PuraFlame is the best brand for electric linear fireplaces for most readers because it gives you clean hidden vents, wall-mount or recessed installation, smart controls, and heat for up to 400 sq. ft. One good linear fireplace is mostly a sizing and install decision, not a flame-color contest.
A lot of buyers think the tallest flame stack or the longest trim tells the whole story. That part is only half true: the look matters, but the real split is install depth, heat output, and whether the controls fit how you’ll actually use the room.
Pick the fireplace that matches your wall cavity, your TV clearance, and your heating goal. A pretty box that fits nowhere is still a box.
Best Brands And Models For Electric Linear Fireplaces
#1Best overall
PuraFlame Bernice 60″ Smart Linear Fireplace
Best for Most buyers who want clean lines, flexible install, and smart home integration
The concealed vent design gives you a sleek 2-inch aluminum trim with no grilles interrupting the front, and you can mount it on the wall, recess it into a 2×6 stud bay, or set it freestanding. Smart control through Alexa, Google Assistant, or the app means you adjust heat and flame from the couch or by voice. Driftwood and crystal fuel bed options let you change the look, and the 9-color flame with adjustable crackling sound and brightness suits most decor without the visual clutter of dozens of settings.
Width 60 inchesInstallation Wall-mount, recessed, or freestandingHeat coverage Up to 400 sq. ft.Flame colors 9 colors with adjustable brightnessControls App, Alexa, Google Assistant, remote
Why it made the cut
Hidden vents and narrow trim for a clean front
Three installation methods without extra hardware
Works with Alexa, Google Assistant, app, and remote
Adjustable crackling sound and 9 flame colors
Good to know
Temperature range stops at 84°F, lower than some competitors
Only 60 inches wide, not ideal for very large walls
Skip it if You need a 72-inch or wider unit to balance a big entertainment center or you want finer temperature control above 84°F.
Best for Living rooms and basements where a 60-inch unit looks lost on the wall
At 72 inches wide, this one fills more wall and balances a sectional or wide TV console better than a 60-inch model. The ultra-thin frame fits 2×4 or 2×6 studs for flush recessing or wall mounting, and the front air vent keeps the wall above safe for mounting a TV. Dual wattage modes—750 W and 1,500 W—heat up to 400 sq. ft., and the remote adjusts flame speed, brightness, and color along with an eight-hour timer.
Width 72 inchesInstallation Recessed or wall-mountedHeat coverage Up to 400 sq. ft.Heat modes 750 W and 1,500 WTimer 1–8 hours automatic shut-off
Why it made the cut
72-inch width suits larger walls and furniture
Fits both 2×4 and 2×6 wall studs
Front vent protects wall and TV above
Remote control with 1–8 hour auto shut-off
Good to know
No smart home integration or app control
Product description does not specify number of flame colors
Skip it if You want voice control or you’re filling a smaller bedroom or office where 72 inches overwhelms the space.
Best for Bedrooms and home offices where fan noise disrupts sleep or calls
The heater stays below 40 dB, quieter than most conversation, so you run it overnight or during video meetings without the hum. At 3.85 inches thick with a black linear frame and front air outlet, it mounts flush or recesses into standard framing. Twelve flame and ember bed color modes, five speeds, and five brightness levels give you the visual range without the complexity of dozens of settings, and both remote and touch screen let you toggle heat independently from the flame.
Width 60 inchesThickness 3.85 inchesNoise level Below 40 dBHeat coverage Up to 400 sq. ft.Heat modes 750 W and 1,500 W
Why it made the cut
Heater noise below 40 dB, noticeably quieter than most
3.85 inches thin for flush or recessed install
12 flame colors and automatic flame cycling
Remote and touch screen with independent heat and flame controls
Good to know
No smart home integration
Only 60 inches wide
Skip it if Width matters more than noise for your space, or you want Alexa or Google Assistant control.
Best for Buyers who want recessed install and 12 flame colors without paying for app control
This one fits 2×6 stud walls for recessed, semi-recessed, or wall-mounted install, and the top physical switch gives you manual control when the remote dies. Twelve flame colors, including three upgraded classic tones—red, orange, and blue—plus five speeds and five brightness levels, offer more color range than the PuraFlame at a lower price. The front air outlet suits TV mounting above, though you’ll need to leave an 8-inch gap.
Width 60 inchesDimensions 60″ W × 18.11″ H × 3.86″ DInstallation Recessed, semi-recessed, or wall-mountedFlame colors 12 colors with 5 speeds and 5 brightness levelsTimer 1–8 hours
Why it made the cut
12 flame colors including three upgraded classic tones
Physical top switch as backup to the remote
Fits 2×6 stud walls for recessed or wall mount
Front air outlet for safer TV placement above
Good to know
No smart home or app control
8-inch gap required above the unit for TV mounting
Product description is incomplete in several places
Skip it if You want voice control or a finished, polished product experience with complete documentation.
