Comparison: Best Fireplace Log Placement (Updated | Dec 16th)
Transform your fireplace from a mere heat source into a captivating focal point with strategic log placement. The art of arranging logs isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about optimizing airflow, heat distribution, and burn efficiency. Whether you’re a traditionalist favoring the classic stack or an adventurous homeowner exploring contemporary designs, the right placement can elevate your entire living space. In this guide, we’ll explore the most effective and visually stunning log arrangements, helping you create that perfect, mesmerizing blaze that’ll have guests gathered ’round in no time.
Editor’s Choice
Best for a specific purpose
- Best for long-burning classic: Duraflame 6-Pack Indoor/Outdoor Logs for Fireplace & Fire Pit
- Best for chimney safety essential: The Creosote Sweeping Log (CSL) with Bonus Ignite-O Fire Starter – Chimney Cleaner for Fireplaces and Woodstoves – Non-Toxic and Easy Cleaning Firelog
- Best for smart heating solution: Electric Fireplace Logs Inserts Heater with Infrared Remote Controller 5 Flame Brightness 24 H Timer Overheating Protection for Home and Office Decor Black
- Best for versatile ceramic set: Barton 10-Piece Fireplace Logs Ceramic Logs Wood Fire Place Log Gas Heat Resistant Realistic Logs Stackable Logs Indoor or Outdoor Set (10pcs)
- Best for realistic flame display: LegendFlame 25″ W Free Standing Electric Fireplace Log Set (EF484)
- Best for compact electric choice: LegendFlame 23″ W Free Standing Electric Fireplace Log Set (EF290)
- Best for wifi-controlled heating: ROVSUN 23” Electric Fireplace Insert w/Remote & WiFi Control
- Best for quick fire starter: Duraflame Fire Starter for Indoor and Outdoor Use – Quick Ignition Logs for BBQ
- Best for authentic birch look: Gas Fireplace Logs
- Best for complete storage solution: Fire Beauty Fireplace Firewood Log Rack 5-Piece Storage Logs Holder with Tools Set with 4 Tools Set Fireside Holders Wood Lumber Storage Stacking Black
Product Comparison: Best Fireplace Log Placement
Long-Burning Classic
Duraflame 6-Pack Indoor/Outdoor Logs for Fireplace & Fire Pit, 3-Hour Burn, 4.5lb Each
Duraflame
- Long-Lasting, Robust Flames for Up to 3 Hours Experience warm, glowing ambiance with Duraflame 4.5 lb firelogs designed to burn up to three hours. Perfect for cozy indoor evenings or outdoor gatherings, these long-burning fireplace logs deliver consistent flames and rich warmth, ideal for entertaining, relaxing, or creating a comforting home atmosphere.
- Fast Lighting with Full Flames in Minutes Skip the hassle of kindling and lighter fluid — these fireplace logs ignite quickly and provide full, bright flames in less than five minutes. Enjoy an easy, mess-free fire start every time in your fire pit, hearth, or outdoor fireplace, great for spontaneous fires and effortless convenience.
- Burns Cleaner Than Wood for a Safer, Greener Fire Burns up to 80% cleaner than traditional wood, reducing emissions, smoke, and soot while still offering great heat and vibrant flame performance. An eco-friendly firelog choice for clean-burning warmth, helping protect air quality indoors and out while minimizing cleanup.
- Versatile Indoor & Outdoor Fireplace Use Ideal for year-round use, indoors in open-hearth fireplaces or outdoors in fire pits and outdoor fireplaces. Enjoy dependable warmth at home, on the patio, or at your cabin — these high-performance logs bring crackling fire convenience to any setting without the mess of split wood.
- Safety Tested & CSIA Approved for Peace of Mind UL-approved for use in UL-listed factory-built fireplaces and accepted by the Chimney Safety Institute of America for reliable performance and safety. Trust in a hearth-safe, easy-burning firelog backed by expert certifications for safe use and clean, consistent burning every time.
Chimney Safety Essential
The Creosote Sweeping Log (CSL) with Bonus Ignite-O Fire Starter – Chimney Cleaner for Fireplaces and Woodstoves – Non-Toxic and Easy Cleaning Firelog
Creosote Sweeping Log
- REDUCES CREOSOTE BUILDUP: Actively dries out and neutralizes dangerous creosote and tar deposits in your chimney to prevent chimney fires. Trusted to protect chimneys for over 25 years.
- DUAL ACTION FORMULA: Treats existing creosote deposits and minimizes new buildup, enhancing safety and efficiency.
