Suspended wood vs gas vs bioethanol fireplaces
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A suspended fireplace looks the same whichever fuel it burns: a fire that hangs from the ceiling and turns the flame into the centre of the room. What changes is the project around it. This guide sets out what each fuel asks of your house.
At a glance
| Wood | Gas | Bioethanol | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flue | Yes, through the ceiling and roof | Yes | None |
| Consent and trades | Building consent as a solid fuel heater, with inspection before use | Gas connection installed and certified by a licensed gas fitter, plus power | A structural fixing point in the ceiling |
| Heat | The most. A true room heater | Strong, with instant control | Roughly 1.7 to 6 kW depending on the burner, all of it kept in the room |
| Day to day | Firewood to buy, stack and carry. Ash to clear. Flue to sweep | Flick it on. Service every 12 to 18 months | Fill, light, enjoy. No ash, no smoke |
| Where it can go | Where a flue can run straight up and out | Where a flue and gas line can reach | Almost anywhere the ceiling can carry it |
Suspended wood fireplaces
Wood gives the most heat and the crackle some people will not go without. It is also the biggest project. A wood fire is a solid fuel heater, so it needs a flue and a building consent, and it cannot be used until the council has inspected it. On smaller sections the burner also has to come from the approved list of low-emission wood burners, which limits your choice in town.
Day to day, wood means dry firewood, somewhere to store it, ash to clear and a flue to keep swept.
Suspended gas fireplaces
Gas gives strong heat at the flick of a switch. It needs a flue, a gas connection and power, installed and certified by a licensed gas fitter, and regular servicing to keep the warranty. It suits homes that already have gas and a clear path for the flue.
Suspended bioethanol fireplaces
Bioethanol burns to heat, water vapour and carbon dioxide, so there is no smoke and no flue. The fire needs a structural fixing point in the ceiling and nothing else: no gas, no power for a manual burner, no hole in the roof. That makes it the practical choice for apartments, upper floors, and rooms where a flue would be a major job.
The trade-off is heat and running cost. A bioethanol fire gives real warmth, but less than wood or gas, and the fuel costs more per hour. See the heat numbers and running costs.
What they cost
Our suspended bioethanol fires run from $4,595 for the Cocoon Aeris to about $24,000 for the Planika Pillar. For wood and gas, add the flue, the trades and the consent to the price of the fire itself. See suspended fireplace prices in NZ.
How to choose
- Choose wood if the fire will be your main heater, you have a clear run for a flue, and you like the ritual of a wood fire.
- Choose gas if you want strong, instant heat and already have gas at the house.
- Choose bioethanol if a flue is impractical or impossible, you want the least building work, or the fire is for atmosphere and top-up warmth.
Our suspended range
Online we stock suspended bioethanol fires from Cocoon, Icon Fires and Planika. See all suspended fireplaces. Naked Flame also designs its own hanging fireplaces for gas, electric, bioethanol and wood. If you are planning a suspended fire in another fuel, call 0800 468 836 and tell us about the project.
Consent rules vary by council. Check with yours before you commit to a wood or gas installation. Reviewed October 2026.