Best for Buyers who want the widest range of color and lighting effects in one unit
Ten flame colors, ten ember bed colors, five brightness levels, four flame speeds, and a ten-color LED downlight that illuminates the driftwood and crystals from above give you more visual control than any other pick here. WiFi and voice control through your home assistant adjust everything without reaching for the remote, and the nightlight mode keeps a soft glow after dark. Temperature control from 68°F to 88°F runs warmer than the PuraFlame’s 84°F ceiling, and the concealed vents match its clean design.
Width 60 inchesInstallation Wall-mount or recessedFlame colors 10 colors with 5 brightness levels and 4 speedsTemperature range 68°–88°FControls WiFi, voice assistant, remote
Why it made the cut
10 flame colors, 10 ember bed colors, and 10-color LED downlight
WiFi and voice assistant control plus remote
Temperature range up to 88°F
Nightlight mode for soft after-dark glow
Good to know
More settings mean more time dialing in the look you want
Only 60 inches wide
Skip it if You’d rather have fewer, simpler controls or you need a 72-inch width.
How To Choose The Best Brand For Electric Linear Fireplaces
The install type you pick shapes the brand search more than flame color or remote features. Linear electric fireplaces come as recessed units that sit flush in a framed wall opening, wall-mounted models that hang like a flat-screen TV, or freestanding inserts that drop into an existing fireplace cavity. Recessed models need wall depth—most fit a standard 2×4 wall at 3.5 inches deep, though a few require 2×6 framing at 5.5 inches. Wall-mounted units sit proud of the surface and work anywhere you can run power and hit a stud. If you’re replacing a gas fireplace or filling an old firebox, measure the opening width and depth before you shop; not every 60-inch linear fireplace will clear the sides or fit the recess.
Heat coverage runs about 400 sq. ft. across most brands. That’s a 20-by-20-foot room with standard eight-foot ceilings, heated by a 1,500-watt element—the same output you’ll find in a plug-in space heater. The difference is installation: a linear fireplace hardwires to a dedicated 120 V circuit or plugs into a wall outlet behind the unit. PuraFlame, LEMBERI, and Modern Ember all land in that 400 sq. ft. range. A few models let you mount the fireplace eight inches below a TV, which matters if you’re planning a media-wall layout and need to keep the heat away from electronics.
Controls separate the daily experience. Look for a remote at minimum; app and voice control through Alexa or Google Assistant make seasonal adjustments easier. Independent flame and heat switches let you run the glow year-round without the heating element. A timer and adjustable thermostat keep the room from overheating overnight. PuraFlame and Modern Ember offer Wi-Fi app control; the no-name recessed inserts tend to ship with an infrared remote only.
Before you buy
Measure wall opening width, height, and depth if recessing
Confirm a 120 V outlet within six feet, or budget for an electrician to add one
Decide whether you want flame-only mode for summer ambiance
Check ceiling clearance if mounting above furniture or a mantel
Converting from gas
You can remove a gas fireplace box and drop in an electric linear insert, but you’ll need to cap the gas line and verify the opening dimensions. Most gas fireboxes run deeper than a linear electric needs, so the fit works; the challenge is usually power. Hire a licensed plumber to shut off and cap the gas, and an electrician if the nearest outlet sits more than a cord’s length away.
In short
Install type and room size matter more than brand reputation. Measure the wall opening, confirm you’ve got power nearby, and pick the control style that suits how you’ll actually use it.
Which Linear Fireplace Fits Your Room Size
A 400 sq. ft. rating assumes an insulated room with closed doors, not an open floor plan or a drafty addition. Small bedrooms and home offices under 200 sq. ft. stay comfortable with any 1,500-watt linear fireplace. Larger living rooms at the 400 sq. ft. edge will feel the heat near the unit but may need a second source across the room. Open-plan layouts bleed warmth into hallways and kitchens; treat the fireplace as zone heat for the seating area, not whole-room coverage.
400 sq. ft.
Typical heat coverage
That’s 1,500 watts heating a 20-by-20-foot room with standard ceilings. Vaulted ceilings, tile floors, and exterior walls all pull that number down.
Worked example
Say your living room measures 18 by 22 feet—396 sq. ft.—with carpet, drywall, and an interior wall behind the fireplace. A 60-inch linear unit will keep the space warm on a fall evening. Now add a vaulted ceiling that peaks at 12 feet and a sliding glass door to the deck. The real coverage drops closer to 250 sq. ft. because the heat rises and leaks through the weatherstrip. You’ll want a second heater for the far corner or accept that the fireplace warms the seating area only.
