It gets dark early, the sofa is inviting, and a candle feels just too small. A tabletop fireplace creates a real, dancing flame on your coffee table or dining table, without a chimney and without smoke. You set it down, fill it, and light it.
However, not every tabletop fireplace is made for the same place. One looks best in the living room, while another belongs on the patio. In this article, you choose in three steps: first the location, then the size and burn time, and finally the shape that suits your interior. At the bottom, you'll read how to use a tabletop fireplace safely.
Step 1: indoors, outdoors, or both
Almost all tabletop fireplaces burn on bioethanol. This is a liquid fuel that burns without smoke or soot. The difference lies in the construction: an indoor fireplace has an enclosed burner and often a glass cylinder around the flame. Therefore, always read in the product description what the fireplace is intended for.
For indoors and outdoors. The Stonefire tabletop fireplace by LEEFF has a stone base with a glass cover and carries the KIWA mark. The Fire Bowl by LEEFF is a round, ceramic bowl that you place on the coffee table and take outside in the summer. The tabletop fireplaces from Höfats are tested according to the European standard for bioethanol mood fireplaces, DIN EN 16647.
For outdoors. The J-Line tabletop fireplaces made of cement and magnesium are designed for the garden, patio, and balcony. They are taller and heavier, so they stand firmly on an outdoor table or on the ground next to the lounge sofa.
Step 2: choose the size and burn time
A small fireplace creates ambiance on a side table or sideboard. On a large dining table or outside on the patio, it will get lost. Also look at the burn time: this determines whether your fireplace will last the whole dinner or needs to be refilled halfway through.
| Tabletop fireplace | Size | Burn time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stonefire, LEEFF | 18 × 29 cm | approx. 2.5 hours | indoors and outdoors |
| Fire Bowl, LEEFF | compact bowl | approx. 2.5 hours | indoors and outdoors |
| SPIN Air 900, Höfats | Ø 10.6 × 40.5 cm | up to 2 hours | indoors and outdoors |
| SPIN X 900, Höfats | Ø 22.5 × 40.3 cm | up to 5 hours | indoors, sheltered outdoors |
| Round, J-Line | Ø 23 × 65 cm | not stated | outdoors |
| Moai, J-Line | 28 × 22 × 65 cm | not stated | outdoors |
For a coffee table or side table, a compact fireplace like the Stonefire or the Fire Bowl is enough. The slender SPIN Air 900 by Höfats takes up little space and also looks beautiful with two next to each other on a kitchen island. If you like to sit at the table all evening, the SPIN X 900 is a good choice: it burns for up to five hours and even longer with the included Eco-Ring.
Step 3: the shape belongs to your interior
A tabletop fireplace also looks good when it is not lit. Therefore, choose it just as consciously as a vase or a candlestick.
Round, soft shapes in stone and ceramic fit into a light and natural interior with linen, wood, and beige tones. A sleek glass cylinder on a black or sand-colored base fits a modern interior with straight lines. The SPIN Air 900 with an oak base brings some warmth to it.
Outdoors, a tabletop fireplace can have more character. The Moai by J-Line is shaped like the statues of Easter Island and is instantly a conversation piece on the patio. The round tabletop fireplace by J-Line of 65 centimeters high is placed next to the lounge sofa, the wide variant of Ø 41 cm is lower and stands firmly in the middle of an outdoor table.
How to use a tabletop fireplace safely
Place the fireplace on a flat, sturdy surface with plenty of space from curtains, plants, and cushions. Only refill when the flame is extinguished and the burner has completely cooled down. Use exclusively bioethanol for this. Extinguish the flame with the included extinguishing cover and never leave a burning fireplace unattended. A flame consumes oxygen, so ensure some ventilation indoors. Keep children and pets at a distance and always follow the manual of your fireplace.
A tabletop fireplace and candlelight complement each other. Place it between a few candlesticks or combine it with a table lamp in the corner, then you have ambiance at multiple heights.
Read how to build light in layers
Choosing your tabletop fireplace in three steps
- Determine the location: outdoors only or also indoors. Check in the description what the fireplace is intended for.
- Choose the size for your table and the burn time for how long you sit there.
- Choose a shape and material that also suit your interior without a flame.
Unsure which tabletop fireplace suits your place? Feel free to send us a message, then we will think along with you.