The short version
- Two genuinely different products share this name. Heating element units produce real warmth. Flame effect only units are decorative, with no meaningful heat output.
- Electric output is a fraction of gas output. A common 1,500 watt heater converts to roughly 5,100 BTU, well below even a small portable propane pit.
- UL or ETL listing is the safety baseline. It means an accredited lab actually tested the specific unit, not just the brand's general reputation.
- Outdoor use requires GFCI protection, no exceptions. This has been part of the National Electric Code since 1973 for outdoor outlets specifically.
- Indoor rated and outdoor rated units are not interchangeable. Check the IP rating before assuming a unit can go outside.
Electric fire pits get marketed with almost identical language regardless of what is actually inside them, which is exactly why this category causes more buyer confusion than wood or gas ever does. This guide answers the two questions that actually matter: does this specific unit produce heat, and is it electrically safe for where you plan to put it.
Section oneThe two products hiding under one name
This is the single most important distinction in the entire category, and it rarely gets stated plainly in product listings.
Signature diagram
Heating element versus flame effect only
What is actually different inside
Heating element units contain an electric resistance coil or an infrared element, the same basic technology as a space heater, built into a fire pit form factor. These genuinely warm the air and people nearby, at an output that scales with the unit's wattage.
Flame effect only units use an LED light source combined with a moving reflective element, rotating fabric, or fine mist to simulate the look of flickering flame. Some are startlingly convincing from a few feet away. None of them produce meaningful warmth, since there is no heating element inside at all.
Always check the specific product's stated wattage and whether it lists a heating function. A high price or premium look does not indicate which category a specific unit falls into.
Three real heating element units, and one honest flame effect only unit, so the distinction above is not just theoretical.
PuraFlame 24 Inch Electric Fireplace Log Set Insert
A genuine 750W or 1500W heater built into a log set insert, with 6 flame colors, 5 brightness levels, crackling sound, and remote control. This is a real heating element unit, not a flame effect only piece.
Check price on AmazonTURBRO Eternal Flame 26 Inch Infrared Quartz Heater
A 1500W infrared quartz heating element with WiFi control, adjustable flame color, a thermostat, and a timer. Infrared heaters warm objects and people directly rather than just the surrounding air.
Check price on Amazon21 Inch Electric Fireplace Log Set Insert
A 1400W insert with adjustable flame brightness, a thermostat, a 9 hour timer, and overheating protection, sized for a smaller space than the two units above.
Check price on Amazon3D LED Fake Fire Flames Effect Light
An LED light source with no heating element at all, sold explicitly as a decorative flame effect for a bar, stage, or home. This is the category from the diagram above with zero heat output, useful for comparison against the three heating units listed here.
Check price on AmazonSection twoHow electric output actually compares to gas
This is the honest number most listings never put next to a BTU figure, and it changes expectations considerably.
Electricity is measured in watts, gas fire pits are rated in BTU per hour, and the two units convert directly. The U.S. Energy Information Administration lists one kilowatt hour of electricity as equivalent to 3,412 BTU, which makes a direct comparison possible rather than treating the two fuel types as unrelated numbers.
Chart
Common electric wattages converted to BTU, next to gas
Conversion based on the EIA's standard factor of 3,412 BTU per kilowatt hour. Even the highest wattage electric heating elements sold in fire pit form factors typically fall well under the low end of the portable propane range covered in our fire pit BTU guide.
The practical takeaway is not that electric heat is weak or not worth buying. It is that electric fire pits genuinely serve a different job than gas or wood ones. A heating element unit warms the people sitting close to it, similar to a patio heater, rather than radiating enough output to warm a wide seating area the way a 50,000 BTU propane pit does. Size the expectation to the wattage, not to the word fire pit.
Section threeUL and ETL, the certification that actually matters
This is the electric equivalent of the CSA and ANSI Z21.97 certification that matters for gas fire pits, and it deserves the same attention before buying.
UL, Underwriters Laboratories, and ETL are both independent testing organizations that certify specific products against recognized electrical safety standards, covering fire risk, electrical insulation, and thermal stability. Either mark on the specific unit, not just the brand's website or general reputation, means that unit has actually been tested by an accredited lab rather than simply assumed safe by its manufacturer.
| Mark | What it means |
|---|---|
| UL Listed | Tested by Underwriters Laboratories against its own in-house safety standards and testing labs |
| ETL Listed | Tested by an accredited lab against recognized standards, including those set by the National Electric Code, organized under the Intertek ETL program |
| No mark present | Not independently tested |
Both marks are widely recognized across the United States and Canada. Absence of either one on a specific product listing is a legitimate reason to look elsewhere, regardless of how the product is otherwise marketed.