- EASY TO USE: Burns like a standard fire log for approximately 90 minutes. Simply place it in your fireplace or wood stove.
- NON-TOXIC: Safe for use in all wood-burning appliances, with no harsh chemicals.
- ONGOING CHIMNEY TREATMENT: Continues to treat creosote deposits over 1 to 2 weeks, with some deposits possibly falling back into your fireplace. Use every 60 fires.
Smart Heating Solution
Electric Fireplace Logs Inserts Heater with Infrared Remote Controller 5 Flame Brightness 24 H Timer Overheating Protection for Home and Office Decor Black
Riseon
- REALISTIC 3D FAKE FLAME: Our flame light imitates burning logs, presenting a realistic, rolling, and pulsating flame effect. The electric fireplaces adopt exquisite craftsmanship and premium material that can be run independently of heating, you no longer need to haul wood and clean up ashes.
- ENERGY SAVING FIREPLACE INSERT: Both the flame and temperature can be adjusted independently, there are 5 brightness levels of flame and 2 heating modes for you to choose from, The flame function can be used separately whether the heater is on or off, making this electric logs for fireplace convenient to use in every season.
- FAN HEATING FUNCTION: It comes with an adjustable fan heater, its function allows you to control the temperature and air humidity in the room. Equipped with remote control, press the heater button once or twice for high and low heating mode. When you press the heater button the 3rd time, the heater will turn off and the fan will continue running for 60 seconds to disperse the remaining heat from inside. The fan does not sound loud so it does not influence you to read, rest, or even sleep.
- OVERHEAT PROTECTION: For the safety of your family, our fireplace is safely equipped with overheating automatic shutdown function and it is ETL certified, it will automatically cut off the power when overheating, ensuring that you fall asleep warmly and quietly at night without any worries. You can press the timer button to set a timer between 1 to 24 hours, after which the heater will turn on or off by itself.
- PORTABLE ELECTRIC FIREPLACE LOGS: Plugs into any 120 volts outlet, the electric logs can be placed anywhere you like, it can free standing and built-in installation. It also can be a replacement for a traditional fireplace. Comfortable warmth—a small electric fireplace heater ideal for your living room, bedroom, basement, office, courtyard, or store.
- YOUR PEACE OF MIND IS OUR PRIORITY: We only make high-quality fireplace products, electric fireplaces have passed strict quality inspection before leaving the factory, and have certificates to ensure your peace of mind when buying and using. If you have any problems with your electric fire place, please feel free to contact our service team directly and we will get back to you within 24 hours!
Versatile Ceramic Set
Barton 10-Piece Fireplace Logs Ceramic Logs Wood Fire Place Log Gas Heat Resistant Realistic Logs Stackable Logs Indoor or Outdoor Set (10pcs)
Barton
- Great for All Type of Fireplace – Ceramic Wood Logs are perfect for all kind of fireplaces, like Vented gas fireplace, Outdoor gas fireplaces, indoor gas fireplaces, direct vent, zero clearance, natural gas, gel, standard fire pits, fake fireplaces, electric fireplace inserts, propane fireplaces, etc.
- Perfect for Fireplace or Fire pit – Ten life sized ceramic gas logs that won’t leave your fireplace looking bare
- Creativity – Arrange your logs based on your needs. You receive (10) logs with different designs to allow you to use your creativity. Stack the logs in an orderly fashion or mimic nature by placing them at random
- Family Safe from Toxic Fumes – Natural Glow logs burn clean and do not release any ash or residue into the air like some lower quality fake fireplace logs
- Complement Piece – Can be used to complement current gas logs, crackle flame firelogs, fire starters, fire log, crackle flame fire logs, glowing embers, fire starters, and lava rocks
Realistic Flame Display
LegendFlame 25″ W Free Standing Electric Fireplace Log Set (EF484), Fireplace Insert, Heater 750W/1500W, Crackling Sound, Remote Control…
Legend Flame
- 25″ W x 20″ H x 10″ D size suitable for free standing in small and large existing openings or cabinet. Very simple installation, just place it into the opening.
- Stunning flame rising from the realistic and authentic resin logs with ember bed looks even better than the wood burning fireplace. 100% energy saving LED shorten your bill, while also enjoying the beautiful flame effect with or without the heater all year long.
- Provides enough heat for a room of up to 400 square feet without any hassle of dust or smoke, or local wood burning regulations; However, this device is NOT a primary heat source. Uses a standard 120V with a polarized plug, or a 15amp circuit.
