Types of Wood Burning Fireplaces: Open, EPA, Inserts and Outdoor

There are five types of wood burning fireplace you can buy today: the open fireplace, the EPA-certified built-in fireplace, the wood fireplace insert with blower that goes into a fireplace you already have, the see-through, and the outdoor fireplace. A mason-built fireplace, including the Rumford, is a sixth, and it is the one most inserts are made for.

The split that matters most is between fireplaces built for the look of the fire and fireplaces built to heat the house. The EPA draws that line itself. Every product figure below comes from the specifications on our own product pages.

The difference in one paragraph

An open wood fireplace starts around $1,100 and is built for the look of the fire. It isn't certified as a heater. An EPA-certified wood fireplace starts around $4,400, burns behind closed ceramic glass doors, includes a blower, and is rated to heat up to 1,500 to 2,800 sq ft depending on the model. A wood insert gets you the same kind of heat for $2,191 to $4,639 if you already have a fireplace and chimney it can go into. The see-through and outdoor models are open fireplaces in a different shape or location.

The types at a glance

Why the EPA treats these differently

Federal emission rules for wood heaters do not apply to fireplaces as the EPA defines them: a wood-burning appliance "intended to be used primarily for aesthetic enjoyment and not as a space heater." Open fireplaces fall on that side of the line, so they carry no EPA emissions rating.

Wood stoves, inserts and the built-in fireplaces we call EPA-certified are tested as heaters. Since May 15, 2020, a new wood heater must emit no more than 2.0 grams of particulate per hour, or 2.5 g/hr under the cordwood test option. Every certified model on this page that lists an emissions figure is rated between 1.2 and 2.3 g/hr.

So the price gap between an open fireplace and a certified one is a different appliance, not a nicer finish on the same one.

Open wood burning fireplaces: radiant vs heat circulating

An open fireplace is a factory-built steel firebox lined with refractory panels. It has a damper you open to light the fire, a mesh screen across the front, and its own listed chimney. Glass doors are an option on most, and you can add gas logs later through the gas knockouts several of them include.

They come in two versions, and Superior makes the cleanest comparison. The WRT2036 is the radiant model, with a smooth face. The WCT2036 is the circulating model, with rolled louvers above and below the opening that draw room air around the firebox and back out. Everything else matches: a 36" fully insulated firebox, white stacked refractory panels, a push/pull damper, mesh fire screens, an 8" IHP chimney and framing of 38-1/4" x 38-5/8" x 22". The radiant model is $1,069 and the circulating model is $1,129. Superior's optional fan kit fits the louvered models only.

Majestic builds the same pair in its Sovereign line. The Sovereign 36 Radiant and Sovereign 36 Heat Circulating are both $1,619, both use SL300 chimney and both include a safety firescreen, steel grate, ash lip and attic insulation shield.

Above the entry models, you are paying for a bigger opening. The Majestic Biltmore 36 ($2,019) has a large open-hearth viewing area and a flush hearth. The Superior WRT4536 ($3,769) has a 30" tall opening, a fully insulated firebox and a cast iron grate with forged andirons. The Superior WRT8048 ($4,849) opens 48" wide and 42" tall and is lined with Mosaic masonry firebrick in a split herringbone pattern, which gives a factory-built fireplace the look of a mason-built one.

EPA-certified wood burning fireplaces: built-in heaters

These install in a framed wall like an open fireplace, but they are closed-door heaters. Each has ceramic glass doors, a firebox sized for long burns, and a blower or fans in the box.

Two things stand out. The Valcourt Lafayette II and Osburn Stratford II are both built by SBI and list the same output, heating area, firebox and emissions, so the $90 between them buys a look: Valcourt's arched, French-inspired styling or Osburn's classic face. And the most expensive model here isn't the hottest. The Superior WCT6940 is the priciest and the only catalytic model, with a 4.0 cu ft firebox that takes 30" logs. The Osburn Horizon is rated higher at 95,000 BTU and burns longest at 11 hours.

Most of these can also send heat beyond the room. The Everest III and St. Clair 3000 take gravity and forced air kits, the WCT4920 takes Superior's HeatFlo kit, and the WarmMajic II takes Majestic's Heat-Zone kit. Our guide to fireplace heat management systems explains how those kits work.

"Zero clearance" means the firebox is listed to sit in a wood-framed enclosure. The Lafayette II, for example, is zero clearance at the back, sides and floor. Each still needs its own listed chimney, and the framing, hearth extension and mantel rules come from its installation manual.

