Empire Tahoe Deluxe vs Premium vs Luxury
Empire sells the Tahoe direct vent fireplace in three tiers: Deluxe, Premium and Luxury. It then sells each tier again as a Clean Face model. That is six fireplaces under one name, and Empire's own naming makes them sound like trim levels of the same box.
They are not. The firebox depth, the burner, the glass and in some sizes the vent pipe all change between tiers, so the tier has to be chosen before the wall is framed. Every figure below comes from the specifications on our own product pages.
The difference in one paragraph
The Tahoe Deluxe is the shallow one: 16 3/8" deep, a tube burner, 20,000 BTU at 36 inches, from $1,799. The Tahoe Premium is a deeper firebox at 19 7/8" with Empire's Slope Glaze burner and a taller log stack, from $2,319. The Tahoe Luxury keeps the Premium's width and depth, stands 3 1/8" taller, and adds ceramic glass, a blower, an accent light and a 13-piece log set, with 35,000 BTU on natural gas, from $4,069. Clean Face versions of each remove the louvers so tile or stone can run to the edge of the glass.
Tahoe Deluxe vs Premium vs Luxury at a glance
This table compares the three standard (louvered) models at 36 inches, the one size all three are made in.
| Tahoe Deluxe 36 | Tahoe Premium 36 | Tahoe Luxury 36 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Model series | DVD | DVP | DVX |
| Sizes made | 32", 36", 42", 48" | 36", 42", 48" | 36", 42" |
| Overall size (H x W x D) | 35 5/8" x 37" x 16 3/8" | 37 5/8" x 39" x 19 7/8" | 40 3/4" x 39" x 19 7/8" |
| Framing (H x W x D) | 35 3/4" x 37 3/8" x 16 3/8" | 37 3/4" x 39 3/8" x 19 7/8" | 40 7/8" x 39 3/8" x 19 7/8" |
| Max input, natural gas | 20,000 BTU | 25,000 BTU | 35,000 BTU |
| Max input, propane | 20,000 BTU | 27,000 BTU | 30,000 BTU |
| Burner | Contour tube-style | Slope Glaze | Slope Glaze "Excess" |
| Log set | Hand-painted ceramic fiber | Four-piece | 13-piece |
| Glass | Tempered, 20" x 30 1/2" | Tempered, 22" x 32 1/2" | Ceramic, 22" x 32 1/2" |
| Vent | 4" x 6 5/8", top or rear | 4" x 6 5/8", top (rear on natural gas only) | 4" x 6 5/8", top only |
| Blower | Optional | Optional | Included |
| Accent light | No | No | Included, dimmer-controlled |
| Controls offered | Millivolt, intermittent pilot | Millivolt, intermittent pilot, multi-function remote | Millivolt, intermittent pilot, multi-function remote |
| Top framing-edge clearance | 3" | 3" | 6" |
| Price range | $1,799 to $2,379 | $2,319 to $3,449 | $4,069 to $4,499 |
All three are zero clearance at the back, sides and floor.
Deluxe: the one that fits a shallow wall
The Deluxe needs 16 3/8" of depth, about 3 1/2" less than the other two. That is the reason most people buy it. It fits a standard chase or a bump-out where a Premium will not.
It is also the only Tahoe made in a 32-inch size, and the only standard Tahoe that vents from the top or the rear in every size and on either fuel. Output runs from 18,000 BTU at 32 inches to 28,000 BTU at 48 inches.
The Deluxe uses Empire's Contour tube-style burner under a hand-painted ceramic fiber log set. Liners are optional in Aged Brick, Herringbone, Stacked Limestone and Black Porcelain.
Two things to budget for. The barrier screen is required and sold separately ($235 at 36 inches), and the blower is an upgrade of $310 to $350 depending on size and control type.
Premium: a deeper firebox and a different burner
Moving to the Premium buys a bigger firebox. It is 19 7/8" deep, 2" taller and 2" wider than the Deluxe at 36 inches. The Slope Glaze burner sits under a taller, deeper log stack, and the glass grows from 20" x 30 1/2" to 22" x 32 1/2".
Output goes up with it: 25,000 BTU on natural gas at 36 inches against the Deluxe's 20,000, and 30,000 at 48 inches against 28,000.
The Premium is also the first tier offered with Empire's multi-function remote, which varies flame height and blower speed to hold a set temperature. A 36-inch Premium with that control and a blower is $3,449.
Watch the vent size. The 36-inch Premium uses 4" x 6 5/8" pipe like the Deluxe, but the 42-inch and 48-inch Premium step up to 5" x 8". A 42-inch Deluxe and a 42-inch Premium are the same width and do not take the same vent.
