Electric fireplace vs wood fireplace comes down to what you want from the fire. A wood fireplace gives you real flames, crackle and smell, but it needs a sound chimney, dry firewood, ash cleanup and yearly inspection, and the EPA calls an open wood fireplace a very inefficient way to heat a home. An electric fireplace needs no chimney or vent, runs from an outlet or a dedicated circuit, and puts out supplemental heat for one room. Below we compare install, heat, running cost, maintenance, safety and air quality, then say where each one makes sense.
Electric fireplace vs wood fireplace at a glance
| Factor | Wood burning fireplace | Electric fireplace |
|---|---|---|
| Venting | Chimney or flue required | None; Amantii says its units are vent free |
| Fuel | Seasoned firewood | Household electricity |
| Heat on our listings | Varies; EPA says most heat goes up the chimney | About 4,800 to 5,000 BTU at 1,500 W; 10,230 BTU on 240V models |
| Upkeep | Ash removal, annual chimney inspection | Occasional dusting and glass cleaning |
| Indoor air | Wood smoke and fine particles | No combustion |
| Works in a power outage | Yes | No |
Wood burning vs electric fireplace: install, chimney and permits
Wood fireplace
A wood fireplace, masonry or factory built, depends on its chimney. The EPA’s installation and maintenance page calls the venting system the engine that drives the burn, and says installers should check clearances to combustible materials, floor protection and how the vent is sized and assembled. If you are adding a wood fireplace or stove where none exists, expect in most areas a building permit, a chimney or listed flue, a hearth, and an inspection under your local code.
Electric fireplace
Electric units skip all of that. Amantii’s FAQ states its fireplaces need no chimney, vent or gas line. Many of our models plug in or can be hardwired. Amantii’s FAQ says no permit is needed for the fireplace itself, but a new circuit or hardwired connection is electrical work, so a licensed electrician and your local code have the final word. Our guide to an electric fireplace insert for an existing fireplace covers the measuring and wiring steps.
Heat output: what each one actually delivers
The EPA’s energy efficiency page is blunt: a wood burning fireplace is generally a very inefficient way to heat your home, and drafts can pull warm air up the chimney while your central heat works harder.
Electric heat is modest but predictable. Typical listings on our site:
- Amantii 26 in. Traditional XtraSlim Smart WiFi ($1,299): 750 W low and 1,500 W high, listed for up to 400 sq. ft.
- Amantii Zero Clearance Series 26 in. (from $968): 4,800 BTU, listed for 400 to 500 sq. ft.
- Amantii 42 in. Symmetry Extra Tall Lumina ($2,499): 1,500 W and 5,000 BTU at 120V, or 3,000 W and 10,230 BTU with the 240V option, listed for up to 900 sq. ft.
Amantii itself says electric fireplaces supplement central heat rather than replace it. If you want to push one harder, read whether an electric fireplace can be your primary heat.
Electric vs wood heat cost
For electric, the math is simple because the heater draws its rated wattage. The EIA’s Electric Power Monthly table puts the average U.S. residential price at 18.16 cents per kWh for August 2026. Assumptions below: that average rate and 480 hours a season (4 hours a night for 120 nights).
| Heater setting | Cost per hour | Cost for 480 hours |
|---|---|---|
| 750 W low | About $0.14 | About $65 |
| 1,500 W high (120V) | About $0.27 | About $131 |
| 3,000 W (240V option) | About $0.54 | About $261 |
Your bill’s rate may be much higher or lower, so swap in your own number. Running the flame effect with the heat off costs far less, since the flames are LEDs.
Wood is harder to pin down. Firewood prices swing widely by region and season, and we did not find a national figure we trust, so price a cord locally. Then factor in efficiency: the EPA says in its frequent questions that most of a fireplace’s heat goes out the chimney. For a fuller cost picture on the electric side, see our electric fireplace vs gas fireplace cost breakdown.
Ambience and everyday use
Nothing electric fully copies the sound, smell and radiant feel of a wood fire, and a wood fire keeps working in a power outage. An electric unit turns on with a remote or app, runs flames without heat on mild evenings, and fits rooms where a chimney is impossible.
Maintenance: chimney sweeping vs a wipe down
The EPA notes that fire officials recommend a professional inspection of the appliance, chimney and vent every year. Wood smoke condenses as creosote, a combustible residue that can cause a chimney fire. The EPA’s best wood burning practices add: burn only dry wood seasoned at least six months, store ashes in a covered metal container outdoors on a nonflammable surface. Electric units need occasional dusting and glass cleaning.
Safety and air quality
The EPA’s wood smoke and health page says the biggest threat in smoke is fine particles (PM2.5), which can worsen asthma and affect the heart, especially for children, older adults and people with heart or lung disease. The EPA also says open fireplaces create far more pollution than EPA certified wood heaters. Keep working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms with any wood appliance. Electric fireplaces have no combustion, and Amantii says the glass front stays cool; still follow the clearances in the installation manual. If smoke affects your health, talk with your doctor.
Converting a wood fireplace to electric
If you have a wood fireplace you rarely use, an electric insert is the low disruption route. Amantii says the inside height of the old firebox is usually the deciding measurement. Firebox style units such as the Amantii Zero Clearance Series 33 in. (from $1,298, listed for 400 to 500 sq. ft.) and the Amantii 30 in. Traditional XtraSlim Smart WiFi ($1,499, 750 W or 1,500 W) are two to measure against your opening. Have the chimney inspected and the damper closed and sealed per your installer before the unit goes in.
Where each one makes sense
- Choose wood if you already have a sound, inspected chimney, a steady dry wood supply, want heat during outages, and your area allows burning. The EPA notes that an EPA certified stove or insert burns much cleaner than an open fireplace. We do not sell indoor wood stoves, wood fireplaces or wood inserts, so look to a local hearth retailer for those.
- Choose electric for condos, rentals, bedrooms, basements, new walls without a chimney, households sensitive to smoke, or anyone who wants a flame at the push of a button. A recessed unit like the Amantii Symmetry 42 in. Basic ($1,099, 4,800 BTU) suits a new media wall.
Browse the full Amantii lineup or start with our electric fireplace buying guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is an electric fireplace cheaper to run than a wood fireplace?
It depends on your electric rate and what you pay for firewood. At the August 2026 U.S. average, a 1,500 W heater costs about $0.27 an hour. A wood fireplace adds chimney service costs, and the EPA says most of its heat goes up the chimney.
Which gives more heat, wood burning vs electric fireplace?
The EPA calls open fireplaces very inefficient for heating a home. Electric units on our site list 4,800 to 5,000 BTU at 120V, and some 240V models list 10,230 BTU.
Can I convert a wood fireplace to electric myself?
Many plug in inserts are a simple install, but have the chimney inspected and the flue closed off first. Any new circuit or hardwiring should be done by a licensed electrician to local code.
Do electric fireplaces need a chimney?
No. Amantii states its electric fireplaces are vent free and need no chimney, venting or gas line.
Need help choosing?
Call us at 866-777-2590, Monday to Friday, 9AM to 6PM PST. Orders of $999 or more ship with free freight; orders below that ship for a flat $200. See our return and refund policy before you order.
