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Electric fireplace in living room

Bioethanol vs Electric Fireplaces: Updated 2026 Comparison Guide

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Key takeaways:

When comparing bioethanol vs electric fireplaces, it’s important to look at the heat output, installation requirements, running costs, and overall suitability of each. Electric fires are operated at the click of a button and offer controlled heat output, but they produce LED effect flames and rely on electricity to run. On the other hand, bioethanol fireplaces produce real flickering flames with no chimney or wiring needed – which is why they stand out as one of the most practical electric fireplace alternatives out there.

If you’re thinking about purchasing a new fireplace but you don’t have a chimney and don’t want the hassle of building work, electric and bioethanol fireplaces are the obvious choices. But which one is right for your home?

Below, we cover everything you need to know about bioethanol vs electric fireplaces, so you can decide which one suits your home and lifestyle best.

Electric fireplaces: the convenient classic

Invented in 1912 as an alternative to traditional fireplaces, electric fires first became popular in the 1950s thanks to their convenience and minimal maintenance requirements. They now offer improved LED technology and much slimmer designs, making them ideal for both contemporary and traditional interiors.

Black bioethanol fireplace next to a large Christmas tree with baubles

Here’s why many people opt for electric fireplaces:

  • Easy to install – most electric fireplaces simply plug into a standard wall socket, with no need to install a chimney or flue.

  • Low maintenance – there’s no chimney to sweep or annual servicing required to run an electric fireplace, making them an ideal low maintenance fireplace option. 

  • Cheap to run – electric fires cost around 18-56p per hour to run, making them one of the cheapest ways to heat your home.

However, there are some limitations to consider:

  • No real flame – electric fires don’t produce real flames and instead rely on LED flame effects, so they don’t give that same ambience as a traditional fireplace.

  • Electricity dependent – if the power goes out, so does your fireplace!

  • Lower heat performance – electric fires generally produce less heat than any other type of fireplace (often less than 2kWh), relying on fan-assisted warmth rather than natural radiant heat.

Bioethanol fireplaces: the versatile, real-flame alternative

Bioethanol is one of the best electric fireplace alternatives on the market, giving you all the joy of real flames without any of the restrictions of electric fires. 

White bioethanol fireplace mounted on a wall underneath the television 

Here are some of the main bioethanol fireplace benefits: 

  • Real flame ambience – unlike electric models, bioethanol fireplaces burn liquid biofuel that produces genuine flickering flames. The warmth and movement of the flames are completely natural, giving you that same ambience you get with a traditional fireplace. 

  • Clean-burning fuel – bioethanol is made from plant by-products such as sugarcane and corn. It burns cleanly, producing only heat, water vapour, and a small amount of CO₂, meaning there’s no smoke, soot, or ash to worry about.

  • No chimney or wiring required – because bioethanol doesn’t produce smoke, you won’t need a chimney or flue. And unlike electric models, you don’t need to rely on a power socket to operate your fire.

  • Low maintenance – as with electric fireplaces, biofires are exceptionally easy to maintain, with just occasional cleaning and a bit of TLC required.

  • Greater placement flexibility – from traditional woodburner-style models to sleek contemporary designs, imaginfires offers a wide range of biofires that can be positioned almost anywhere in your home.

But there are a few drawbacks you need to be aware of:

  • Moderate heat output – most bioethanol fireplaces produce around 2–3kWh of heat. This makes them the ideal top-up heat source, but they shouldn’t replace your central heating.

  • Running costs – a litre of our bioethanol fuel typically burns for around 4-5 hours, depending on the flame size. This works out at roughly 78p per hour, which is little more expensive than running an electric fire.

  • Room size requirements – bioethanol fires should only be used in rooms of at least 40m³. You can calculate this by multiplying the room’s height, width, and depth.

You can read more about the disadvantages of bioethanol fireplaces and how to combat these in our dedicated blog post.