Luxury: same footprint as the Premium, more of everything inside
The Luxury is as wide and as deep as the Premium and 3 1/8" taller. Inside that box Empire changes four things:
- Ceramic glass in place of tempered, which passes more radiant heat into the room.
- A blower and a dimmer-controlled accent light, both included on every Luxury model.
- A 13-piece log set in place of the Premium's four-piece set.
- A larger Slope Glaze "Excess" burner with a fuller ember bed.
The result is 35,000 BTU on natural gas at 36 inches and 37,500 at 42 inches. That is roughly 10,000 BTU more than the same-size Premium.
The Luxury has tighter installation rules. It vents from the top only, it needs 6" of clearance at the top framing edge where the Deluxe and Premium need 3", and it is made only in 36 and 42 inches.
Where Clean Face fits
A standard Tahoe has louvers above and below the glass. A Clean Face Tahoe hides the air path behind a discreet channel, so the front is glass and a thin frame. Tile, stone or other non-combustible material can run right up to it for a built-in look.
Empire makes a Clean Face model at each tier. The catch is that they do not track the standard models one for one.
| Clean Face Deluxe 36 | Clean Face Premium 36 | Clean Face Luxury 36 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Model series | DVCD | DVCP | DVCX |
| Sizes made | 32", 36", 42" | 32", 36", 42" | 36", 42" |
| Framing depth | 17 3/4" | 17 5/8" | 21 1/2" |
| Max input, natural gas | 20,000 BTU | 24,000 BTU | 37,000 BTU |
| Glass | Tempered, 20" x 30 1/2" | Tempered, 25" x 31" | Ceramic, 24 1/8" x 33" |
| Vent | 4" x 6 5/8", top or rear | 4" x 6 5/8", top only | 5" x 8", top only |
| Barrier screen | Included | Included | Included |
| Log set | Included | Sold separately ($289) | 9-piece, included |
| Liner | Optional | Optional | Rustic Brick liner and brick floor included |
| Blower | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Controls offered | Millivolt, intermittent pilot | Millivolt, intermittent pilot | Millivolt, intermittent pilot, multi-function remote |
| Price range | $2,059 to $2,639 | $2,319 to $2,589 | $3,909 to $5,019 |
Clean Face Deluxe is the Deluxe without louvers. Same Contour burner, same 20,000 BTU, same glass size, and 1 3/8" deeper. It lists $260 above the standard Deluxe at 36 inches, but the barrier screen is in the box. Add the $235 barrier to a standard Deluxe and the real gap is about $25.
Clean Face Premium is its own fireplace. It is shallower than the standard Premium (17 5/8" of framing depth against 19 7/8"), has taller glass (25" against 22"), vents from the top only and is rated 24,000 BTU. The log set is ordered separately, and the installation needs 9" of non-combustible board above the opening.
Clean Face Luxury is the biggest heater in the range. It is rated 37,000 BTU at 36 inches and 40,000 at 42 inches on natural gas, and it needs 21 1/2" of framing depth and 5" x 8" vent in both sizes. It starts $160 below the standard Luxury, but the blower and light that come inside a standard Luxury are optional kits here.
Empire also builds Clean Face Contemporary, See-Through and Peninsula versions of the Tahoe. They are separate designs and are not covered here. The full range is on our Empire page.
Sizes, output and prices
Prices at Dreamwood Living as of October 2026. They run from the base millivolt model to the top control option in each size. Natural gas and propane versions cost the same.
Standard Tahoe
| Model | Max input (natural gas) | Vent | Price range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deluxe 32" | 18,000 BTU | 4" x 6 5/8" | $1,729 to $2,299 |
| Deluxe 36" | 20,000 BTU | 4" x 6 5/8" | $1,799 to $2,379 |
| Deluxe 42" | 25,000 BTU | 4" x 6 5/8" | $2,169 to $2,749 |
| Deluxe 48" | 28,000 BTU | 4" x 6 5/8" | $2,289 to $2,929 |
| Premium 36" | 25,000 BTU | 4" x 6 5/8" | $2,319 to $3,449 |
| Premium 42" | 28,000 BTU | 5" x 8" | $2,479 to $3,529 |
| Premium 48" | 30,000 BTU | 5" x 8" | $2,749 to $3,839 |
| Luxury 36" | 35,000 BTU | 4" x 6 5/8" | $4,069 to $4,499 |
| Luxury 42" | 37,500 BTU | 5" x 8" | $4,459 to $4,909 |
Tahoe Clean Face
| Model | Max input (natural gas) | Vent | Price range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clean Face Deluxe 32" | 18,000 BTU | 4" x 6 5/8" | $1,969 to $2,559 |
| Clean Face Deluxe 36" | 20,000 BTU | 4" x 6 5/8" | $2,059 to $2,639 |
| Clean Face Deluxe 42" | 25,000 BTU | 4" x 6 5/8" | $2,439 to $3,019 |
| Clean Face Premium 32" | 24,000 BTU | 4" x 6 5/8" | $2,179 to $2,469 |
| Clean Face Premium 36" | 24,000 BTU | 4" x 6 5/8" | $2,319 to $2,589 |
| Clean Face Premium 42" | 28,500 BTU | 4" x 6 5/8" | $2,499 to $2,809 |
| Clean Face Luxury 36" | 37,000 BTU | 5" x 8" | $3,909 to $5,019 |
| Clean Face Luxury 42" | 40,000 BTU | 5" x 8" | $4,229 to $5,329 |
What the price gap buys
Base prices flatter the Luxury gap, because every Luxury ships with a blower and the cheaper tiers do not. Compare like for like at 36 inches, each with intermittent pilot ignition and a blower:
| Deluxe 36 | Premium 36 | Luxury 36 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price with intermittent pilot and blower | $2,379 | $3,039 | $4,249 |
| Step up from the tier below | $660 | $1,210 |
The $660 from Deluxe to Premium buys the deeper firebox, the Slope Glaze burner, larger glass and 5,000 more BTU. The $1,210 from Premium to Luxury buys ceramic glass, the accent light, the 13-piece log set and 10,000 more BTU.