- Remote control is provided with 2 AAA batteries which is very convenient to use when you receive it.
- One year limited warranty. Customer service is always ready for help whenever needed.
- CSA Certified
Compact Electric Choice
LegendFlame 23″ W Free Standing Electric Fireplace Log Set (EF290), Fireplace Insert, Heater 750W/1500W, Crackling Sound, Remote Control
Legend Flame
- 23″ W x 20″ H x 10″ D size suitable for free standing in small and large existing openings or cabinet. Very simple installation, just place it into the opening.
- Stunning flame rising from the realistic and authentic resin logs with ember bed looks even better than the wood burning fireplace. 100% energy saving LED shorten your bill, while also enjoying the beautiful flame effect with or without the heater all year long.
- Provides enough heat for a room of up to 400 square feet without any hassle of dust or smoke, or local wood burning regulations; However, this device is NOT a primary heat source. Uses a standard 120V with a polarized plug, or a 15amb circuit.
- One year limited warranty. Customer service is always ready for help whenever needed.
- CSA Certified
WiFi-Controlled Heating
ROVSUN 23” Electric Fireplace Insert w/Remote & WiFi Control, Faux Fireplace Logs w/Timer, Overheat Protection, Adjustable Flame and Brightness, CSA Listed for Home Living Room Bedroom, 1400W
ROVSUN
- 🔥Fast Heating: With powerful heating filaments, this 1400W & 23” wide fireplace heater can deliver 62-82℉ warm air, heating room more efficiently than a typical fan-forced heater. Provides cozy warmth on cold winter days
- 🔥Adjustable Flame: The flame can be switched between 6 colors and 5 brightness modes, making the heater more suitable for all seasons and occasions. The bright and roaring flames during large gatherings further enhance the atmosphere and complement the Christmas spirit
- 🔥Muti Control Mode: With a responsive remote control and a simplified control panel, you can install these glowing logs and blow out heat in minutes. You can also open your faux fireplace logs with APP on your phone. With 0-6H timer function, low noise <45db design, more convenient and quieter to use at night
- 🔥Realistic Design: Our electric fireplace uses exquisite craftsmanship and durable materials to look like the real thing, and the dancing flames and glowing embers provide an immersive experience for you and your guests
- 🔥Overheat Protection: Once the internal temperature is too high, the electric fireplace will automatically shut down to ensure the safety of your family, allowing you to sleep comfortably and warmly at night without worry. Our electric heater is CSA certified, proving that it is safe and reliable
Quick Fire Starter
Duraflame Fire Starter for Indoor and Outdoor Use – Quick Ignition Logs for BBQ, Fireplace, Fire Pit and Campfires (24 Pack)
Duraflame
- Start Fires Effortlessly: With our Fire Starters, igniting indoor and outdoor fires has never been easier. Skip the hassle of traditional kindling materials or fuel and experience the convenience of our reliable fire starters.
- Mess-Free and Instant Ignition – Experience a mess-free and easy-to-use solution with our fire wood fire starters. Just place the fire starters inside your woodpile and with a click of a match, witness a crackling flame ignite the logs in a matter of seconds.
- Eco-Friendly & Reliable: Choose our fire logs, crafted with a sustainable blend of wax and renewable biomass which helps reduce emissions. These water-resistant fire starters are individually wrapped for convenience and made with high-quality materials, ensuring reliable performance.
- Versatile Fire Starting Solution – Whether you’re grilling on a barbecue, enjoying a campfire in the great outdoors, cozying up to a fire pit, or setting the ambiance with your indoor fireplace, our fire starters are up to the task. With their reliable ignition power, you can confidently spark flames with ease, no matter where you are.
- Extended Ignition for Maximum Enjoyment: Our fire starters provide consistent, long-lasting flames, giving you plenty of time to enjoy your fire without the need for constant re-lighting or adding more kindling. Perfect for extended relaxation around the fire!
