Electric vs Gas vs Wood Fireplaces: Heat, Installation and Cost Compared
An electric fireplace plugs into the wall. A gas fireplace needs a gas line and, on most models, a vent pipe. A wood fireplace needs a chimney. Most of the other differences follow from that: how much heat you get, which rooms it can go in, what happens in a power outage and what you pay. This guide compares electric vs gas vs wood fireplaces using the specs and prices of models we carry, from a $799 electric insert to a wood fireplace rated at 85,000 BTU/h.
The short answer
Electric is for the look of a fire in almost any room, with no vent and no gas line. On a 120-volt circuit you get about 5,000 BTU of heat, and you can run the flames with the heater off. Gas is for a real flame and real heat at the touch of a switch: 10,000 to 50,000 BTU/hr on the models below, and millivolt models keep running when the power goes out. Wood is for a real wood fire and the most heat: an EPA-certified fireplace like the Osburn Everest III is rated up to 85,000 BTU/h, but it needs a chimney at least 12 to 18 feet tall, depending on the model, and you load the wood yourself.
Electric vs gas vs wood at a glance
| Electric | Gas | Wood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it needs | An outlet or a hardwired circuit; some models also run on 240V | A gas line, plus a direct vent or B-vent pipe, or a room large enough for vent-free | A chimney, often a hearth extension, and outside air on some models |
| Heat | 4,777 to 5,118 BTU/h on 120V; up to 10,000 BTU on 240V | 10,000 to 50,000 BTU/hr input on the models in this guide | Up to 80,000 to 85,000 BTU/h on the EPA-certified models below |
| The flame | LED, LCD or water vapor effects; flames can run without heat | A real flame over logs, glass or stones | A real wood fire |
| In a power outage | Off | Millivolt models run with no house power; some electronic ignitions have battery backup | Burns; blowers stop |
| Where it can go | Almost any room; a few models are rated for covered outdoor spaces | Direct vent and B-vent wherever the vent can run; vent-free has room size and bedroom limits | Where a chimney can run and local rules allow wood burning |
| Prices at Dreamwood Living | $799 (electric insert) to $13,499 | $809 (vent-free firebox, logs extra) to $25,098 | $1,069 to $8,899; wood inserts from $2,191 |
Prices at Dreamwood Living as of November 2026.
Heat output
This is the biggest difference between the three, and the numbers are far apart.
Electric heat is set by the heater, not the size of the fireplace. The Dimplex Sierra Linear ($849.99 for the 48") puts out 1,400 W (4,777 BTU/h) in all three sizes, and the Dimplex Nova plug-in firebox is 1,465 W in all four sizes, so a wider Nova gives you a wider fire, not a warmer room. Dimplex rates both to warm up to 1,000 sq ft. Some built-ins run on 240V for more heat: the Dimplex Ignite XL 50" ($3,049.99) puts out 5,118 BTU/h on 120V or 8,530 on 240V, and the Modern Flames 120" Orion V2 Multi ($13,499) is rated 5,000 or 10,000 BTU for 400 to 800 sq ft.
Gas fireplaces are rated by input, the gas they burn per hour. The Empire Vail 24" vent-free comes in 10,000 or 20,000 BTU/hr models, the Napoleon Ascent Linear 36 is 17,500 BTU/hr on natural gas, the Empire Tahoe Deluxe 32" is 18,000, the Empire Keystone Premium 42 B-vent is 30,000, and the Napoleon Luxuria 74 goes up to 50,000.
Wood covers the widest range, because not every wood fireplace is built to heat. The Osburn Everest III ($5,399) is EPA 2020 certified, rated up to 85,000 BTU/h for 750 to 2,500 sq ft, with a blower included and a maximum burn time of 8 hours. The Superior WCT6940 ($7,469) is a catalytic EPA 2020 fireplace rated up to 80,000 Btu/h at 70% efficiency, for up to about 2,500 sq ft. At the other end, an open fireplace like the Majestic Biltmore 36" ($2,019) gives radiant heat with no fan, and Valcourt recommends its decorative Frontenac for under 1,000 sq ft.
