An electric fireplace is a type of fireplace that uses electricity to generate both the flame effects and heat, while a hearth is a flat heat-resistant surface located at the base of a fireplace.

Electric fireplaces work differently compared to other types of fireplace because there’s no real flame and the majority of an electric fireplace unit isn’t hot to the touch when operating.

So does an electric fireplace need a hearth?

An electric fireplace will not typically need to be placed on a hearth in order to be used. The body of an electric fireplace won’t get hot during operation and there’s no real fire for a hearth to protect the floor of a home from.