So which one
Start with the wall, then the room, then the look.
- Less than 19 inches of depth to work with: Deluxe, Clean Face Deluxe or Clean Face Premium. The standard Premium and both Luxury models need 19 7/8" or more.
- You need to vent out the back: Deluxe or Clean Face Deluxe. The standard Premium can rear vent with conditions, and the Luxury, Clean Face Premium and Clean Face Luxury are top vent only.
- An office, den or other small room: Deluxe. At 18,000 to 20,000 BTU it will not drive you out of the room.
- A main living room where the fire should look the part: Premium. The deeper firebox and taller log stack are what most people picture when they think of a gas fireplace.
- A large or open room you want to heat: Luxury, or Clean Face Luxury if you want the most output Empire offers in this line.
- Tile or stone to the edge of the glass: any Clean Face model. Choose the tier by depth and heat the same way as above.
- You lose power in winter: pick a millivolt model at any tier. The burner runs with no household electricity.
If you are torn between Premium and Luxury, price a Premium with a blower before deciding. The gap is $1,210 at 36 inches, not the $1,750 the base prices suggest.
Not sure which fits your framing? Call us at 888-486-2909 with your rough opening and we will tell you which Tahoe models fit. We are here 9am to 9pm CST. You can also see every Tahoe alongside the rest of our direct vent gas fireplaces.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Tahoe Luxury the same size as the Tahoe Premium?
The width and depth match: 39" x 19 7/8" at 36 inches and 43" x 19 7/8" at 42 inches. The Luxury is 3 1/8" taller at 40 3/4" against 37 5/8", so the framed opening is taller too. A wall framed for a Premium will not take a Luxury without changes.
Does an Empire Tahoe come with a blower?
Every standard Tahoe Luxury includes one. On the Deluxe, Premium and Clean Face Deluxe the blower is a model choice that adds $290 to $350. On the Clean Face Premium and Clean Face Luxury it is an optional kit.
What is the difference between millivolt and intermittent pilot on a Tahoe?
A millivolt Tahoe has a standing pilot you light with a pushbutton igniter, and the burner runs with no household electricity. An intermittent pilot Tahoe lights the pilot only when you turn the fireplace on, which saves gas, and uses an AC adapter with battery backup.
Do the logs come with the fireplace?
Yes on the standard Deluxe, Premium and Luxury, and on the Clean Face Deluxe and Clean Face Luxury. The Clean Face Premium is the exception. Its log set is ordered separately, $289 for the 32 and 36 inch sizes and $315 for the 42.
Is the barrier screen included?
On all Clean Face Tahoe models, yes. On the standard Deluxe and Premium a barrier, or a door frame with barrier, is required and sold separately, from $225.
Can a Tahoe be vented out the back wall?
The Deluxe and Clean Face Deluxe vent from the top or the rear. The standard Premium can rear vent with conditions set out in the manual, and at 36 inches only on natural gas. The Luxury, Clean Face Premium and Clean Face Luxury are top vent only, though the pipe can still turn and exit through a wall.
What does clean face mean on a gas fireplace?
It means there are no louvers or grilles around the glass. Air moves through a hidden channel instead, so the finished wall shows only the glass and a narrow frame.
Which Empire Tahoe puts out the most heat?
The 42-inch Clean Face Luxury at 40,000 BTU on natural gas. Among standard models it is the 42-inch Luxury at 37,500 BTU.