What each one needs to install
Electric: an outlet or a circuit
There is no vent, gas line or chimney. Smaller models plug in: the Dimplex Nova connects to a standard household outlet, though at 12.5 A it should have a dedicated 15 A circuit of its own. Larger built-ins are often hardwired: the Modern Flames Orion V2 Multi 120" is hardwired only, on a dedicated 15 A circuit at 120V or a 20 A two-pole circuit at 240V.
Gas: a gas line and, usually, a vent
- Direct vent draws air from outside and sends exhaust out through a sealed pipe in the wall or roof. The Empire Tahoe Deluxe 32" vents through 4" x 6 5/8" pipe from the top or the rear.
- B-vent vents straight up through the roof. The Empire Keystone Premium 42 uses 6" B-vent pipe with at least 11 feet of vertical height.
- Vent-free has no vent at all, but the room has to be big enough. The Empire Vail 24" needs at least 50 cubic feet of room per 1,000 BTU/hr and has an oxygen depletion sensor. The Superior VRT2536 vent-free firebox can't go in a bedroom, other sleeping room or bathroom, while the 10,000 BTU/hr Vail 24" models can go in a bedroom where local codes allow.
Our guides to direct vent vs vent-free and direct vent venting go into the details.
Wood: a chimney, a hearth and often outside air
A wood fireplace needs a listed chimney of a minimum height, measured from the base of the fireplace:
- Superior WCT6940: 7" Snap-Pak stainless chimney, at least 12 feet above the fireplace, on a non-combustible base, with the included outside air kit required
- Superior WRT2036: 8" double-wall chimney, at least 14-1/2 feet to the outlet of the cap
- Osburn Everest III: 6" UL 103 HT chimney, at least 15 feet to the cap
- Valcourt Frontenac: 8" UL 103 HT chimney, at least 18 feet, with a hearth extension of 20" in front and 12" on each side
For the different kinds of wood fireplace, see types of wood burning fireplaces.
The flame
Electric flames are light effects: LED, LCD screens, projection or water vapor, and the better ones are hard to tell from a real fire across a room. Many come with several looks in the box; the Dimplex Sierra Linear ships with logs, crystals and pebbles and eight ember-bed colors. Our guide to the most realistic electric fireplace compares each technology.
Gas is a real flame over ceramic logs, glass or stones. Some models include the media: the Empire Tahoe Deluxe 32" comes with a five-piece ceramic fiber log set, and the Napoleon Ascent Linear 36 with a Topaz CRYSTALINE ember bed. Others, like the Napoleon Luxuria 74, need a log set, Beach Fire set or glass ordered separately.
Wood is the only one with real logs, crackle and wood smoke. Open fireplaces like the Biltmore show the whole fire, and EPA-certified models burn behind glass doors.
When the power goes out
- Electric stops.
- Gas depends on the ignition. Millivolt models use a standing pilot and run with no house power, including the Empire Tahoe Deluxe millivolt, the Vail 24" and the Keystone Premium millivolt. Napoleon's electronic ignition on the Ascent Linear and Luxuria has a battery back-up, and on the Luxuria it keeps on/off and flame height working in an outage. Our guide to millivolt vs electronic ignition explains the difference.
- Wood keeps burning, though an electric blower, like the 350 CFM blower on the Superior WCT6940, stops until the power comes back.
Upkeep
Electric burns nothing, so there is no ash, soot or vent to look after. Gas leaves no ash; follow the owner's manual for checking the fireplace and its vent. Wood means splitting, storing and loading wood, carrying out ash and having the chimney inspected and cleaned regularly, which is the price of the real fire.
