Best Electric Fire 2021 – Buyer’s Guide

Opti-Myst gets their name from the innovative technology they use to create a realistic, convincing flame effect.

A combination of ultra-fine water mist and special lighting gives a ‘crackling’ and jumping feel, along with a touch of the smokey look, just as you’d get with a real fire, except it is a lot safer and a lot less hassle. If the look is something which does bother you and you have an eye for detail, then it makes this a really great pick.

Because of this, you do need to keep the little water tray filled up for the flame effect. This water also has to be filtered to keep everything working well and not damage the inner components, so bear this in mind before you buy if you want a hassle-free experience.

There is the possibility to use it with or without heat, as well as with the remote or manual which makes a nice change as so many are one or the other. The switches on the appliance are hidden behind the door, so it looks clean, and they can’t be accessed by any little ones accidentally.

As well, the door makes it look more like a real stove as opposed to a fake front which is obviously electric. In conjunction with the flames, we would say this is one of the most realistic fires you can get without venturing out to cut baskets of wood down yourself.

This is a stove which we think is best suited to small rooms as it is compact in size, and has indeed been designed with these spaces in mind.

There are two heat settings, at 0.6kW and 1.2kW, which is less than a lot of heaters give out but still enough to warm a smaller room without making it a sauna. We also see no reason why it couldn’t be used in a larger room as a bit of a heating booster, or to maintain a constant temperature.

All you need to do in order to start it up is position and plug it in. There’s no drilling, fitting or building required. The flame effect and log bed are really good for the size of the glass area, which we weren’t expecting.

We faced a few hiccups and teething problems when it first got going, primarily a little squeaky fan, but once it had been on for a little while this disappeared so if you do buy it, be warned this is only a temporary issue!

A lot of the electric fires on the market today are black, so this white colour makes a welcome appearance.

There is an OptiFlame effect and a log effect bed to give the full feel of a true fire, as well as an opening door so it is hard to tell it isn’t real at first glance. This is where the control panel is hidden away, so it doesn’t ruin the look.

Control the flame with the remote control, so you don’t have to get up off the sofa and mess about with dials and switches, for a real hassle free heat. It looks very realistic, so will add to the atmosphere as well as giving out a good amount of warmth.

The noise is more of a background hum than an audible buzz or fan sound, and it is completely silent when the heating aspect isn’t on which is nice as some others still have a slight ‘electrical’ noise.

Freestanding, lightweight and small in dimensions, this Warmlite model is great for anyone who needs to fill an alcove or corner with a bit of warmth. The LED flame effect is stunningly realistic and will be an impressive piece to add to any room.

Just attach the feet using a screwdriver to get it set up. Because they allow the appliance to sit quite a bit up from the floor, we think it would be fine to set straight onto your carpet or hardwood floor without putting down a mat or hearth first.

The adjustable thermostat control allows you to easily set the temperature to your liking. It heats up pretty quickly which is great if you need a quick boost of heat after you’ve been out in the cold and the central heating is taking its time.

We especially like the curve design which gives 180 degree panoramic view of the fire. Lastly, you can have peace of mind with the overheat protection that cuts off the heat if the temperature gets too hot. This safety feature is built into the electric stove.

A modern and stylish option, the Helios from Adam gives a great warm glow and looks a lot more expensive than it is.

All you need to do is plug it in and slot it in place, then fit the decorative trim and arrange the pebbles, and it is ready.

The heat it gives out is enough to create a noticeable warmth, and there are two settings for whatever the weather outside is like. You can also use it without the heat if you just want the look.

Extra feet come with the fire if you would like to set it a bit higher or behind a hearth which is a nice addition but will probably be unnecessary for a lot of fittings.

The steel build makes it sturdy yet lightweight, so it is easy to fit and move but will withstand external temperatures and daily wear and tear.

The glow doesn’t flicker like an ordinary flame so the fire does look a bit false, but it is a good orange-based colour among the pebbles.

Using Optiflame Technology to create a realistic glowing flame, this Dimplex model looks contemporary yet warm.

It has been designed to fit 16″ and 18″ surrounds and all conventional flues. The highest heat output is 2 kW, which is the maximum for electric fires and is enough to warm a small room nicely. The lower is 1 kW which gives out a nice boost of warmth. The fan heater is situated inside the canopy so doesn’t spoil the overall look of the appliance.