Authentic Birch Look
Gas Fireplace Logs, Birch Logs 6pcs Fireplace Decor Fake Fireplace Logs for Gas Fireplace Insert, Ceramic White Birch Faux Fireplace Fire Logs for Vented, Indoor Outdoor Fireplace Firebowl
Uniflasy
- 【Dimension】- Each log is approximately 15.7-16.1 inches long x 2.6 to 4.7 inches in diameter. Large enough for your fireplace or fire pit. 【Package】- 6pcs birch logs sets. 【Material】- Ceramic Fibers, which makes these wood logs look just like real wood logs when they are in the fire. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us
- 【Much Durable】- Ceramic fire products reflect and store heat that is slowly released over time which can warm up the house. It can withstand the most extreme temperatures without damage or crumbling, making them a beautiful addition to your fire feature. Note: Sooting may result in fire logs turning black, in order to reduce sooting, please place the fir logs in the rightful place to ensure gas complete combustion
- 【Fit for All Type of Fireplace Or Fire Pit】- Uniflasy White Birch Wood are perfect for vented gas fireplace, Outdoor & indoor gas fireplaces, direct vent, zero clearance, natural gas, gel, standard fire pits, fake fireplaces, electric fireplace inserts, vent free fireplaces, propane fireplaces, etc
- 【Extremely Realistic】- These ceramic fiber birch logs look just like real fireplace wood logs when they are in the fire. They are meticulously hand painted to re-create the look of natural wood, you will even see some orange/red hot spots under the logs while burning.【Complement Piece】- Can be used to complement current gas logs, crackle flame firelogs, fire starters, firelog, crackle flame firelogs, fire starters, Glowing Embers, and lava rocks. They won’t leave your fireplace looking bare
- 【Safe and Non-toxic】- Real logs produce carbon dioxide,ash or residue into the air during burning, which is dangerous when the doors and windows are not ventilated in winter. Uniflasy Fireplace logs burn clean and do not release any ash or residue into the air like some lower quality fake fireplace logs. They also cool quickly thus are very safe
Complete Storage Solution
Fire Beauty Fireplace Firewood Log Rack 5-Piece Storage Logs Holder with Tools Set with 4 Tools Set Fireside Holders Wood Lumber Storage Stacking Black
Fire Beauty
- DIMENSION: Fireplace tools set with log holder: 15in. L x 13in. W x 29in. H
- DESIGN & USE: Firewood log rack decorates your indoor fireplace and outdoors fire pit
- HIGH QUALITY: The surface painting treatment effectively prevents rust and extend the firewood rolling cart service life, also bold 20x20mm square tube is more durable.
- ACCESSORIES: The fireplace wood rack with 4 tools holders can be well stocked with firewood and logs, rounded hooks design to protect children for all fireplace tools, poker, shovel, broom, tongs or fireplace bellows, and a steel shelf below the wood rack for fire starters, books, magazines, newspaper
- SPECIALIST: Only one product that fireplace rack with 4 tools to resolve all of your daily use and it is easy to assemble
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Buying Guide
FAQs
What’s the best way to arrange logs for a realistic fire?
Start by placing two larger logs parallel to the back of the fireplace to act as a base. Then, place a third, slightly smaller log perpendicular to the first two, creating a stable structure that allows air to circulate underneath. This classic ‘andirons’ setup mimics how a fire burns naturally and provides a solid foundation for your kindling.
How should I stack logs for a fire that’s easy to start?
For easy ignition, use a ‘teepee’ structure by leaning several medium-sized logs together with their ends meeting in the center. Place your tinder and kindling in the middle of the teepee, where it gets the most airflow. This configuration funnels heat upwards, quickly catching the larger logs on fire as the kindling burns.
What’s the difference between a front-facing and a top-down fire?
A front-facing fire, where you see the flat ends of the logs, is visually appealing but can burn less efficiently. A top-down fire, where you stack the largest logs on the bottom and work your way up to kindling on top, is a modern technique that creates a cleaner, longer-lasting burn with less smoke.
How much space should I leave between the logs?
Leave about one to two inches of space between your main logs to allow for proper airflow. Fire needs oxygen to burn, and this space prevents the fire from being smothered. A well-spaced arrangement will burn hotter and more consistently than logs that are packed too tightly together.
Can I use any type of wood for my fireplace log placement?
You should only use seasoned hardwoods like oak, maple, or hickory, which have been dried for at least six months. Softwoods like pine create more creosote buildup in your chimney, and unseasoned or ‘green’ wood produces excess smoke and provides very little heat. The right wood is just as important as the right placement.
What’s the key to building a long-lasting fire?
The key is using a dense arrangement of large, hardwood logs placed closely together once the fire is well-established. After your initial kindling and smaller logs have created a bed of hot coals, add larger logs on top. This configuration holds heat effectively and slowly releases it over a longer period.
What common mistakes should I avoid when placing logs?
Avoid overloading the fireplace, which can restrict airflow and be a safety hazard. Also, never place logs directly against the back wall of the fireplace; leaving a few inches of space helps protect the firebrick and improves air circulation. Finally, ensure your logs are fully inside the firebox to prevent embers from rolling out onto your hearth.