If you are looking for a 36” electric fireplace or 36” electric fireplace insert, you are in the right place. I have listed the top 5 models that you will find on the online market in 2020. Read more about each model and find out if one of them could be the right for you.
What To Know Before Buying A 36-Inch Electric Fireplace & Insert?
36” Electric Fireplace Inserts
The electric fireplace insert can be good for you if you have a rough frame in the wall or you own an existing regular fireplace. The insert comes in a metal box with the dimensions of your frame or wood-burning opening. It is a nice way to decorate your home and give it a warm and more elegant look.
Other 36-Inch Electric Fireplace Models
Apart from the inserts, there are more models of 36-inch electric fireplaces. There are the freestanding ones, the wall-mounted ones, or the small electric fireplace stoves. In this article, I have particularly mentioned the inserts and the wall-mounted models. Some models come with two or three installation options.
Know The Dimensions And Characteristics
When buying an electric fireplace, you should know the overall dimensions. Especially when it comes to electric fireplace inserts and recessed electric fireplaces. Measure well your wall or the wood-burning opening. You wouldn’t want to end up buying the wrong model. Check out other characteristics and be sure they match your needs.
Price Vs. Quality
There are always models of electric fireplaces that come at a higher or lower price. You must know that not every expensive model is necessarily made of high quality. On the other hand, not every cheap model is necessarily made of low quality. In this article, I bring you mostly cheap and affordable models. Check out their quality, characteristics, and price.
5 Best 36-inch Electric Fireplaces & Inserts
Best Recessed 36-Inch Electric Fireplace
Homedex 36″ Recessed Mounted Electric Fireplace
The Easy Installation
This Homedex 36” electric fireplace is designed for the in-wall recessed installation. The installation is very simple. The product weighs 48.2 pounds so I suggest you make the installation with another adult. The overall dimensions are 36″W *21-2/5″H * 5-1/2″D. The product comes with a user manual and the instructions for the installation.
Where Can I Install It?
This 36” recessed electric fireplace can be installed exclusively indoor. Do not let the water enter the unit. You can recess it in any wall, half-wall, or a wooden mantel. Make your living room, bedroom, or home office your favorite place. Create a warm ambiance all year and relax after a long and busy day.
The Flame Effect
The Homedex 36” electric fireplace comes with ultra-high intensity LED technology. This technology provides a realistic flame effect. It is long-lasting and cost-effective. Choose from two ember bed: log set or crystal stones. There are 9 flame settings that you can choose from. They can be operated with or without heat.
Safety, Maintenance, And Price
This Homedex 36” electric fireplace will make you sleep relaxed. Apart from the thermostat, it includes the timer. You can set the timer to turn off the fireplace from 1 hour to 8 hours. To maintain the unit, simply dust the glass with a soft and dry cloth from time to time. The price of this unit is about 200$ which is, in my opinion, very affordable. To see more details and to find out if there is free shipping or a discount, see this product on Amazon.
- affordable
- LED technology
- might be noisy when heater turned on
Best Electric Fireplace Insert 36 x 24
ClassicFlame 36EB220-GRT
The Design And Installation
This ClassicFlame 36” electric fireplace comes in a modern and contemporary design. It is a beautiful built-in electric fireplace insert. Its surround flange allows for flush mounting. The overall dimensions are 36 x 7.62 x 24 inches and it weighs 67.1 pounds. The installation shouldn’t be a problem if you follow the step-by-step instructions.
The Heater
This electric fireplace produces 8900 BTU per hour. It provides heat for about 800 sq. ft. The heater uses the zone heating feature that allows you to save money. Shut off the heated air blown in the direction of the room that you don’t need to heat. Don’t heat all the rooms. Heat only the room you are staying in. The heater includes the thermostat. Choose the temperature from 60 to 90 degrees.
The Fireplace And Color Options
The realistic flame effect that this ClassicFlame electric fireplace provides is created by LED technology. The log set comes with a pulsating ember bed that adds a dose of realism. There are 5 settings for adjusting the flame brightness. Also, there are 6 up and 6 down mood light color options. Use the flame-only setting during the warm season.
More Details
The timer is included. There is the automatic shut off from 30 minutes to 9 hours. To operate and control this electric fireplace use the remote control. The numeric temperature readout is in Fahrenheit or Celsius. This insert includes an attachable three-prong plug. Also, there is an integrated junction box for hard-wire application. The user manual with instructions is included.
- customizable fireplace
- heater heats well
- thermostat and timer
- pricy
Best Cheap 36-inch Electric Fireplace
U-MAX 36″ Recessed Wall Mounted Electric Fireplace Insert
The Installation And Material
This model is designed to be recessed in the wall. It fits nicely if installed into a custom stone mantel or other surrounds. It is ideal for your living room, bedroom, or office. This model is constructed of tempered glass. The smooth glass and dark, steel frame make this model an elegant unit. Avoid mounting this unit directly under the TV.