Room18 × 22 ft, 396 sq. ft.
CeilingVaulted to 12 ft
Real coverageAbout 250 sq. ft.
Ceiling height and drafts matter more than the spec sheet admits. A room with nine-foot ceilings holds about 12 percent more air than an eight-foot room, so the heater works a little harder. An open doorway to a cold hallway or a window that leaks air around the sash will cut the effective range by a third. These fireplaces excel at ambiance-first heating: they make the room feel warmer and look better, but they won’t replace your furnace in January.
Open floor plans
If the fireplace sits in a great room that opens to the kitchen and dining area, size the heater for the zone you occupy most—usually the seating area in front of the unit. The rest of the space will stay cooler.
Smart Controls, Flame Effects, And Noise
King Electric and similar high-end brands offer app control through Wi-Fi, Alexa and Google Assistant compatibility, and a physical remote in the box. Mid-tier models like the PuraFlame Bernice give you app and voice control plus a touch screen on the unit itself. Budget picks often come with only a remote and a manual switch on the fireplace body. App control lets you schedule the flame to turn on before you walk in the door; voice control works well if you’ve already wired your home for it. A remote does the job for most people.
Independent flame and heat control matters in October and March, when you want the look without raising the room temperature. Every model in the product data separates the two functions: flame runs year-round at about 5 to 15 watts, heat kicks in only when you ask for it. Flame color, ember bed glow, brightness and speed are decor choices. Some units offer orange, blue or multicolor flames and adjustable speed; others stick with a single realistic orange. Pick what suits the room’s style, not your heating plan.
Bedrooms and TV rooms
Choose a model advertised as ultra-quiet or with a decibel rating under 40 dB if the fireplace will sit near a bed or a couch. Fan noise from the heater becomes obvious during quiet scenes or at night.
The 60-inch Ultra-Thin Silence model claims operation under 40 dB when the heater runs. The LEMBERI 72-inch lists itself as ultra-quiet but gives no number. Most linear fireplaces make some fan noise on high heat; flame-only mode is silent because no blower runs. Room heater reviews often call out noise as a dealbreaker for light sleepers, and the same applies here when you’re using the heat function.
Smart control strengths
Schedule flame and heat separately through an app
Voice commands work when your hands are full
Touch screen on the unit itself beats hunting for a remote
Smart control limits
Wi-Fi setup fails on some older routers
Voice control requires a smart speaker or phone nearby
App features vary widely by brand and aren’t standardized
How Much Electric A Linear Fireplace Uses
A linear fireplace on high heat uses about 1,500 watts, the same as any plug-in space heater. The math is watts divided by 1,000 to get kilowatts, times the hours you run it, times your electric rate. Run 1,500 W for 8 hours and you’ve used 12 kWh; at 17 cents per kWh that comes to about $2.04 for the night. Your bill goes up or down with your local rate and how many hours the heater actually runs, which depends on the thermostat cycling and the room’s heat loss.
Flame-only mode draws far less power because the blower and heating element stay off. Exact wattage isn’t listed for most models, but expect something in the range of 5 to 15 watts—about the same as an LED bulb. You can leave the flame on all evening for pennies. Heat mode is where the cost lives, and it behaves just like a 1,500 W space heater: fine for a few hours in one room, expensive if you run it all day in a large open space.
Heater
Watts
Per hour
Per day (8 h)
Per month (30 days)
Linear fireplace, flame only
10 W
0.2¢
1.4¢
41¢
Linear fireplace, heat on high
1,500 W
26¢
$2.04
$61.20
Calculated at 17¢ per kWh. Flame-only mode costs almost nothing; heat mode costs the same as running a portable space heater.
Lower heat settings
Many models offer a 750 W low setting that cuts the running cost in half. The thermostat also cycles the heater off once the room hits your target temperature, so real-world cost usually runs lower than the full-power math suggests.
No extension cords or power strips
Plug a 1,500 W linear fireplace straight into a wall outlet on its own circuit. Extension cords and power strips overheat under that load, and the unit’s plug will get hot enough to melt plastic or start a fire.
Safety, Clearances, And Fireplace Conversion Reality
Electric linear fireplaces need the installation clearances in the manual and the wall structure the unit calls for. Most recessed models require 2 × 4 or 2 × 6 framing and a documented gap above the unit for air circulation, typically 6 to 12 inches. Wall-mounted units need clearance from side walls, corners, and anything combustible—check the listing for each model.
Plug straight into a grounded wall outlet, never an extension cord or power strip. Keep 3 feet of clearance in front where the manual requires it, and don’t block air vents on top or sides. Look for tip-over and overheat protection and a UL, ETL or CSA listing.
