A wall mounted electric fireplace hangs on the face of a finished wall from a bracket and needs no framed opening, while a recessed electric fireplace sits inside an opening framed into the wall and is often hard-wired. Four electric fireplaces sold by American Hearth Supply cover both methods: the Napoleon Astound FlexMount, the SimpliFire Allusion Platinum 60, the SimpliFire 36" Built-In and the Modern Flames Landscape Pro Slim. Every figure below comes from the installation manual for that exact model, and a figure a manual does not publish is marked as not published.
What is a wall mounted electric fireplace?
A wall mounted electric fireplace is an electric fireplace that hangs on the surface of the wall from a bracket, so the wall is not opened and no framing is built. The Napoleon Astound FlexMount (NEFL50AB, NEFL62AB and NEFL74AB) is the model in this guide whose manual describes a wall mounted installation in full: the manual's wall mounted description reads "Appliance is mounted on the wall with a bracket" and "Plugged into a 120V electrical source" (Napoleon W415-4173, Section 2.3, p. 15).
The SimpliFire Allusion Platinum 60 (SF-ALLP60-BK) manual lists two installation options: recessed into a 2 x 6 wall, or "Mounted directly on the wall" with an optional wall mount kit that comes with separate kit instructions (SimpliFire 2044-980 Rev. L, installation options). The SimpliFire Allusion Platinum 60 wall mount dimensions are therefore not published in 2044-980 Rev. L, and this guide lists no wall mount dimensions for the SimpliFire Allusion Platinum 60.
The SimpliFire 36" Built-In (SF-BI36-EB) and the Modern Flames Landscape Pro Slim (LPS-4414V2 through LPS-9614V2) are described in the manuals as built-in installations, and neither the SimpliFire 36" Built-In manual (2040-980 Rev. P) nor the Modern Flames Landscape Pro Slim manual (07-00012 REV C) gives wall mount instructions.
What is a recessed electric fireplace?
A recessed electric fireplace sits in an opening framed into the wall so the front of the fireplace is at or near the wall surface, and the electrical supply is often hard-wired inside the wall. The Napoleon Astound FlexMount can be partially recessed, described as "mounted into a narrow depth wall" where the appliance "will protrude outward" and "can be hard-wired to either 120 V or 240 V" (Napoleon W415-4173, Section 2.4, p. 18). The Napoleon Astound FlexMount can also be fully recessed with the front visible only, with one side open, or with both sides open (W415-4173, Section 2.5).
The SimpliFire Allusion Platinum 60 is "Recessed into a 2 x 6 in. wall" (SimpliFire 2044-980 Rev. L, Section 4.B). The SimpliFire 36" Built-In "can be built into new construction or an existing factory-built fireplace" (SimpliFire 2040-980 Rev. P, p. 9). The Modern Flames Landscape Pro Slim manual describes a fully recessed single-sided installation "optimized for a 2x6 framed wall" and a partially recessed installation "optimized for a 2x4 framed wall" (Modern Flames 07-00012 REV C).
Which electric fireplaces are wall mounted and which are recessed?
Of the four electric fireplaces in this guide, the Napoleon Astound FlexMount is the model with a documented wall mounted installation, and the SimpliFire Allusion Platinum 60, SimpliFire 36" Built-In and Modern Flames Landscape Pro Slim are documented as recessed or built-in. The table lists the installation methods and electrical figures each manual prints, with each wattage paired with the voltage printed beside the wattage.
| Model | Wall mounted | Recessed or built-in | Electrical, as printed in the manual | Manual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Napoleon Astound FlexMount (NEFL50AB, NEFL62AB, NEFL74AB) | Yes, on a bracket, plugged into a 120V source (Section 2.3) | Partially recessed (Section 2.4) or fully recessed (Section 2.5), hard-wired at 120V or 240V | 1,500 W at 120V AC or 3,000 W at 240V AC maximum; dedicated 15 amp grounded circuit | W415-4173 |
| SimpliFire Allusion Platinum 60 (SF-ALLP60-BK) | Optional wall mount kit; instructions come with the kit | Recessed into a 2 x 6 wall (Section 4.B) | 1,500 W at 120V AC, 60 Hz, 12.5 A; 15 amp circuit required; designed to be hard-wired, supplied plug-in kit available | 2044-980 Rev. L |
| SimpliFire 36" Built-In (SF-BI36-EB) | No wall mount instructions | New construction or an existing factory-built fireplace | 1,400 W at 120V (11.7 A), 2,100 W at 208V (10.1 A), 2,800 W at 240V (11.7 A); 15 amp circuit; hard-wired, or plug-in at 120V with the supplied cord | 2040-980 Rev. P |
| Modern Flames Landscape Pro Slim (LPS-4414V2 to LPS-9614V2) | No wall mount instructions | Fully recessed in a 2x6 wall or partially recessed in a 2x4 wall | 1,465 W heater at 120V AC, 60 Hz, 13 A; hard-wired to a dedicated 20 amp circuit | 07-00012 REV C |
What size wall opening does a recessed electric fireplace need?
