Are electric fireplaces safe?
Yes, electric fireplaces are considered one of the safest ways to add warmth and ambience to your home, especially if you’ve got small children or pets. Unlike gas or wood-burning fires, they don’t produce real flames, carbon monoxide or smoke, which means no risk of burns, fumes or stray sparks.
Most models are designed with safety features built in, including overheat protection, automatic shut-off sensors and cool-touch glass fronts. This means even if curious little hands get too close, they won’t come into contact with anything dangerously hot. Many also have timers and thermostats, so they’ll switch off automatically when the room reaches your chosen temperature.
For the safest setup, plug your electric fireplace directly into a wall socket rather than an extension lead, and make sure there’s enough space around it for air circulation.
How much does an electric fireplace cost to run?
Running costs depend on your fireplace’s wattage and your electricity tariff, but it’s easy to estimate how much it’ll cost you. Most electric fireplaces have an output between 1kW and 2kW, meaning that at the current average electricity rate of around 27p per kWh, running it at full power will cost between 27p and 52p per hour (based on Ofgem’s rates in September 2026)
If you only use the flame effect without the heater, running cost are much lower because it’s only powering the LED lights and display. This is why many people leave their electric fireplaces on for ambience, even when they don’t need the extra warmth.
Related: Best fan heaters
Do electric fireplaces heat up a room?
Yes, electric fireplaces are designed to provide real, usable heat as well as cosy ambience, and they’re surprisingly effective for small to medium-sized rooms. Most models include a built-in fan heater that works a bit like a small convection heater: it pulls in cool air, passes it over a heated coil or element, and then gently blows the warmed air back out into the room. This creates a steady, even warmth that’s ideal for spaces such as living rooms, bedrooms or family snugs.
Typical electric fireplaces produce between 1kW and 2kW of heat, which can comfortably warm a room of around 15 to 25 square metres (roughly the size of an average lounge). Higher-end models often include thermostatic controls, letting you set and maintain your ideal temperature automatically. Some also come with timer functions so you can schedule them to turn on before you get home or switch off after bedtime.
Another advantage is that the heat is instant. Unlike log or gas fires, you don’t have to wait for it to build up. Just press a button and you’ll feel it within seconds. Because they’re electric, the heat they produce is 100% efficient at point of use (nothing is lost up a chimney), meaning every bit of energy goes straight into warming your room.
What’s the best electric fireplace to buy?
To find the best electric fireplace for your needs, you need to consider your space, budget and style. For realism and quality, Mumsnetters love the Dimplex Gosford Optimyst, which uses water vapour to create lifelike “smoke.” If you want something budget-friendly and modern, the Dimplex Dakota is a great all-rounder. If you prefer a freestanding design, the Focal Point Fires Horsham Suite gives you instant fireplace vibes with no installation required.
About the author
Poppy O'Neill is a Content Editor at Mumsnet and a mother of two. She researches and reviews the products Mumsnetters swear by, with a particular focus on laundry essentials like steam irons, clothes steamers and washing lines.
From a highly recommended retractable washing line to the best quiet fans money can buy, and Mumsnet's favourite dehumidifier to the steam generator iron that'll cut your ironing time in half, she loves to deep-dive into research and find the very best products on the market.