Wood fireplace insert with blower: heat from a fireplace you already have

An insert is the fix for an open masonry fireplace that sends more heat up the chimney than into the room. It is a sealed firebox with a glass door that slides into the old opening. A stainless steel liner, usually a continuous 6" liner, runs from the insert to the top of the chimney, and a surround panel covers the gap around the face. For a fuller comparison of the two approaches, see Fireplace vs. Fireplace Insert.

The blower is what makes an insert work. The firebox sits recessed inside the masonry, and the blower pushes room air through the space around it and back out the front, so the heat reaches the room instead of soaking into the brick. Almost every insert we carry ships with one, often with a heat sensor that switches it on as the insert warms up. The Ironstrike Striker C160 and Performer C210 are the exceptions, where the 160 CFM blower is an add-on.

A few things worth knowing before you choose:

• Measure the opening first. The minimum depth runs from 12 7/8" on the Osburn 1700 and Archway 1700 to 22 1/8" on the Matrix 2700. The Matrix 1900 has a tapered top and sides for small hearths, and the Osburn Matrix has a projection kit that brings its required depth down from 19 5/8" to as little as 15 5/8".
• Check what your fireplace is made of. The Osburn and Empire Archway inserts go in a masonry fireplace, and several Osburn listings say factory-built fireplaces are not permitted. The True North TN20 is listed for masonry and factory-built fireplaces.
• The Osburn 1700 and Empire Archway 1700 are rated the same. Both are 65,000 BTU for 500 to 1,800 sq ft and need the same 21 1/2" x 27 1/2" x 12 7/8" opening. The Osburn is $240 less and lists a 7-hour burn against the Archway's 6.
• Budget for the finishing parts. Most inserts need a door overlay plus a faceplate, surround or trim to finish the look, and every one needs the chimney liner.
• Most of these are non-catalytic. They burn the smoke with secondary air tubes, so there is no catalyst to replace. The Buck Model 91 ($4,047) is the catalytic option, with a catalyst probe and a factory-installed blower. It installs as a freestanding stove or, with a trim kit, as an insert in a masonry fireplace, and Buck rates it for up to 62,745 BTU and 3,200 sq ft. The non-catalytic Buck 21NC ($2,191) works the same two ways for 800 to 1,800 sq ft.

See every model in our wood fireplace inserts collection.

See-through wood burning fireplaces

The Majestic Designer Series 42 See-Through ($4,039) is an open radiant fireplace with a 42" x 23" viewing area on each side. It has a clean-face design, so stone or tile can run to the edge of the firebox, and it comes with an outside air kit, a full refractory lining, a damper, a safety firescreen and an attic insulation shield. It uses SL1100 chimney, and bi-fold glass doors are optional. Like the other open fireplaces, it is built for the view, here from two rooms at once. Our see-through fireplace guide covers the gas and electric options.

Outdoor wood burning fireplaces

Outdoor wood fireplaces are open fireplaces built for weather. They use stainless steel or masonry construction, with screens rated for outdoor use.

• Majestic Villawood 36 ($1,609): traditional or herringbone brick interior, stainless steel mesh curtain screens and outside air standard, with a 36" x 20-7/8" viewing area. It uses SL300 chimney and comes in a 42" size.
• Superior WRE3036 ($2,519): stainless steel construction with a stainless log grate, screens that retract into hidden pockets, and an adjustable outside air damper.
• Majestic Castlewood 42 ($3,709): a 38" tall open-hearth firebox with traditional or herringbone brick interiors and no glass between you and the fire.

Browse them all in our outdoor wood fireplaces.

Masonry and Rumford fireplaces

A masonry fireplace is built on site by a mason from brick, block or stone, with a masonry chimney above it. A Rumford is a masonry design named after Count Rumford, who worked it out in the 1790s. Its firebox is tall and shallow with angled sides, which throws more of the fire's heat into the room than a deep firebox does.

We don't sell site-built fireplaces, but they matter here for two reasons. An existing masonry fireplace is where most wood inserts go. And if you want the look without hiring a mason, a factory-built model like the Superior WRT8048 gives you a 48" x 42" opening lined with masonry firebrick.

What the price gap buys

Prices at Dreamwood Living as of October 2026, for the fireplace or insert alone. Chimney or liner, hearth and finishing are extra on every type.

