How big should my fireplace be?

Guidelines for choosing the best fireplace size for your TV and your room dimensions.

You’ve found an electric fireplace that you love. Now, you just need to decide, ‘How big should my fireplace be?’ Here are the 2 most important factors you need to consider:

• The size of the TV that you’re putting above the fireplace.
• The size of the room in which the fireplace is being installed.

If you thought that heat requirements would also affect the fireplace size, we have good news: The size of an electric fireplace doesn’t affect the heat output.

Fireplace Size & Heat Output

In the world of gas fireplaces, the bigger the fireplace, the bigger the burner. The bigger the burner, the hotter the fireplace. With electric fireplaces, the size of the unit doesn’t determine the heat output. Plus, they can be operated with or without heat, and they don’t heat up the wall around them. This means that the only limits on electric fireplace size are the physical space and the desired design.

Pairing Electric Fireplaces with TVs

Not everyone agrees with the trend toward mounting TVs above fireplaces. However, like it or not, you may not have a room large enough to have the TV and the fireplace on different walls. Also, it can be a challenge to set up a room so that both may be enjoyed simultaneously, if they are not on the same wall. For that reason, ‘How big should my fireplace be when mounted under my TV’ is a question we answer almost daily. For those who must put their TV above the fireplace, we recommend that the fireplace be at least as wide as the TV, and possibly wider.

The Pyramid Rule

When looking at a wall with a TV and a fireplace, we can imagine that the fireplace and TV are creating a pyramid shape. If the fireplace is smaller than the TV, then the pyramid is upside down, with the larger part on top and the smaller part on the bottom. This is unsettling to look at. If the fireplace is larger than the TV, then the pyramid is stable, and more pleasing to look at, with the larger part at the bottom.

Linear fireplace designs make it easy to match TV size

Today’s most popular fireplaces are what we call ‘linear’, meaning they are much wider than they are tall. Linear electric fireplaces come in sizes ranging from 34-inches wide to 100-inches wide, and some models may be linked together to form even larger fires. There is a fireplace size to match every TV. As linear fireplaces get wider, they do NOT get taller. TV’s on the other hand, do get taller as they get wider. Also, TV sizes are measured on the diagonal, while fireplaces are measured straight across. With this in mind, we’ve put together a simple guide for matching TV sizes to fireplace sizes. These are the minimum fireplace sizes – you can go larger, but try not to go smaller.

Quick-Reference Fireplace Size Guide for below the TV

Here are some general guidelines for minimum fireplace sizes that correspond to TV sizes:

• 55-inch TV = 50-inch fireplace
• 65-inch TV = 60-inch fireplace
• 75-inch TV = 74-inch fireplace

If wall space allows, step up to the next size fireplace. TVs that are 55-inches wide, or smaller, may look reasonably balanced if the fireplace is the same width. However, larger TVs need to be balanced out with fireplaces that are slightly wider than the TV. (Remember the Pyramid Rule!)

How to match fireplace size to room size

Regardless of TV size, the size of the fireplace should suit the size of the room. There are a few guidelines to consider:

• Look at the size of the fireplace compared to the size of the wall on which the fireplace will be placed. The width of the fireplace should make up more than half of the fireplace wall.

• A small fireplace will be lost in a large space. We see clients going too small with their fireplaces far more often than going too big. The fireplace is a focal point that should hold your attention. Make sure it doesn’t get lost in the room.

• It’s possible to have a small wall in a large room. If the wall you have in mind won’t handle the size of fireplace you really need, then you should consider another wall.

Still have questions?

If our guidelines still have you wondering how big your fireplace should be, feel free to reach out to our experts. In the GTA, we have a showroom with lots of different sizes of fireplaces, including some with TVs above. You can visit in person, or book a video consultation from the comfort of home. We’ll be happy to guide you through the decision process so you get the right size fireplace for your unique project.