Debit, average for England, Scotland and Wales). VAT has been removed from electricity bills from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027, so that is the price you pay. Our guide to the cheapest electric heater to run has the full set of sums.
| Setting | Sum | Cost per hour |
|---|---|---|
| 1kW (low) | 1 × 26.32p | about 26p |
| 1.8kW (105cm fireplace) | 1.8 × 26.32p | about 47p |
| 2kW (high) | 2 × 26.32p | about 53p |
A thermostat switches the heat off once the room is warm, so a fire rarely draws full power all evening. The flame effect alone should need far less power than the heat settings, so it is the cheap way to enjoy the look on a mild night. Check each fire's manual for its flame-only figure.
How to choose
- Measure the room. Multiply length by width for the floor area in m² and check it against the room size in the table. Fires rated for 20–25m² suit medium-sized rooms; the 30m² fires suit bigger spaces.
- Decide where it goes. No chimney? A stove or wall-mounted fire. An old fireplace opening or a flat wall? The inset fire, which can be recessed or stand against the wall (surround and spacer not included). A wall to fill? A wide unit: the 121cm fire has a 97.5cm-wide flame window.
- Look for a timer and thermostat. The 72.5cm wall fire and 121cm fireplace have timers of up to 23 hours 50 minutes, the 105cm fireplace a 0.5 to 6 hour timer and the surround fire a 0 to 12 hour timer. The 105cm fire has a 17°C to 27°C thermostat and the surround fire 15°C to 35°C.
- Check the floor. The 39cm stove is not recommended for carpet, and the stove instructions say never to cover the opening at the base.
- Plan for assembly and fixing. The stoves and wide units need assembling. The inset fire comes with a screws and expansion-screw kit; check the manual for what your wall needs with the others.
- Treat it as a room heater. Warm the room you are in and keep the central heating lower.
Browse every model in our Electric Fires collection.
Frequently asked questions
Are electric fires expensive to run? Less than people fear. At the October–December 2026 price cap a 2kW fire costs about 53p an hour on full heat and about 26p on 1kW, and a thermostat cuts that further once the room is warm.
Can you use an electric fire without the heat? Yes, on seven of the eight: the listings for the stoves, wall fires, inset fire, surround fire and 121cm fireplace all say the flame runs without the heat. The 105cm fireplace's listing does not say, so check before buying if that matters.
Can I put an electric fire under a TV? The product pages give no minimum clearance, so follow the manual for the fire you choose and measure from the top of the fire to the TV before you buy. The 11.5cm-deep wall fire and the 121cm fireplace (77cm high) are the shapes to look at.
Do electric fires need a chimney or installation? No chimney is needed. Freestanding stoves plug straight into a socket. Wall-mounted fires need fixing to the wall, and the inset fire comes with a screws and expansion-screw kit. The listings for the wide units do not say how they are fixed, so check the manual.
How long does delivery take, and can I return one? Delivery is 1–5 working days to mainland GB, and you have 30 days to return an item.