What they cost
Electric is usually the least to buy and install, since most need only an outlet or a circuit. Gas adds a gas line and, on most models, vent pipe. Wood adds the chimney, and some models need more parts before they can run: the Superior WCT6940 needs its facade and doors ordered separately, and the WRT2036 needs chimney pipe and a cap. Running cost depends on your local electricity and gas prices; for electric, see electric fireplace monthly costs. Running an electric fireplace's flames alone draws very little: the Remii Wall Mount Slim 45" uses 25 watts with the heater off and 1,465 watts with it on.
Already have a fireplace? All three come as inserts
An insert slides into an existing fireplace opening.
- Electric inserts start at $799 for the SimpliFire GI-32-ZC 32", and the Dimplex Nova plug-in firebox (from $804.99) goes into an existing fireplace or mantel. See electric inserts.
- Gas inserts start at $1,959 for the Empire Loft Small vent-free. See gas fireplace inserts and our gas insert buyer's guide.
- Wood inserts start at $2,191 for the Buck Stove Model 21NC, which goes into a masonry fireplace with a trim kit or stands on its own as a wood stove. See wood fireplace inserts.
A wood fireplace can also become a gas fireplace later. The Superior WRT2036 accepts vented gas logs, or a vent-free gas log heater with Superior's GA6050 hood, and has gas line knockouts on both sides. For more on inserts, see fireplace vs fireplace insert.
Which should you choose?
Electric if you want a fireplace in a room with no gas line or chimney, an apartment or condo, a bedroom, or a wall where you want the flame without much heat. Browse electric fireplaces.
Gas if you want a real flame and real heat with a remote, and a fire that can run in a power outage. Browse gas fireplaces, direct vent or vent-free.
Wood if you want a real wood fire, have room for the chimney and want the most heat, or a fireplace that works with no power or gas at all. Browse wood fireplaces or EPA certified zero clearance fireplaces.
Wondering which adds the most when you sell the house? See which type of fireplace adds the most to a home.
Frequently asked questions
Is an electric or gas fireplace cheaper to run?
It depends on what you pay for electricity and gas where you live. An electric fireplace's heater draws about 1,400 to 1,500 watts on high on 120V, and the flames alone draw far less: 25 watts on the Remii Wall Mount Slim 45". For electric running costs, see electric fireplace monthly costs.
Do electric fireplaces give off real heat?
Yes, but much less than gas or wood. On 120V most put out about 5,000 BTU: 4,777 BTU/h on the Dimplex Sierra Linear and 5,118 BTU/h on the Dimplex Ignite XL. Some built-ins put out more on 240V, up to 10,000 BTU on the Modern Flames Orion V2 Multi 120". Dimplex rates the Sierra Linear and Nova to warm up to 1,000 sq ft.
Does a gas fireplace work without electricity?
A millivolt gas fireplace does, because its standing pilot needs no house power. Several Napoleon models with electronic ignition have a battery back-up. Check the ignition type on the product page.
Which type puts out the most heat?
Wood, on the models we carry. The Osburn Everest III is rated up to 85,000 BTU/h and the Superior WCT6940 up to 80,000. The gas fireplaces in this guide run up to 50,000 BTU/hr input on the Napoleon Luxuria 74, and electric tops out around 10,000 BTU on 240V.
Can a wood-burning fireplace be converted to gas?
Some can. The Superior WRT2036 open wood fireplace accepts vented gas logs, or a vent-free gas log heater with the GA6050 hood, and has gas line knockouts on both sides. Check the manual for your model.
Can a vent-free gas fireplace go in a bedroom?
Only some, and only where local codes allow. The 10,000 BTU/hr Empire Vail 24" models can go in a bedroom where codes allow; the Superior VRT2536 can't go in a bedroom, other sleeping room or bathroom. An electric fireplace or a direct vent gas fireplace avoids the question.
Not sure which one fits your room?
Call us at 888-486-2909 with the room size, whether you have a gas line or a chimney, and how much heat you want, and we will help you choose between electric, gas and wood. We are here 9am to 9pm CST.