The best fireplaces for apartments in NZ

Most fireplaces are off the table in an apartment. A wood burner needs a flue and a consent. A gas fire needs a flue and a gas line. That leaves electric, or a fire that needs neither: bioethanol. It gives a real flame with no flue, no gas and no building work in most cases.

Prices below are current as at October 2026.

Wall-mounted: a fire that takes no floor space

A wall-mounted fire hangs on a bracket like a picture.

  • Cocoon Vellum, from $4,200. A 60 cm round fire with a 1.5 litre burner, up to 5 hours of flame and approximately 3 kW of heat. Black or polished stainless steel.
  • Icon Fires Nero 1450, $4,396. A slim rectangular fire with a long linear flame that needs no chimney, flue, gas line or electricity.

See all wall-mounted fireplaces.

Freestanding: no building work

A freestanding fire needs no flue, wiring or building work. EcoSmart's designer fires are fixed in place with the ground brackets supplied, so ask us how that works on your floor before you order.

See all freestanding fires.

Suspended: the statement piece

If your ceiling structure allows it, a hanging fire is the most dramatic option. The Cocoon Aeris starts at $4,595 and needs a structural fixing point but no flue. If fixing into the ceiling is not possible, the Cocoon Pedestal gives you the same shape on a floor stand.

On the balcony

A small fire pit table turns a balcony into somewhere to sit after dark. Look at the EcoSmart Base 30, from $2,995, or the Sidecar 24, from $3,595. The EcoSmart Mini T, $1,995, is rated for outdoor use only, so it belongs out here and not in the lounge. Check the overhead clearance for the model against the balcony above you.

Getting the size right

Apartments are compact, so do not over-size the burner. EcoSmart gives a minimum room volume for each burner: 40 m³, or roughly 17 m² of floor at a 2.4 metre ceiling, for the AB3, rising to 116 m³ for the AB8. See Technical Specs and the heat numbers.

Check these before you buy

  • Body corporate rules. Many buildings have rules about open flames and storing fuel. Ask first.
  • Your lease, if you rent.
  • Clearances. Measure the wall or the spot you have in mind against the clearances in the manual.
  • Fuel storage. You will need somewhere cool to keep fuel sealed and upright.
  • Your insurer. Let them know, as you would for any heating appliance.

More on consent in Do you need building consent for a bioethanol fireplace?

What it will not do

A bioethanol fire will warm the room and change how it feels. It is not a replacement for a heat pump as your main heating, and the fuel costs about $1.70 to $6 an hour depending on the burner. It suits the evenings you want a fire, not all-day heating.

See them lit

Photos do not show you the flame. Come and see the range burning in our Takapuna showroom, open seven days, or call 0800 468 836 and tell us about your space.

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