The flame can be used without heat, so the option to use it all year round is there. Simply use the switches to choose the desired output, whether it be only light or the low/high heat option.

Thanks to the stainless steel build and pebble bed, it is perfect for the modern living room.

For a real centrepiece fire display, this model from BeModern is going to the trick.

It is larger than a lot of the others on sale, which is great for any bigger rooms or completely bare walls which need a bit of a boost. You can have the flame without the heat so it can be on all year round.

There are also three flame settings, as well as the two heat modes so you can create the atmosphere you want (all with the handy remote control, of course).

We particularly loved the mood backlighting behind the appliance, which further added to the feel of the room, whether you want something calm and balancing in warmer weather or a boost to the warm feel of the atmosphere. There are three colours available – orange, blue and purple – which looks great in clean, up to date rooms.

Yes, it is a lot more expensive than the others on the list, but if you want a really realistic wall hung fire which doesn’t only look great but also gives out a decent amount of heat, then it is a price which kind of has to be paid. And for the size of it, we’d say the cost is pretty justified.

Thanks to the changeable flame brightness, you can get the exact look you want to fit the room and atmosphere with this wall mounted offering from Beldray.

For a product of its type, it is easy to fit. There are just three holes to drill, so it looks clean and can be done without professional help.

There are three flame settings, small medium and large flame, so you can keep things subtle in the warmer months and make it a true focal point in winter. The flames don’t look overly realistic, but for a modern focal point, they are sufficient.

One downside is that the fan is particularly loud when the heat setting is on. Bear in mind that the heat comes out of the top of the appliance as opposed to the bottom, like most other fires, so the heat won’t be felt immediately. Also, bear in mind the positioning – it would be no good under a television for this reason.

Black and brass fires with coal beds are few and far between these days, but they are still one of the most classic looks you can get. If you want to step away from the ultra-modern look and keep things original, this Cheriton model from Dimplex will likely appeal to you.

It is the largest yet thinnest freestanding electric fire we reviewed, and even though this was only by a few centimetres, you could really tell the difference. Great if you have free rein of the space you have to fill, or if you have a particularly roomy enclosure.

The flame effect is also superb, and the glow is reflected off the coals which makes a nice effect. You can keep these shiny with a bit of furniture polish from time to time.

The only downside about the coals is that the openings of the grill at the front are a bit spacious, so it takes a bit of arranging to get the look just right and stop the smaller ones falling through, but this is a minimal con which doesn’t take away from the overall experience of the fire.

It is a little bit wobbly until fixed to the wall so just be careful with any little ones running about or a hyper dog/cat.

A modern black and silver model, this offering from Dimplex is the perfect mix of traditionalist and up to date.

We loved that you have the choice between a real coal and pebble bed, so whether you have certain colour aspects you want to match or you would like to keep the white pebbles for summer and make a transition over winter, the decision is yours.

To help with the seasonal change, you can also use the flame effect without the heat, just in case the room looks bare without it.

It throws out a surprising amount of heat for the size so could easily be used as a primary heater in a small room. The warmth comes from the hood, which is plastic but doesn’t take away from the overall look too much.

With the choice of pebbles and coal, this is a fire with plenty of flexibility.

There is a bit of a hum when the light is on, which is to be expected with an appliance of its type. This noise increases when the fan heater is turned on, but it isn’t annoyingly loud.

The power cable is at the left-hand side as you are facing it which is worth mentioning, as ideally, you’ll need a power outlet at this side of the fire.

Our only gripe, like a lot of other reviews, is with the plastic surround. Most fires hide it pretty well, but this one is pretty obvious, so we would have preferred a fully chrome design, but we guess you’d probably pay a premium for that. It still doesn’t take away from the overall modern look though.

There is no better or safer way to get the open indoor fire look than an electric basket fire.

An authentic flame effect flickers under a bed of real coals, so you have an authentic glow without it all looking false and clearly mechanical. It will look great in old-style fireplace surrounds where there is no practicality for a real fire anymore.

There are three heat settings, with the highest being 2080W of power, so it could be used as a primary heater in most room sizes.

Setting it up is easy, and there is no mess created from the coals. They also fit onto the bed well without gaps and holes, which makes a pleasant change as so many stone beds are incredibly fiddly to sort. It takes a while to get them just right but is well worth the effort.

The fans are quiet for the heat given out, and the whole build seems robust and reliable for years to come. We weren’t sure about the idea of an electric basket fire at first, but this has completely changed our minds!