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There’s nothing quite like the soft glow of a fireplace. Unfortunately, wood-burning fireplaces are not only expensive but also require a lot of cleaning and maintenance. Not to mention they fill the air with smoke and release tiny particles that can get into your lungs and cause lasting damage to your health.
Gas inserts are a nice alternative to wood burning, but what if you just don’t have the space or just don’t want to make that kind of commitment? Hello, tabletop fireplaces! We know, we know, you probably saw that coming (it is the title of the article after all) but seriously, these cute little buggers are lovely, clean, and affordable. Win, win, and win! Here are a few of our favorites for all styles of homes.
1. Colsen Tabletop Fireplace
Top Features:
- Clean burning fuel
- Portable
- Instant ambiance
Enjoy instant ambiance indoors or out with this adorable concrete tabletop fireplace. Outstanding for modern or industrial decor, all you need is rubbing alcohol and a match. And voila! You get a smokeless, odorless flame great for snuggling or roasting marshmallows for up to 50 minutes at a time. Easy to light and simple to extinguish. Plus, no mess.
View Colsen Tabletop Fireplace on Amazon
2. Sophie Metal Tabletop Fireplace with Flame Guard
Top Features:
- Flame guard
- Decorative rocks
- Iron and glass finish
Love the idea of tabletop fireplaces, but aren’t sure if they’re safe for little hands? This sleek metal tabletop fireplace has a removable cylindrical glass body to protect your entire family. Modern in every sense of the word, this elegant tabletop fireplace is a great way to generate warmth in your living space while also adding a touch of sophistication to your decor. Enjoy the ambiance of a real fire without the inconvenience of melting wax, smoke, soot, and ash. Use it indoors or outdoors, on your dinner table, party table, or your coffee table — the possibilities are endless.
View Sophie Metal Tabletop Fireplace with Flame Guard on Wayfair
3. Terra Flame Tabletop Fire Bowl
Top Features:
- Available in a variety of colors
- Portable
- Clean burning and smoke-free
This tabletop fire bowl creates ambiance with mesmerizing flames that make any setting with family and friends feel cozy, relaxing, and fun. It can be used indoors or out with the use of gel fuel that crackles with the sounds of a real campfire. How cool is that?! The gel fuel provides up to three hours of burn time and 3000 BTUs of radiant heat per can.
Hand-cast from organic sustainable concrete, the fire bowl does not get hot and has a natural finish with just a touch of sparkle to it. Enjoy a mini campfire anywhere with clean-burning, food-safe gel fuel.
View Terra Flame Tabletop Fire Bowl on Amazon
4. Craddock Tabletop Fireplace with Flame Guard
Top Features:
- Available in a wide variety of colors
- Distinctive shape
- Instant ambiance
Love, love, love this ultra-modern tabletop fireplace, available in a wide variety of high gloss finishes. There’s bound to be one that meshes well with your space. Its distinctive shape will complement any minimalist decor as well as nautical and coastal designs. One liter of fuel (sold separately) burns up to five hours. That’s a lot of flames!
View Craddock Tabletop Fireplace with Flame Guard on Wayfair
5. Colsen Hex Tabletop Fireplace
Top Features:
- Clean burning and smoke-free
- Portable
- Instant ambiance
We here at The Design Home love adding natural-looking elements into our decor. This portable stone-like tabletop fireplace is fueled by smokeless, odorless rubbing alcohol and can be used indoors or out. Its flame lasts approximately 40 to 50 minutes (depending on room temperature and climate). It is light and easy to transport so you can move it anywhere, adding warmth and ambiance to your home office, living room, dining table, or anywhere else indoors or out.
View Colsen Hex Tabletop Fireplace on Amazon
6. Tranquility Tabletop Fireplace
Top Features:
- Steel construction
- Manufactured log burning
- Portable
If you are looking for an outdoor-only tabletop fireplace, look no further. This beautiful tabletop fireplace is ideal for camping, tailgating, or any other outdoor gathering. Constructed from 16 gauge steel, its burn tray is sized just right for your favorite manufactured log. The elegantly designed side panels on this tabletop fireplace are a charming addition and help disburse the heat while providing protection from any rogue sparks.
View Tranquility Tabletop Fireplace on Wayfair
7. USA Precast Tabletop Fireplace
Top Features:
- Sandblast finish
- Portable
- Handcrafted in the U.S.