Electric vs biofire: a quick comparison

Feature

Electric fireplace

Bioethanol fireplace

Flame type

LED effect

Real flame

Heat output 

Up to 2kWh

Around 2kWh

Fuel source

Electricity

Liquid bioethanol fuel

Chimney required

No

No

Runs during power cut

No

Yes

Installation

Plugs into standard wall socket

Simply unpack and place into position

Placement

Must be placed near socket

Very flexible

Experience the joy of real flames with our bioethanol fireplaces

Electric fireplace installed in the centre of a living room with grey sofas on both sides

If you’re looking for a fireplace that’s purely decorative and you can turn on at the click of a button, then an electric fire may suit your needs. But if you want to enjoy the beauty of real flames without the constraints of a chimney or wiring, bioethanol gives you much greater flexibility.

At imaginfires, we offer a wide selection of freestanding and wall-mounted bioethanol fireplaces that suit all interior design styles, as well as high-quality fuel to keep your flame burning brightly.

Explore our bioethanol fireplace collection

Frequently asked questions

  • Is the flame on a bioethanol fireplace real?

    Yes, absolutely. Its a real flame, so you need to exercise common sense. You need to treat them with the same level of care as any open fire source (ensuring any flammable items are out of reach, not touching the flame or surround when it is alight).  We strongly advise that you read the manual supplied with your bioethanol fireplace. Please contact us if you need another copy and we would be more than happy to supply one. If you want further advice on remaining safe around a Biofire, you can read our more detailed article : www.imaginfires.co.uk/blog/how-to-safely-use-a-bioethanol-fireplace 

  • Do I need a flue or chimney with a bioethanol fireplace?

    Short answers are always nice, aren’t they? Do you need a flue or chimney with a bioethanol fireplace?

    No.

    Therefore, one of the most significant benefits of bioethanol fireplaces is their versatility. 

    You’re no longer constrained to gas or electric fires if you don’t have a chimney. And you can use a beautiful bioethanol fireplace anywhere - a house, a flat, a home office, a garage - basically, wherever you want to enjoy a cosy, warming flame. 

    And it won’t cost you a fortune to install your biofire. 

    In fact, installation is as simple as unpacking your biofire, placing it in your desired spot, and lighting it. Warm and cosy in less than an hour.

    Why don’t biofires need a flue or chimney?

    It sounds crazy, doesn’t it? A real flame and no flue or chimney. But it’s true. 

    Burning wood and coal produces smoke, soot, ash, and a LOT of mess. And wood and coal burning are heavily associated with air pollution in urban areas. 

    On the other hand, bioethanol fuel burns cleanly without polluting the air inside or outside of your home. And this means you don’t need a flue or chimney with a bioethanol fireplace — better for the environment and better for you. 

    Can I get a false flue for my bioethanol fireplace?

    Yes. We sell false flues that magnetically connect to the top of your biofire. The upper end of the flue curves to a right angle, making it look like your flue connects to the outside. 

    Of course, there’s no need for a flue with a biofire — but if you want that traditional woodburner look, complete it with a beautiful false flue. 

    What happens when you burn bioethanol?

    Bioethanol needs oxygen to combust, so it burns some of the oxygen in the room. This is why we recommend ensuring your room is ventilated — keep your internal door open to ensure airflow, or open a window every couple of hours if it’s feeling stuffy. 

    While it sounds a bit worrying that your fire uses oxygen in the room, it’s precisely the same with any fire: wood, coal, or bioethanol — they all produce flames that use up oxygen from the room. 

    What emissions do you get from burning bioethanol?

    We all know that wood and coal produce smoke, soot, and ash. These flames also send out tiny carcinogenic particles into the air, which can be health hazards, especially if you’re prone to respiratory problems. 

    However, the only emissions from burning bioethanol are:

    • Carbon dioxide — about the same amount as burning two candles
    • Water vapour — but you won’t notice it in the room. 

    That’s it. Just a little carbon dioxide and water vapour. 

    This makes bioethanol much safer and better for the environmentthan fossil fuels. 

    And your house plants will love it — they’ll absorb the carbon dioxide produced by your biofire and thrive! 

  • How do you properly maintain a bioethanol fuel box?