Each recessed electric fireplace needs a framed opening cut to the width, height and depth printed in the manual for that model, and the four models do not share one opening size. The table lists the framing figures from each manual; the Napoleon Astound FlexMount rows cover the partially recessed and fully recessed installations only, because the Napoleon Astound FlexMount wall mounted installation uses a bracket and no opening.
| Model | Framing opening (W × H) | Framing depth | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Napoleon Astound FlexMount NEFL50AB | 50 1/2" × 23 7/16" | 3 1/2" partially recessed; 7 1/2" fully recessed | W415-4173, Sections 2.4.1 and 2.5.2 |
| Napoleon Astound FlexMount NEFL62AB | 62 1/2" × 23 7/16" | 3 1/2" partially recessed; 7 1/2" fully recessed | W415-4173, Sections 2.4.1 and 2.5.2 |
| Napoleon Astound FlexMount NEFL74AB | 74 1/2" × 23 7/16" | 3 1/2" partially recessed; 7 1/2" fully recessed | W415-4173, Sections 2.4.1 and 2.5.2 |
| SimpliFire Allusion Platinum 60 (SF-ALLP60-BK) | 61" × 19-5/8" | Wall build 5-3/4" to 6-1/2" thick, with wallboard or finish up to 1" thick | 2044-980 Rev. L, Figure 4.1 |
| SimpliFire 36" Built-In (SF-BI36-EB) | 37-3/4" × 31-1/2" at 120V; 37-3/4" × 33-1/2" at 240V | 11-5/8" | 2040-980 Rev. P, Figure 4.1 |
| Modern Flames Landscape Pro Slim LPS-4414V2 | 44 1/4" × 24 1/8" | 6" | 07-00012 REV C, p. 4 |
| Modern Flames Landscape Pro Slim LPS-5614V2 | 56 1/4" × 24 1/8" | 6" | 07-00012 REV C, p. 4 |
| Modern Flames Landscape Pro Slim LPS-6814V2 | 68 1/4" × 24 1/8" | 6" | 07-00012 REV C, p. 4 |
| Modern Flames Landscape Pro Slim LPS-8014V2 | 80 1/4" × 24 1/8" | 6" | 07-00012 REV C, p. 4 |
| Modern Flames Landscape Pro Slim LPS-9614V2 | 96 1/4" × 24 1/8" | 6" | 07-00012 REV C, p. 4 |
The Modern Flames Landscape Pro Slim manual lists one framing depth, 6", for both the 2x6 fully recessed and the 2x4 partially recessed installation (Modern Flames 07-00012 REV C, p. 4). The Napoleon Astound FlexMount manual states the Napoleon Astound FlexMount framing is non-load-bearing wall framing (W415-4173, Section 2.5.2). The SimpliFire 36" Built-In manual also prints a corner installation with W2 55", D2 38-29/32" and D3 27-1/2" (2040-980 Rev. P, Figure 4.1).
How much clearance does an electric fireplace need?
Clearance figures differ by model, and the Modern Flames Landscape Pro Slim manual publishes fewer clearance figures than the other three manuals. The table lists what each manual prints and marks the rest as not published.
| Model | Clearance figures printed in the manual | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Napoleon Astound FlexMount | Location at least 36" (91.4 cm) from combustible materials such as curtains, drapes, furniture, bedding and paper. Minimum mantel clearances are printed in Section 2.2. | W415-4173, Sections 2.1 and 2.2 |
| SimpliFire Allusion Platinum 60 | Sides 0", floor 0", top 0", back 0", front 36". The clearance table also lists a mantel figure of 5/8" (Figure 3.2). | 2044-980 Rev. L, Section 3 |
| SimpliFire 36" Built-In | Sides 0", floor 0", back 0", front 36". Top 0" at 120V and 2" at 240V. Mantel limits are in Figure 3.1. | 2040-980 Rev. P, p. 8 |
| Modern Flames Landscape Pro Slim | Furniture, pillows, bedding, papers, clothes and curtains at least 3 feet (0.9 m) from the front and away from the sides and rear. Mantel, ceiling and TV-above clearances are not published. | 07-00012 REV C |
Does an electric fireplace need an electrician?