For heat per dollar, the insert wins when you already have a sound masonry fireplace and chimney. The Osburn 2000 is $3,129 and rated 75,000 BTU for up to 2,100 sq ft. For new construction, the built-in certified fireplace is the heater. The open fireplace is the right buy when you want the fire for evenings and holidays and your furnace does the heating.

So which one

Start with whether you have a fireplace already, then whether you want heat or ambiance.

• You have a masonry fireplace that heats poorly: a wood fireplace insert with blower. Pick it by your opening size first, then by the area you need to heat.
• You have a factory-built (prefab) fireplace: check its listing before you buy an insert. The True North TN20 is listed for factory-built fireplaces, and most Osburn inserts are not.
• You're building or remodeling and want real heat: an EPA-certified built-in. The Lafayette II and Stratford II are the value picks, and the Osburn Horizon is the one for a large open home.
• You want the look of an open fire for evenings and holidays: an open radiant fireplace. Choose the heat circulating version if you want a little more warmth and the option of a fan.
• You want a big, mason-built look without a mason: the Superior WRT8048 or WRT4500 series.
• You want the fire visible in two rooms: the Majestic Designer Series 42 See-Through.
• It's going on a patio or in an outdoor room: the Majestic Villawood, Cottagewood or Castlewood, or the Superior WRE series.
• You're torn between an insert and a freestanding stove: the Buck Model 91 and 21NC do both, so you can decide at install.

Not sure what will fit? Call us at 888-486-2909 with your fireplace opening measurements (height, front width, back width and depth) and a photo of the fireplace, and we will tell you which models fit. We are here 9am to 9pm CST. You can also browse all of our wood fireplaces, wood inserts and EPA-approved wood stoves.

Frequently asked questions

What are the different types of wood burning fireplaces?

Open fireplaces (radiant or heat circulating), EPA-certified built-in fireplaces, wood fireplace inserts, see-through fireplaces and outdoor fireplaces are the factory-built types. Masonry and Rumford fireplaces are built on site by a mason.

Do wood fireplace inserts need a blower?

An insert will burn without one, but the blower is what moves its heat into the room. The firebox sits inside the old fireplace, and the blower pushes room air through the space around it and back out the front. Almost every wood fireplace insert we carry includes a blower. On the Ironstrike Striker C160 and Performer C210 it is an optional 160 CFM add-on.

Can a wood insert go in a prefab fireplace?

Only if both the insert and the fireplace allow it. The Osburn and Empire Archway inserts are made for masonry fireplaces, and several Osburn listings say factory-built fireplaces are not permitted. The True North TN20 is listed for masonry and factory-built fireplaces. Check the listing of the fireplace you have as well.

Are open wood burning fireplaces EPA certified?

No. The federal wood heater rules don't apply to fireplaces the EPA defines as "intended to be used primarily for aesthetic enjoyment and not as a space heater." Open fireplaces fall into that group. Inserts, stoves and the closed-door built-in fireplaces on this page are certified as heaters to the 2020 limit of 2.0 g/hr, or 2.5 g/hr under the cordwood test option.

What is a zero clearance wood burning fireplace?

A factory-built fireplace listed to sit in a wood-framed enclosure. The Valcourt Lafayette II, for example, is zero clearance at the back, sides and floor. It still needs its own listed chimney, a non-combustible hearth extension and the clearances in its installation manual.

How much area can a wood fireplace heat?

The EPA-certified built-ins on this page are rated for up to 1,500 to 2,800 sq ft, depending on the model. The wood inserts run from 250 to 1,200 sq ft for the Osburn Matrix 1900 up to 2,000 to 3,000 sq ft for the Ironstrike Montlake 300. Open fireplaces aren't certified as heaters.

What chimney does a wood fireplace need?

A factory-built fireplace uses the chimney system listed in its manual, such as Superior's IHP 8" chimney for the WRT2036, Majestic SL300 for the Sovereign, or a 6" UL 103 HT solid-pack chimney for the Empire St. Clair 3000. A wood insert vents through a stainless steel liner that runs from the insert to the top of the existing chimney. Most inserts on this page use a 6" liner, and the Buck Model 91 has an 8" flue.

What is the difference between a radiant and a heat circulating fireplace?

A radiant fireplace has a smooth face and gives off heat from the fire and the firebox walls. A heat circulating fireplace adds louvers above and below the opening that pull room air around the firebox and send it back into the room, and it can take a fan kit. The Superior WRT2036 and WCT2036 are the same 36" fireplace in each version, $60 apart.