The Dimensions
When recessing such a model in the wall, it is important to know the exact dimensions. This U-MAX electric fireplace insert’s dimensions are 36” x 21.5” x 5.3” (W x H x D). It is 5.3 inches thick so it will easily fit most kinds of walls.
The Fireplace And Heater
The fireplace is completely customizable. You can choose between 9 LED bed colors, 9 flame colors, and 5 flame brightness. The heater comes with two standard heat settings, high and low. The heater is noiseless. It is a 120 Volt simple plug-in unit. It can also be hard-wired.
The Operation Modes And Safety
The convenient remote control for adjusting the heat settings and fireplace colors and flames is included. Touch screen operation is available as well. The safety features are the overheating protection system that will avoid any possible incidents. There is the timer that will shut off the heater after 1 to 8 hours of functioning.
The Price
This model comes at a reasonable and affordable price. For less than 200$ you will get a decent product. Generally, customers are satisfied with the value for money. The heater could be better, but the fireplace effects are nice.
- remote
- safe
- customizable
- the heater could work better
Best Freestanding 36” Electric Fireplace
MAXXPRIME 36″ Electric Fireplace
The Design And Installation
This MAXXPRIME 36” electric fireplace is made of iron and glass. The dimensions are 36″(W)x21.4″(H)x5.5″(D). It can be installed in different ways. You can recess it in the wall, wall-mount it,or use it as a freestanding unit. Whichever installation mode you choose, there is no doubt that you will enjoy it.
The Fireplace Heater
The heater of this fireplace uses the two heat settings. These settings are high and low. There are buttons that help you adjust the temperature. The ”00” mode turns off the heater. The ” LL” mode is for the low heat setting, and the ”HH” mode is for the high heat setting. Turn off the heater during the warm period, and enjoy the flame-only setting.
The Fireplace
Enjoy the realistic flames with this great customizable fireplace. Choose one from the 9 flame colors. Also, feel free to adjust the flame brightness with 5 flame levels. Set flame brightness to high during the day, and dim the flame light during the night. Amaze your guests and family with this fireplace and spend fun moments together.
Safe To Use
Feel relaxed during the day and night. This model comes with an ETL certificate. This means that it was approved by the experts. It is a highly safe unit. It comes with overheating protection. It avoids the overheating, but in case that happens, this feature will turn the heater off. Since this model can be used as freestanding, there is the fall-down protection to avoid accidents if turned over.
- 3 in 1
- safe
- affordable price
- very small remote with small icons
- the cord is long
Best Infrared 36” Electric Fireplace
Tangkula 36” Electric Fireplace
Dimensions And Installation
This Tangkula 36” electric fireplace is designed to be wall-mounted or recessed. It comes as a 36.0”X9.0”X27.0” electric fireplace. Both installations are simple. The manual with the installation instructions is provided by the manufacturer. No need to call a professional.
The Infrared Heater
This electric fireplace comes with the infrared heater. It is a healthier way of heating because the infrared lights prevent the air from drying. It maintains natural humidity in the air. In comparison to the fan-forced heaters, which warm only the air, this heater warms all the objects and people around it.
The Fireplace
The fireplace comes with LED technology. This technology is energy-saving and lost-lasting. The LED light bulbs are cost-effective because they last for around 50,000 hours. You probably won’t need to replace them. The fireplace has 5 flame speed modes and 5 flame brightness levels.
Safety Comes First
This model is safe to use. It includes the 1 to 8 hours timer so you can fall asleep next to the fireplace without worrying. It is smokeless and fireless. It uses no gas, nor ethanol. It comes with an automatic turn-off switch which shuts off the heater in case of overheating. LED technology allows the unit to stay cool to the touch. This model is safe for children and pets.
Other Details
This model comes at an affordable price. It is energy-saving. It comes with a convenient remote-control device. The operating distance of the remote control is about 26 feet. The colors of burning logs and flame can be changed. The colors are red, yellow, orange, blue, and automatic mode.
- LED technology
- remote control
- safe
- fragile
- the heater is noisy
Conclusion: Which 36-inch Electric Fireplaces & Inserts Are The Best?
In my opinion, the two best 36-inch electric fireplace models are ClassicFlame 36EB220-GRT and MAXXPRIME 36″ Electric Fireplace. I like the ClassicFlame model because it comes with a great customizable fireplace and a good heater. The MAXXPRIME model is good because it comes with a 3 in 1 installation and an ETL certificate.
If you ware keen on finding out more about electric fireplaces, see my article on the best artificial electric fireplaces. If you want to check more models of similar dimensions, see the article on the best 30-inch electric fireplaces and the best 50-inch electric fireplaces.