Section fourGFCI protection is not optional for outdoor use
This is the safety requirement unique to electric fire pits that wood and gas units simply do not have to think about.
A ground fault circuit interrupter, or GFCI, constantly monitors the current in a circuit and cuts power instantly if it detects current escaping along an unintended path, such as through water or a person. The National Electric Code has required GFCI protection for outdoor outlets specifically since 1973, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission's GFCI fact sheet recommends this protection anywhere water and electricity might come into contact, which describes nearly every outdoor location a fire pit would sit in.
Before plugging in an outdoor electric fire pit
Confirm the outlet itself is GFCI protected, identifiable by the test and reset buttons on the outlet face, or that a GFCI protected outdoor rated extension cord sits between the unit and a standard outlet. Rain, dew, sprinklers, and simple humidity are all realistic ways moisture reaches an outdoor electrical connection, and a GFCI is the specific safeguard designed for exactly that scenario. Never run an electric fire pit through a standard indoor extension cord outdoors.
Section fiveIndoor rated versus outdoor rated, and why they are not interchangeable
A unit built for a living room coffee table is not automatically safe on a patio, even if it looks identical.
Outdoor rated electric units use sealed, weatherproofed housings and components specifically designed to handle rain, humidity, and temperature swings that an indoor unit's electronics are not built for. This is typically indicated by an IP, or ingress protection, rating in the product specifications. A unit without a stated outdoor or IP rating should be treated as indoor use only, since using it outside can expose internal electrical components to moisture in ways the product was never tested for, which is a real hazard on top of simply voiding the warranty.
| Unit type | Indoor use | Outdoor use |
|---|---|---|
| Indoor rated, no IP rating stated | Yes | No |
| Outdoor rated, IP rating stated | Yes | Yes, with GFCI protection |
Our indoor fire pits guide covers electric units specifically as the lowest risk category for genuine indoor use, since there is no combustion, no fuel, and no carbon monoxide risk at all, which is a meaningfully different safety conversation than the one covered on this page.
Section sixFrequently asked questions
Do electric fire pits actually produce heat?
Some do and some do not, and the two types get marketed almost identically. A heating element electric fire pit uses an electric coil or infrared element to produce real, measurable warmth, while a flame effect only unit uses light, mist, or LED projection to look like fire without producing meaningful heat. Check the wattage and product description for a heating function specifically before assuming either type.
How does electric fire pit wattage compare to gas BTU output?
The U.S. Energy Information Administration lists one kilowatt hour of electricity as equivalent to 3,412 BTU. A common 1,500 watt electric heating element therefore produces roughly 5,100 BTU per hour, which is far below the 14,000 to 40,000 BTU range of even a small portable propane fire pit. Electric units generally supply close range personal warmth rather than the wider radiant heat a gas or wood fire produces.
What does UL or ETL listed mean on an electric fire pit?
It means the specific product has been independently tested by an accredited safety laboratory against recognized electrical safety standards covering fire risk, electrical insulation, and thermal stability. UL and ETL are both widely recognized in the United States and Canada. Buying an electric fire pit without either mark means the unit has not gone through this independent safety testing process.
Do you need a GFCI outlet for an outdoor electric fire pit?
Yes. The National Electric Code has required ground fault circuit interrupter protection for outdoor outlets since 1973, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends GFCI protection specifically anywhere water and electricity might meet, which describes essentially every outdoor location. Plug an outdoor electric fire pit only into a GFCI protected outlet or a GFCI protected extension cord rated for outdoor use.
Can you use an indoor electric fire pit outside?
Only if it is specifically rated for outdoor or wet location use, typically indicated by an IP rating in the product specifications. A unit built for indoor use only lacks the weatherproofing and sealed electrical components an outdoor rated unit has, and using it outside can create a real electrical hazard in addition to voiding the warranty.
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How we research
Heat output comparisons in this guide use the U.S. Energy Information Administration's standard watt to BTU conversion factor rather than manufacturer marketing claims. Electrical safety guidance on GFCI protection and certification marks is drawn from Consumer Product Safety Commission publications and National Electric Code requirements rather than general buying advice.
Learn more about how we test and who we are.