Handcrafted in the United States, this tabletop fireplace will go with just about any decor from farmhouse to industrial. Clean burning isopropyl alcohol allows for safe burning indoors or out. You can even make S’mores, roast weenies, or cook any of your campfire favorites over this open flame. Each burn lasts 40-plus minutes depending on temperature, climate, and the amount of fuel used. It’s quick and easy to use with no mess — lightweight and transportable. Our favorite feature is its dense, durable felt pad on the bottom to protect your furniture from heat and scratches.
View USA Precast Tabletop Fireplace on Amazon
8. Concrete Gel Tabletop Fireplace
Top Features:
- Available in four colors
- Mexican beach pebbles
- Hand-cast fire bowl
So simple, yet so elegant. This tabletop fireplace bowl is similar but slightly different from the other Terra Flame fireplace on our list. Hand-cast from concrete and natural pigments, this fire feature complements any indoor or outdoor living space. Gather around your fire bowl to relax, unwind, and connect. Environmentally friendly, modern, and durable, it’s a wonderful way to add warmth and an inviting focal point anywhere. Power your fire bowl with a clean-burning, odorless gel fuel canister that provides a smoke-free flame at 3000 BTUs for up to three hours.
View Concrete Gel Tabletop Fireplace on Wayfair
9. DONYER POWER 14″ Mini Electric Tabletop Fireplace
Top Features:
- Electric
- Lifelike
- Adjustable power
Now that we have shown you several fuel options for tabletop fireplaces — from isopropyl alcohol to gel fuel to manufactured logs — why not throw another one into the mix? How about an electric tabletop fireplace?
Typically, when people think of electric fireplaces they think of ones that sit on the floor and act as a freestanding fireplace or an additional piece of furniture, but not this one. This little guy can sit right on top of any table or desk. However, don’t let its small size fool you. This tabletop fireplace can heat up to 200 square feet. Of course, unlike the other models that we shared, this one is not entirely portable as it does require an electrical outlet, but it can certainly still be moved from room to room.
View DONYER POWER 14″ Mini Electric Tabletop Fireplace on Amazon
10. Metal Tabletop Fireplace with Flame Guard
Top Features:
- Hidden work surface
- Cable management
- Lockable file drawer
Create a warm ambiance in your home or outdoor living spaces with this ventless bio-ethanol tabletop fireplace. This real flame fireplace is an excellent decorative and functional piece for small gatherings, parties, and added ambiance in any room of the house. The compact design makes it easy to move from place to place — indoor or out — as needed. Its clean rectangular shape can fit into any style of decor from traditional to modern.
View Metal Tabletop Fireplace with Flame Guard on Wayfair
Is a Tabletop Fireplace Right for You?
Not sure what to think about tabletop fireplaces? Let’s figure out if one will work in your space.
Why tabletop?
Perhaps you don’t have room for a traditional fireplace. A tabletop fireplace is a great way to create ambiance in any area or room of your house. Clean burning fuel alternatives such as isopropyl alcohol, gel fuel, manufactured logs, and electric are safer, cleaner, and easier to use than real firewood.
What’s the burn time?
With a plethora of fuel options and tabletop fireplace designs, make sure you ask yourself what kind of burn time your personal needs require. If you are looking for a tabletop fireplace that your kids can use inside to roast marshmallows then, by all means, a 40 to 50 minute burn time would be plenty (trust us, you don’t want them to have any more sugar than that!) However, if you’re looking to chill out in front of the fireplace, then you may want to go with one that has a three-hour burn time or even more if you’re planning on binge-watching your favorite series.
Where will it live?
Before investing in a tabletop fireplace ask yourself, “Where will it live?” Not so much for storage purposes, because for the most part these tabletop fireplaces don’t take up a whole lot of room, but more so where will it be used? Indoors? Outdoors? Both? Are you looking to set the mood, or are you interested in making s’mores?
Will it fit your decor?
Interior design is all about self-expression. You know what you like and you know what makes you happy. After that, who cares? But seriously, look for a tabletop fireplace that matches your style — modern, traditional, farmhouse, or industrial. Most of our choices are pretty flexible, but if you’re going for a Granny-chic living room, don’t choose a tabletop fireplace that is ultra-modern. There is truly something out there for everyone, so don’t commit until you find something you absolutely love.