Each of the four manuals directs electrical connection to a qualified electrician, and the Napoleon Astound FlexMount manual attaches that requirement to the hard-wired recessed installation. The exact lines are below.
- Napoleon Astound FlexMount: "It is necessary to hard-wire this appliance when recessed into the wall. A qualified electrician must wire the appliance directly to the household wiring." (Napoleon W415-4173, Section 3.0, p. 24). The manual describes the wall mounted Napoleon Astound FlexMount as plugged into a 120V electrical source (Section 2.3).
- SimpliFire Allusion Platinum 60: "All electrical connections shall be performed by a qualified electrician." (SimpliFire 2044-980 Rev. L, Section 4.C, p. 13).
- SimpliFire 36" Built-In: "All electrical connections shall be performed by a qualified electrician" (SimpliFire 2040-980 Rev. P, p. 11).
- Modern Flames Landscape Pro Slim: "A qualified electrician must wire this fireplace to a dedicated 110-120 volt, 20 amp circuit." (Modern Flames 07-00012 REV C, p. 13).
American Hearth Supply supplies equipment only and does not install electric fireplaces. Labor prices for framing, finishing and wiring are not published in any of the four manuals, so this guide quotes no labor prices.
What comes in the box with an electric fireplace?
The parts list in each manual names what comes in the box for that model, and none of the four parts lists reviewed for this guide names building wire, a wall receptacle, framing lumber or wall-finishing materials. The lists below follow each manual.
- Napoleon Astound FlexMount: front glass, side finish panel and trim, top and bottom finish trim, smokey gem glass, rusty iron glass, logs (quantities vary by size), charcoal, rocks, a pair of gloves, remote, hardware kit and manual (W415-4173, Section 1.4, p. 8). The hardware list names drywall anchors, wood screws, metal screws, a junction box cover plate, strain relief, brackets, cord corners, cord cover connectors and cord covers (Section 1.5, p. 9).
- SimpliFire Allusion Platinum 60: appliance, glass panel, instruction manual, remote with 2 AAA batteries, trim shipped attached to the appliance, 2 side panels, 4 ST4X40 screws for the appliance to framing, 2 ST4X8 screws for the glass, 1 bag each of small crystal stones, large crystal stones and white ceramic stones, 2 glass screw vanity covers and a power cord (2044-980 Rev. L, Section 3.A). The wall mount kit and logs are optional items, not in the box.
- SimpliFire 36" Built-In: fireplace, instruction manual, remote with 2 AAA batteries, 4 mounting brackets, 2 rear leveling brackets, 8 ST4x8 screws, 4 ST4x12 screws and a power cord assembly for 120V only (2040-980 Rev. P, Section 3.A, p. 7).
- Modern Flames Landscape Pro Slim: fireplace, front glass, L-metal mounting bracket set, remote with CR2025 battery, battery tool, suction cup, trim, Canyon Driftwood log set, smoke clear acrylic crystals, clear acrylic stones and owner's manual. The wall-mount touch control is sold separately, and the manual's tool list (Phillips screwdriver, stud finder, level, tape measure, electric drill, 1/4" wood drill bit and hammer) is not supplied (07-00012 REV C, p. 5).
What warranty does each electric fireplace carry?
Each warranty is named below exactly as the manual prints the title, and the Modern Flames Landscape Pro Slim installation manual does not print a warranty title. The Napoleon Astound FlexMount manual prints "NAPOLEON ELECTRIC APPLIANCE 3 YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY" (W415-4173, Section 11.0, p. 50). The SimpliFire Allusion Platinum 60 manual prints "Hearth & Home Technologies LLC LIMITED WARRANTY" (2044-980 Rev. L, p. 4), and the SimpliFire 36" Built-In manual prints the same Hearth & Home Technologies LLC LIMITED WARRANTY heading (2040-980 Rev. P, p. 4).
Should I choose a wall mounted or a recessed electric fireplace?
A wall mounted electric fireplace suits a finished room where no construction is wanted, and a recessed electric fireplace suits new framing or a renovation where the wall is already open. Among the four models in this guide, the Napoleon Astound FlexMount is the model that hangs on a bracket and plugs into a 120V source (W415-4173, Section 2.3), so the Napoleon Astound FlexMount matches a room that is already finished.
