Can You Use Electric Fireplace Outside? – Outdoor Electric Fireplaces

An electric fireplace can be used outdoors only when the exact model is approved for the location and installed under its manufacturer's outdoor instructions. Start with that approval, then check the wall, electrical connection, and exposure before choosing the size or flame display.

An indoor fireplace does not become outdoor-approved because it sits under a roof or has a cover. Browse outdoor electric fireplaces to build a shortlist, then confirm the instructions for the exact model and size.

Which outdoor electric fireplaces are suitable?

Outdoor approval belongs to a specific model, not an entire brand. The Modern Flames manufacturer lists Landscape Pro Slim and Landscape Pro Multi as indoor/outdoor approved in its linear fireplace brochure. That does not establish approval for every Modern Flames fireplace or permission to ignore a model's installation conditions.

Keep the model number, current manual, and proposed location together when discussing the project with an installer. If the documentation does not clearly permit the intended outdoor installation, get clarification from the manufacturer before ordering.

Plan the outdoor electric fireplace location

The location must satisfy the chosen model's installation instructions before framing or finishing begins. Describe the exposure to rain, wind, direct sun, and irrigation when asking the manufacturer or installer to confirm suitability. Do not treat an outdoor label as a universal weatherproof rating.

Approval and physical fit are separate checks. A unit may be approved for an outdoor setting yet still require more wall depth, different clearances, or a different connection than the proposed wall provides. Use this project checklist alongside the model's drawings.

Check	What to confirm before ordering
Outdoor approval	The exact model and its permitted installation conditions
Location and exposure	Whether the proposed site meets the manual's protection requirements
Wall and opening	Rough-opening dimensions, required depth, and finish details
Electrical connection	Voltage, connection method, circuit requirements, and equipment location
Access	How the installer will provide the service access required by the manual

Compare the wider electric fireplace collection only if an indoor location is also an option. The general electric fireplace buying guide explains the other dimensions and features worth comparing.

Arrange the electrical connection before installation

The electrical plan should follow the exact fireplace instructions and the requirements applicable to the site. Have an electrician assess the supply, connection method, outdoor protection, and any required ground-fault protection rather than assuming the nearest outlet is suitable.

Do not use an extension cord or power strip as a substitute for a suitable fireplace connection. The CPSC's electric space-heater guidance advises direct wall-outlet connection rather than extension cords or power strips for portable electric heaters. A built-in fireplace still needs its own model-specific wiring instructions; portable-heater guidance does not define its complete installation requirements.

Set realistic expectations for outdoor heat

Choose the fireplace's outdoor setting and flame display without assuming an indoor room-heating claim applies to an open patio. Ask for model-specific information about the intended use, and assess a separate outdoor heating solution if dependable warmth is the main objective.

For budgeting, estimate consumption from the selected model's wattage, operating time, and your electricity tariff. Our electric fireplace running-cost guide explains the calculation. Avoid treating a fireplace purchase as a guaranteed resale-value increase; this guide makes no such promise.

Frequently asked questions

Can I install an indoor electric fireplace on a covered patio?

Only if the manufacturer approves that exact model for the proposed outdoor installation. A roof or cover alone does not establish outdoor approval. Check the current manual and obtain clarification before ordering if the location is not clearly covered.

Are all outdoor electric fireplaces suitable for direct rain?

Do not assume so. Check the exact model's permitted exposure and protection requirements. An outdoor label alone does not establish that the fireplace can be installed wherever rain reaches it.

Can I connect an outdoor electric fireplace with an extension cord?

Do not use an extension cord as the installation solution. Follow the fireplace's connection instructions and have an electrician provide an appropriate connection for the location. CPSC guidance also advises against extension cords and power strips for portable electric heaters.

Will an electric fireplace heat an open patio?

Do not use an indoor room-coverage claim to predict outdoor performance. Check the exact model's intended use and consider a separate outdoor heating solution when dependable warmth is the main goal.

What should I confirm before ordering an outdoor electric fireplace?

Confirm the exact model's outdoor approval, permitted exposure, rough opening, wall depth, clearances, electrical requirements, and service access. Resolve those points before committing to framing, finishes, or a particular size.

Choose from a confirmed installation plan

A useful shortlist starts with the location and the manual, followed by fit and appearance. Share your proposed setting, wall dimensions, and installation details through personalized fireplace recommendations so the options can be narrowed around the actual project.

By Very Good Fireplaces. Last reviewed: September 27, 2026.