Best outdoor-rated electric fireplaces
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Adding an outdoor electric fireplace is one of the easiest, quickest, and most affordable solutions for providing warmth and ambiance to any patio or backyard space. At the same time, this luxurious upgrade will increase your home’s property value, and create a cozy & inviting atmosphere for gathering with friends and family.
Not to forget that it will also keep you toasty on cold evenings, allowing you to enjoy your outdoor space all year round. In addition, the best outdoor-rated electric fireplaces are easy to install since they don’t need masonry work, gas lines, or a chimney. Best of all, these units don’t produce any toxic fumes & emissions, thus maximizing safety while minimizing your carbon footprint.
Unfortunately, finding the best outdoor electric fireplace isn’t always an easy task, especially seeing that they come in various styles & designs.
Don’t worry though! In this guide, we’ll look at the top picks for outdoor-rated electric fireplaces that you can use to enhance your outdoor space!
4 best Electric fireplaces for outdoor use
1. Touchstone Sideline Outdoor Electric Fireplace
First on our list is this electric fireplace insert from Touchstone, which is specifically designed for outdoor use. Also, it adds instant ambiance to outdoor living spaces, making it an excellent fireplace solution for your porch or patio. For instance, it has a unique orange and blue flame combination which allows you to use each color separately or together.
The most notable features that make this unit ideal for outdoor use are that it’s water-resistant and comes with an inbuilt GFI plug. Alternatively, you can either hardwire it or plug it into a 120V outlet. In addition, it’s wall mountable, meaning you can easily hang it on the outer walls of stone, stucco, brick, or siding.
As for the size, this electric fireplace has a slim design that will fill up your outdoor wall as it only measures 50” wide, 17.9” high, and 6” deep.
Unfortunately, this electric fireplace model doesn’t provide heat since it doesn’t have a heating element. However, you can use it for purely aesthetic purposes. This is because it comes with glass crystals and decorative logs that allow you to customize the look of its ember bed. Moreover, it has 3 flame color options (blue, orange & blue-orange) and 5 flame intensity settings, giving you a total of 15 flame settings to choose from.
Lastly, this unit is relatively easy to operate and maintain as it doesn’t need any clean-up. Besides, you only need to turn it on and off with the remote control or set the timer for about 30 minutes to 7.5 hours.
Highlighted Features
- 50” slim design
- Inbuilt GFI plug
- Adjustable flame colors and settings
- Comes with a remote control and timer settings
- Allows for hardwired or plug-in installation
Drawbacks
- No heating function
2. Amantii TRU-VIEW-XT-XL 3-Sided Outdoor Electric Fireplace
Considered the best outdoor electric fireplace for maximum viewing, Amantii Tru-View-XT-XL will give your guest a glimpse of realistic flames regardless of where they sit. Thanks to its 3-sided design as well as 22” tall viewing area as opposed to the usual 15”. So, if you have a larger, more open outdoor space where other features can overshadow a petite fireplace, this model is an excellent option for you.
To be precise, this fireplace is 63.25” wide, 33” high, and 13.75” deep. However, it’s also available in 5-width size options ranging from 40 to 88”, making it ideal for various applications and different room sizes. The extra size features larger log sets that really fill out the interior of the fireplace. Even better, it comes with a deep media tray, pebbles, black glass, ICE media, stones, vermiculite embers, and black glass. These incredible features allow you to completely customize the appearance of your electric fireplace.
Moving on, you’ll also realize that this electric fireplace has 3 LED strips that create a mesmerizing flame display. Plus, you can use the multi-function remote control to adjust these light strips. This will allow you to change the flame color to violet, orange, yellow, and blue to get a look that matches your mood with the click of a button!
Best of all, you can use this Tru-View electric fireplace to warm an outdoor area of up to 500 sq ft with its energy-efficient heater. Alternatively, you can simply turn off the heater and leave its flames on, allowing you to enjoy it year-round.
Highlights Features
- Approved for outdoor and indoor use
- Wi-Fi connectivity
- 3 flame speeds
- 3-sided inbuilt electric fireplace
- generates heat output of up to 4800 BTUs
- Extra tall 22” viewing area
- Comes with a multi-function remote
- High-intensity LED strip lights/ flame effect
- Available sizes: 40, 50, 60, 72 & 88”
- 4 install options; 3 sides visible, 2 sides visible (right or left) or front only visible.
- Programmable timer and thermostat
Drawbacks
- No cons
3. Amantii Cube 2025WM Smart Freestanding Electric Fireplace
If you have a compact outdoor space, then this CUBE 2025WM freestanding electric fireplace from Amantii is a perfect option for you. Besides, you can either hang it on the wall as it is, set it up on a tabletop or even build it in. Interestingly, despite being compact in size this electric fireplace will bring a more contemporary appearance to your outdoor space. More importantly, it’s part of the Amantii Tru-View series, meaning it has all the features of a full-size Tru-View fireplace.
For instance, it has glass on 3 sides, allowing you to see its unique media options and stunning flame presentation from almost any angle. In addition, this unit has 2 flame sets and ambient canopy lighting in 13 colors that illuminate the decorative media.
