10 best electric and portable fireplaces for winter 2023
Enjoy the ambience of a real fireplace with none of the smoke, ash or hassle – and at a fraction of the cost.
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If you’ve ever sat beside a crackling fire with a book in one hand and cup of tea in the other, you’ll know that a more comfortable atmosphere is hard to create.
That said, installing your very own fireplace is a much less soothing experience: you need a constant supply of firewood, fire building know-how, constant patience to clean away the soot, and a rather generous budget to get the whole thing underway.
RELATED: 10 electric heaters for every budget and home
But enjoying such serenity at home is still possible. Portable electric fireplaces can cost you as little as $112, and they’ll provide the warmth and calming vibes sans the effort or mess.
BEST ELECTRIC PORTABLE FIREPLACE GUIDE
An instantly cosy atmosphere is just a few clicks away – read on for our roundup of the best portable electric fireplaces to buy for your home.
BEST CHEAP ELECTRIC PORTABLE FIREPLACE
Heller 2000W Electric Fireplace, eBay, $134.95
Looking for an electric fireplace that won’t burn a hole in your wallet? This affordable Heller heater displays a log-style flame effect and features two heat settings (1000W and 2000W), a fan to circulate the warm air, adjustable thermostat control and a four-hour timer. Available in a simple black design, the freestanding unit also includes a thermal cut-off and tip-over switch for your protection.
Heller 1800W Electric Fireplace, Betta Home Living, $269
Make any room the perfect place to snuggle into all-year round with this portable electric fireplace from Heller. It has two heat settings, 900W and 1800W, plus an option to sit in front of the LED flames without the heating function.
The freestanding unit also boasts a timeless cast iron look and comes with basic features including adjustable flame brightness and safety thermal cut-off.
Lenoxx 1800W Electric Fireplace Heater, Amazon Australia, $149.95
With two main heat settings - as well as a heatless option if you just want to enjoy the flame effect without the warmth - this Lenoxx heater provides plenty of flexibility. It features decorative ‘logs’, a swing open door, and a pull-down drawer for accessing the control panel. There’s a tip-over switch and overheat protection for safety, too.
One happy customer gave it a five-star review, calling it a “great buy and a must have for those cold winter mornings”.
“Super cute and came looking just as described! Warms up the room really fast and was super easy to set up and learn how to use. The bottom part pulls open to change the heating controls, colour adjustments and of course on and off.”
BEST MINI ELECTRIC PORTABLE FIREPLACE
EWT 1.2kW Dinky Mini Electric Fire, The Good Guys, $149
Looking for a small and unobtrusive electric fireplace? This aptly-named “Dinky” option from EWT is a perfect pick. Given the size, it’s ideal for small rooms – you can’t expect it to heat up your whole house, but it’ll do a good job of close range heating.
Reviewers say it’s cute and gets the job done in small spaces, with one commenting, “Takes me back to my childhood without the smoke! It warms your feet and makes your immediate area warm … For smaller rooms, great!”
Dimplex 1500W Mini Cube Portable Electric Fire, Bing Lee, $149
This Dimplex compact electric fireplace can look pretty convincing, thanks to the bed of ‘coal’ inside the glossy and curved steel casing. It offers two heat settings and is available in either black or red.
“Super cute heater that warms the room quickly as long as the room isn’t too big. Liked it so much we got a second one,” an impressed shopper wrote.
BEST MID-RANGE ELECTRIC PORTABLE FIREPLACE
Devanti 2000W Electric Fireplace, eBay, $726
Devanti brings old world charm with modern features, including 3D flame effects with four flame brightness options, plus two heat modes (low and high), nine-hour timer settings, adjustable thermostat, and a built-in fan to help circulate the warmth.
This electric fireplace also takes just 30 seconds to heat up and supposedly uses 90 per cent less electricity than gas heaters, giving you an efficient and cost-effective solution to beating the winter chill.
One reviewer called it a “wonderful way to feel you have a wood fire without all the dust and ashes that a real fire delivers”.
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Dimplex Casper 2kW Electric Fire Heater, The Good Guys, $269
Ringing in at more of a mid-range price and size, this mobile fireplace features a lava rock fuel bed and Optiflame LED effect. The classic cast iron style design is super versatile in any style of home, and reviewers say it’s a great unit.
“Lovely warmth and looks like a fire with the bonus that you can turn it off easily when it gets too warm. All without the bother of wood and ash,” a customer reviewed.
MAXKON 1800W Electric Fireplace, Catch, $209.97
With a unique semicircular design, this MAXKON electric fireplace heater is a stylish pick. It promises to heat spaces up to 200 square metres in size, and has a quiet fan-forced operation that can easily be adjusted to suit your preference.
This electric fireplace is a good option for households with pets and kids running around since it’s designed to stay fairly cool to touch when it’s running. The model also has the usual safety features, including auto shut-off to prevent the appliance from overheating.
BEST PREMIUM ELECTRIC PORTABLE FIREPLACE
Dimplex Conner Mini Suite Electric Firebox, Appliances Online, $789
This Dimplex electric fireplace is definitely one worth showing off. It features a chic matte white and concrete look, plus concealed controls to maintain a sleek and ‘authentic’ design.
The portable fan heater provides 1500W worth of warmth and offers two heat settings to choose from, with an option to sit back and enjoy the LED flame without any heat also available.
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Dimplex 2kW Leckford Electric Fireplace, Appliances Online, $528
Coming with a higher price tag – but all the bells, whistles and more – is this elegant electric fireplace from Dimplex. It offers two heat settings, thermostat control, and flame adjustability. A remote control allows you to control it from afar, and reviewers unanimously agreed on its exemplary heating abilities.
The freestanding electric fireplace also boasts a matte black ‘cast iron’ style design and double doors, which can be opened so you can enjoy the Optiflame effect – with or without heat.
DO ELECTRIC FIREPLACES USE A LOT OF ELECTRICITY?
Electric fireplaces are fairly energy-efficient because they heat up quickly and can warm a room faster than wood-burning fireplaces and some types of heaters, such as gas heaters.
While electric fireplaces are usually more expensive to buy, they can end up cheaper to run over time. Many models also claim to use minimal energy to power the LED flame effect, so you can still use the appliance throughout the year without getting a huge bill shock. Just make sure the heating functions stays switched off.
DO ELECTRIC FIREPLACES REALLY HEAT A ROOM?
They can, but their efficacy depends on the size and wattage of the model you purchase, and the size of the room you place them in. Most electric fireplaces offer between 1800 and 2000W of heating power, regardless of whether it’s a wall mounted unit or a portable heater.
Here’s a rough guide on what capacity heater you should buy:
• Small room (up to 20 square metres): 1000W - 1500W
• Medium room (20 and 40 square metres): 2000W - 2500W
• Large room: (more than 45 square metres): At least 2500W
Keep in mind that open spaces or rooms with high ceilings or dividers, such as tall bookshelves or partition walls, may need a heater with at least 2000W.
CAN YOU PLUG AN ELECTRIC FIREPLACE INTO A REGULAR OUTLET?
Yes, most electric fireplaces are compatible with plugging in to a regular wall outlet, but we recommend you double check the model you purchase.
Electric fireplaces not your style? Check out our picks of the best oil heaters or the best outdoor heaters to warm you in winter.
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