Why Homeowners Convert Gas Fireplaces to Electric
Four motivations drive most conversions: no venting or flue inspection, no gas-line maintenance, no emissions, and a cool-touch glass front that's safer around children and pets. Switching to an electric insert removes the chimney cleaning, flue check, and gas-leak risk of a gas appliance, and the wood-haul and ash of wood-burning. The conversion itself is mechanical: a licensed professional caps the gas line, removes the gas insert, and an electrician runs a dedicated circuit to the firebox. The new electric fireplace insert slides into the existing opening. Many of the same considerations apply to converting wood burning fireplace to electric insert installs — firebox shape, chimney handling, and electrical work are nearly identical.
What to Measure Before You Choose an Insert
Three dimensions determine which insert fits an existing fireplace opening: width, height, and depth of the firebox interior. Measure the front opening from inside-trim to inside-trim, the height from hearth to top, and the depth from front face to back wall. Trim kits cover gaps around the insert face — most of these models have purpose-made trim accessories. The Dimplex Revillusion 24″ runs on a dedicated 15A 120V circuit and ships zero-clearance on sides, rear, and bottom. The BF Series and SimpliFire Built-In support 240V for higher heat output, which requires a licensed electrician to wire. Use the existing fireplace opening's dimensions to choose the size before you choose the model — a properly fitted replace gas fireplace insert is what makes the project work.
The Products That Fit Existing Fireplace Openings
Four built-in electric fireboxes designed for conversion installs:
The Dimplex Revillusion Built-In Fireboxes (24″, 30″, 36″, 42″) use Revillusion® 3D flame technology with hand-crafted Realogs® and a Reflective Flame Panel for a traditional firebox look on a dedicated 15A 120V circuit (size guide).
The Dimplex BF Series (33″, 39″, 45″) is the traditional firebox with the broadest electrical flexibility — direct-wire at 120V, 208V, or 240V, with up to 9,200 BTU on the BF39 and BF45 at 240V; an optional 120V plug kit (BFPLUGE) is also available (size guide).
The SimpliFire Built-In (30″, 36″) is the only SimpliFire series the manufacturer documents specifically for installation into an existing factory-built fireplace; it supports 120V/208V/240V via an on-unit voltage selector switch, with 2″ top clearance required at 240V (size guide).
The SimpliFire Inception 36″ uses DigitalSpark™ Technology — digital footage of real flames rather than an LED animation — paired with the IntelliFire App, Wi-Fi, and Google Home / Amazon Alexa voice control. A decorative front (Folio, Halston, or Chateau Forge) is required for operation and sold separately (size guide). For full Dimplex line context see our Dimplex comparison guide; for SimpliFire see the SimpliFire comparison guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a gas fireplace be converted to an electric fireplace?
Yes — most gas fireplace openings convert to electric by capping the gas line, removing the gas insert, and sliding an electric built-in firebox into the existing opening. A licensed professional should cap the gas line, and an electrician should run a dedicated circuit if one isn't already in place. All four products in this collection are built specifically for this retrofit.
Can I put electric logs in a gas fireplace?
Plug-in electric log sets sit inside an existing opening and provide flame and heat without replacing the firebox; a built-in electric insert (like the four in this collection) fully replaces the gas firebox. Log sets install quickly but cap on visual depth and heat output; built-in inserts deliver a more realistic flame and a finished frame.
How much does it cost to replace a gas fireplace with electric?
The cost of converting gas fireplace to electric depends on the unit and the electrical work required. Capping the gas line should be done by a licensed professional; a dedicated 120V or 240V circuit may need to be run by an electrician. The unit itself is the largest variable — see individual product pages for current pricing. The conversion is generally less expensive and faster than converting to wood-burning.
Does an electric fireplace give off as much heat as a gas fireplace?
No. Standard 120V electric fireplaces top out around 5,000 BTU; the Dimplex BF39/BF45 reach 9,200 BTU at 240V, and the SimpliFire Inception reaches 10,000 BTU at 240V — significantly less than a typical gas fireplace. Electric is supplemental heat, not a primary heating replacement. The trade-off is no venting, lower install cost, and zero combustion.
How much will my electric bill go up with an electric fireplace?
A few dollars per day if you run the heater for a few hours nightly; far less in flame-only mode. All four products in this collection support flame-only operation where the LED or DigitalSpark™ flame runs without the heater, drawing a fraction of full wattage.
Browse related collections: Built-In Electric Fireplaces · Traditional Electric Fireplaces · Dimplex Electric Fireplaces · SimpliFire Electric Fireplaces · All Electric Fireplaces