The exclusive flame presentation allows you to choose from orange, yellow, or red color flames with the click of the included remote control. At the same time, this electric fireplace is Wi-Fi compatible, meaning you can connect and control it from your smartphone using the Amantii app.
Moreover, you can customize the appearance of this electric fireplace further by using the included Sable glass media and 6-piece log set. Alternatively, you can buy further media options which are available at an additional cost. Either way, the 3 distinct styles offered by this unit are perfect for any space, both indoors and outdoors, including bathrooms.
Lastly, this outdoor electric fireplace has a quiet fan and a powerful heater that can heat an area of up to 400 sq. You can enjoy the ambiance of its flame without turning the heater on, making it enjoyable all year round.
Highlighted Features
- 3-speed flame motor
- Heat output: 5000 BTU
- Incredible 6.25” 3-sided glass viewing area
- Programmable timer and thermostat
- Ideal for outdoor and indoor use
- Comes with 2 colors of vermiculite, 2 colors of real glass, and a 10-piece birch log set
- Hard-wire ready
- Wi-Fi compatible
- Ambient canopy lighting in 13 colors
- 2 flame patterns; traditional and standard
- Includes remote control for flame, heater, and light features
Drawbacks
- The optional speaker base and 4-leg stand a not ideal for outdoor use
4. Amantii Panorama BI-50-XTRASLIM Extra-Slim Outdoor/ Indoor Electric Fireplace
With an opening height of 11.875” and available in 4 sizes, the Amantii BI-50-XTRASLIM is the perfect electric space for any outdoor or indoor space in your home or business. Plus, it has a thoroughly modern aesthetic that will add atmosphere and supplement heat to the space. More notably, this unit has an in-depth of just 4”, making it an excellent choice for installations with limited wall depth or a small patio.
Another interesting feature of this outdoor electric fireplace is that it has incredibly lifelike flames that change from red to orange to yellow. This ensures that you get a dazzling ambiance and high impact, even with its compact design.
In addition to the dancing flames this fireplace comes with a 5000 BTU heater for style and maximum comfort. However, like other modern electric fireplaces, you can turn off the heater to enjoy a soothing fire all year round without extra warmth.
Meanwhile, the heater generates enough warmth to heat an area of up to 500 sq ft. On top of that, this electric fireplace comes with an angled glass front and a fan that allows the heat to move down the front of the appliance for optimal warmth. Moreover, the unit allows you to choose from 15 media bed options such as smooth fire gems and sparkling fire glass in a wide range of colors to match your outdoor decor.
Highlighted Features
- Comes in 4 sizes; 30, 40, 50 & 60”
- 2-stage heater
- Thermostat hard-wire ready
- Ideal for indoor and outdoor use
- Produces up to 5000 BTUs
- Full flame viewing
- Remote control for heater and flame setting
- Very thing design; only 4” in depth
- Includes an optional black steel surround
Drawbacks
- Doesn’t supply substantial heat for outdoor spaces
Things to consider when buying the best outdoor-rated electric fireplaces
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Size of your outdoor space
The size of your outdoor space is the first and foremost factor you need to consider when looking for the best outdoor-rated electric fireplace. For instance, if the space is smaller, a tabletop fire table or wall-mounted fireplace could be the perfect solution. But if the space allows for something bigger and has more square footage like larger decks and patios, inbuilt and freestanding models create spectacular centerpieces.
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Style of the outdoor-rated electric fireplace
Outdoor-rated electric fireplaces are available in a wide range of styles ranging from chick and modern looks to classic designs. For that, style is another important factor you need to consider when choosing the best outdoor-rated electric fireplaces for your patio or deck. After all, this is the only way to ensure you get a fireplace that will perfectly match the aesthetic of your outdoor area.
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Installation and safety
In general, outdoor-rated electric fireplaces are safer than gas patio heaters or fire pits since they don’t produce harmful emissions or a real fire. Moreover, they are relatively easy to install and are available in various sizes, colors, and shapes, with several options for customizing your look. However, despite all these benefits of electric fireplaces, it’s important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions when installing them to ensure their optimal safety. Alternatively, you can hire an electrician to hardwire it to a GFCI circuit, especially if you want a custom design or don’t have a GFCI outlet.
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Design Features
As already mentioned, outdoor electric fireplaces come in various sizes, colors, materials, and shapes, making it easy to customize the perfect fit for your aesthetic or lifestyle. For instance, you can choose from modern options like glass or metal boxes to classic stone mantel designs. Not to forget you can use other decorative elements like stones, logs, and glass beads to create a unique look. Moreover, some electric fireplaces give you the option to adjust the flame intensity and size as well as other features like remote operation or timer settings.
One thing you need to note though is that some outdoor electric fireplaces don’t have a heat option as they are only made for aesthetics. For that, it’s important to look into them carefully before you settle on any particular model.
Final Word
All in all, outdoor electric fireplaces are both a beautiful and practical addition to any outdoor living space. Plus, most units have options for dual-color flame, providing a real flame look and they can be used indoors as well.