For new framing or a renovation, the recessed models each need an opening cut to the dimensions in the manual for that model: the SimpliFire Allusion Platinum 60 needs a 61" × 19-5/8" opening in a wall built 5-3/4" to 6-1/2" thick, the SimpliFire 36" Built-In needs 37-3/4" wide by 31-1/2" high at 120V by 11-5/8" deep, the Modern Flames Landscape Pro Slim needs 6" of framing depth at all five widths, and the Napoleon Astound FlexMount fully recessed needs 7 1/2" of framing depth. Each of the recessed installations is wired by a qualified electrician, per the manual lines quoted earlier in this guide.
For a shallow wall, the Napoleon Astound FlexMount partially recessed installation uses 3 1/2" of framing depth with the appliance protruding from the wall face (W415-4173, Section 2.4). The Napoleon Astound FlexMount manual covers wall mounted, partially recessed and fully recessed installation of the same NEFL50AB, NEFL62AB and NEFL74AB appliances. The Modern Flames Landscape Pro Slim manual optimizes the partially recessed installation for a 2x4 framed wall (07-00012 REV C).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a wall mounted electric fireplace plug into a regular outlet?
The Napoleon Astound FlexMount plugs into a 120V electrical source when wall mounted, and the Napoleon Astound FlexMount must be hard-wired when recessed (W415-4173, Sections 2.3 and 3.0). The SimpliFire Allusion Platinum 60 is designed to be hard-wired for 120VAC with a supplied plug-in kit available for a grounded receptacle (2044-980 Rev. L, Section 4.C). The Modern Flames Landscape Pro Slim manual describes hard wiring only (07-00012 REV C, p. 13).
Does a wall mounted electric fireplace need a framed opening?
The Napoleon Astound FlexMount wall mounted installation uses a bracket and needs no framed opening, and the framing dimensions in W415-4173 Sections 2.4 and 2.5 apply to the Napoleon Astound FlexMount partially and fully recessed installations. The SimpliFire Allusion Platinum 60 wall mount kit carries separate kit instructions, which 2044-980 Rev. L does not reproduce.
What wall depth does a recessed electric fireplace need?
The framing depth is 6" for the Modern Flames Landscape Pro Slim (07-00012 REV C, p. 4), 11-5/8" for the SimpliFire 36" Built-In (2040-980 Rev. P, Figure 4.1), and 3 1/2" partially recessed or 7 1/2" fully recessed for the Napoleon Astound FlexMount (W415-4173, Sections 2.4.1 and 2.5.2). The SimpliFire Allusion Platinum 60 manual specifies a wall build 5-3/4" to 6-1/2" thick (2044-980 Rev. L, Figure 4.1).
Does a recessed electric fireplace need a dedicated circuit?
The Napoleon Astound FlexMount lists a dedicated 15 amp grounded circuit (W415-4173, Section 1.3), and the Modern Flames Landscape Pro Slim requires a dedicated 20 amp circuit (07-00012 REV C, p. 13). The SimpliFire Allusion Platinum 60 requires a 15 amp, 120VAC/60Hz circuit and states that a dedicated circuit is not required but is strongly recommended (2044-980 Rev. L, Section 4.C). The SimpliFire 36" Built-In requires a 15 amp circuit and recommends a dedicated circuit (2040-980 Rev. P).
Does American Hearth Supply install electric fireplaces?
American Hearth Supply supplies equipment only and does not install electric fireplaces. The Napoleon Astound FlexMount, SimpliFire Allusion Platinum 60, SimpliFire 36" Built-In and Modern Flames Landscape Pro Slim manuals each direct electrical connection to a qualified electrician, as quoted above.
Questions about which electric fireplace matches a wall? Tell us about your room or call or text (814) 440-4817.
Manuals and Sources
- Napoleon Astound FlexMount installation and operation manual W415-4173, rev. G-0 (Jun.05.2026): Sections 1.1, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 2.1 to 2.5, 3.0 and 11.0
- SimpliFire Allusion Platinum installation and operation manual 2044-980 Rev. L (6/25): installation options, Sections 3.A, 4.B and 4.C, Figures 3.2 and 4.1, and the warranty on p. 4
- SimpliFire SF-BI30-EB and SF-BI36-EB owner's manual 2040-980 Rev. P (9/24): pp. 4, 7, 8, 9 and 11, Figures 3.1 and 4.1
- Modern Flames Landscape Pro Slim installation manual V2, 07-00012 REV C: pp. 1, 3, 4, 5 and 13