    Proper maintenance of your bioethanol fuel box is crucial to ensure safe and efficient usage of your bioethanol fireplace. Since the fuel is housed in the stainless steel burner box of the bioethanol fire, it is very important that there are no cracks or leaks in this component. Although most of our burner boxes are double lined for additional safety, we still recommend that from time to time you give a quick visual check to see if any cracks have appeared in any part of the burner box, especially if you have dropped or knocked it.

    Essential steps to bioethanol fuel box maintenance

    • Regular inspection: Before each use, carefully inspect the fuel box for any cracks, leaks, or damages. If you notice any issues, do not use the box, and seek a replacement.
    • Expiry date: Check the expiration date of the bioethanol fuel and avoid using it after the specified date. Expired fuel may not burn correctly and could lead to potential hazards.

    Maintaining your bioethanol fuel box in accordance with these steps ensures both safety and the longevity of your bioethanol fireplace setup.

  • What is the running cost of a bio ethanol fireplace?

    The cost of running your bioethanol fireplace depends entirely on the amount you use it and the size of the flame you demand for your burn. 

    Unlike gas, there are no standing charges for bioethanol — you purchase your bioethanol fuel as and when you need it. And unlike coal and wood-burners, no additional supplies are required, such as kindling, firelighters, and chimney sweeps.

    The cost of bioethanol fuel is more stable than gas, wood, and coal 

    We’re living through particularly volatile times in terms of fuel prices, with gas and electricity skyrocketing, affecting the prices of almost every other commodity, including the cost of wood and coal. However, the price of bioethanol fuel has remained relatively stable, meaning that bioethanol is a very competitive option. 

    How much does 1 litre of bioethanol fuel cost (and how long does it last)?

    You can pay as much as £7 for a single litre of bioethanol fuel, which should last around 4 hours of burning on full. All of our bioethanol fireplaces have slider control, which reduces the size of the flame — in turn, reducing the heat output. So, if you reduce the output by 50%, your litre of fuel will last considerably longer. 

    Buying bioethanol fuel in bulk reduces the costs considerably. For example, 12 bottles of ImagiFuel currently cost £44.99, which makes it £3.75 per litre. 

    So, if your litre burns for 4 hours, it costs 94p an hour. 

    For a direct comparison, check out our article comparing the cost of burning bioethanol fuel against wood and gas — you’ll find bioethanol very competitive.

  • How much heat will my Imaginfires biofuel fireplace generate?

    Some people think that a bioethanol fireplace is purely decorative — this is not true. A bioethanol fireplace can warm your room to a comfortable, cosy temperature — offering controllable heat from a beautiful, real flame. However, buy a bioethanol fireplace suitable for your room’s size, and you’ll be very happy with your warm, cosy space.

    How does Imaginfires bioethanol fireplace compare to other heaters?

    In general, a bioethanol fireplace produces around 3kw of heat. This is roughly equivalent to an electric radiator running at medium — perfect for taking the edge off the cold in the autumn and early winter. 

    In deepest winter, you may need to run your central heating and your biofire — but running both will mean that you don’t need to push your gas boiler so hard, which will help reduce your gas bills. 

    A bioethanol fireplace is perfect if you want to heat one room, not the whole house. 

    We love heating the living room with bioethanol and leaving the heating off in the rest of the home. That way, you really notice the toastiness in the living room when you return from making a cup of tea in the kitchen. 

    Biofire is an environmentally-friendly heating option

    Bioethanol fuel provides a guilt-free flame — it’s carbon neutral and doesn’t pollute the air or damage the environment. 

    And, of course, with the spiralling price of gas and electricity, bioethanol puts you in control of your heating bills. You can rest assured that you’re using a green energy source that doesn’t pollute or damage the environment. 

    Many of our bioethanol fireplaces are portable, so you can use them outside. However, be aware that your bioethanol fuel is unlikely to last as long in windy conditions. 

    Bioethanol fireplaces are perfect for conservatories because you don’t need a flue or chimney to run your fire safely. Just fill your fireplace with bioethanol, light the flame, and enjoy a toasty warmth without the hassle or mess of burning wood or coal.