Never use outdoor units indoors
Models rated for outdoor patios or porches lack the safety shutoffs required for indoor use. Using one in a living room or bedroom creates a fire risk and voids the listing.
Converting a gas fireplace to electric means removing the gas burner assembly, capping the gas line by code, and installing an electric insert that fits the opening. You’ll need to address the old vent: some conversions leave the chimney in place but unused, others require closing the flue opening and patching the exterior termination. Permit requirements depend on your city and whether you’re altering the gas line or closing a vent rated for combustion products.
Cosmetic inserts simplify the job
A cosmetic electric insert drops into the opening without modifying the firebox structure. You still need a licensed plumber or gas technician to cap the gas line, and the old vent opening may need a chase cover or cap to seal it properly.
Check the opening dimensions before ordering—depth, width, and height all matter. Linear units are shallow, typically 5 to 7 inches, so they fit most fireplace cavities without cutting deeper into the wall. Verify outlet location or plan for an electrician to add one inside the firebox if you want the cord hidden.
What To Do Next If You Want One This Winter
Measure the opening or wall space first, then decide recessed versus wall-mounted. Recessed models need stud bays and drywall work; wall-mounted units hang on a bracket like a flat-screen. Check the circuit and outlet location next—1,500 W heaters draw about 12.5 A, fine for a standard 15 A bedroom or living room circuit as long as nothing else heavy shares it.
1
Measure and choose install type
Width and depth of the opening or wall space, plus framing depth if you’re recessing. Decide whether you want the unit flush with the wall or surface-mounted.
2
Check the circuit and outlet
Plug location inside or near the firebox, breaker capacity, and whether the outlet is on a shared circuit with other high-draw devices.
3
Pick control style
Physical remote, app control, or both. Wi-Fi models work with Alexa and Google Assistant but cost more.
4
For conversions, verify details
Old opening size, vent situation, gas line location, and whether your city requires a permit to cap the line or close the flue.
Shoppers mounting a TV above the fireplace should choose a model with a front air outlet and a documented mounting gap, usually 8 to 12 inches, to keep heat away from electronics.
The practical rule
Choose the brand that fits the wall first, then the room size, then the features. PuraFlame and recessed electric wall fireplaces with hidden vents work for most installs; smart controls and flame color are the last decision, not the first.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size linear electric fireplace do I need for a living room?
A 50-inch unit heats about 400 sq. ft. effectively in an insulated room with standard 8-foot ceilings, which covers most living rooms up to roughly 20 by 20 feet. Open floor plans cut that coverage in half because warm air drifts into adjoining spaces. Measure your wall width first, then match the fireplace length to leave at least 6 inches of clearance on each side per the manual.
Can you put an electric linear fireplace under a TV?
Most manufacturers allow it as long as you maintain the minimum clearance stated in the installation manual, typically 12 inches above the top edge of the fireplace. Heat rises, so flame-only mode produces no warmth and poses no risk to the TV. On heat mode, check that your model vents downward or forward rather than upward, and confirm the clearance spec before mounting.
How much electricity does a linear electric fireplace use?
Expect 1,500 watts on high heat, which costs about $3.67 for 30 nights at 8 hours per night and 17 cents per kWh. Flame-only mode draws 5 to 50 watts depending on LED brightness, usually under a penny per evening. The heater element is what drives the bill; the flame effect itself uses less power than a standard lightbulb.
Can I convert a gas fireplace to an electric insert?
You can if the gas line is capped by a licensed plumber and the chimney damper is closed or sealed, but an electric insert still needs a dedicated 120 V outlet inside or very near the firebox. Most gas fireboxes are deeper than an electric unit needs, so the insert will sit forward unless you build out the surround. Hiring an electrician to add the outlet usually costs more than the insert itself.
Do electric linear fireplaces need venting?
No. They produce no combustion, so there’s no flue, ductwork or fresh-air intake to install. The heater element warms room air and recirculates it through vents at the bottom or front of the unit, the same way a baseboard heater works. That’s why electric models fit in spaces where gas or wood fireplaces cannot go.
What is better for a bedroom, flame-only mode or heat mode?
Flame-only mode is safer if you plan to sleep with it running, because it produces no heat and draws under 50 watts. Heat mode on a thermostat setting will cycle on and off through the night and may dry the air or wake you when the fan starts. Either way, look for a model with overheat protection and a tip-over switch if it’s freestanding, and never run one with the bedroom door closed unless the room has a working smoke alarm.
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Written byJoye
HeaterGuides covers home heating, water heating and HVAC: how the equipment works, what it costs to run, and how to use it safely.
