A fireplace reaches a temperature of 1,000 to 1,5000 degrees Fahrenheit during typical use. This is the average range for wood burning and gas fireplaces.
How Hot Does a Fireplace Get?
A wood burning fireplace can get hotter than 1,750 degrees if it is overfilled with wood or if ventilation is poor. But the typical temperature is between 1,200 and1,500 degrees under normal conditions.
Gas fireplace temperature is about 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit, but the BTU carpet of the gas element plays a role in how hot the fireplace gets.
This page had complete information on heat temperatures for all common fireplace types – gas fireplace, wood burning fireplace and electric fireplace units.
Fireplace Temperature by Type
| Fireplace Type | Safe Heat Temperature | Overheating |
| Wood Burning | 1,200 to 1,750 degrees | Above 2,000 degrees |
| Gas | 800 – 1,200 degrees | Above 1,500 degrees |
| Electric | 400 – 1,500 degrees | Above 1,500 degrees |
How Hot Does a Fireplace Surround Get?
A fireplace surround is 100 to 150 degrees F when the fireplace and surround are properly designed and installed.
When improperly designed, a fireplace surround can become dangerously hot – as hot as 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
Did you know? By law, the temperature of air and materials surrounding a fireplace cannot reach a temperature of more than 117F above the ambient, or air, temperature of the room.
This design regulation helps prevent the fireplace surround from becoming too hot to be safe to the touch or to have combustible materials near.
*Your fireplace installer should know this and design the fireplace and surround to ensure safe use that meets international code.
How Hot Is a Fireplace Fire?
Fireplace fire is 1,800 to 2,200 degrees F. This is true for gas fireplace and wood burning fireplace units.
Orange vs white flames: The 1,800 to 2,200 F is the temperature of orange fire.
If your gas fireplace is producing white-hot flames, they are 2,500 degrees F or hotter. That’s too hot. The fireplace should be shut off and not used again until it can be inspected and repaired.
How Hot Does a Fireplace Chimney Get?
The temperature of a chimney is 325 to 500 degrees Fahrenheit in a wood burning fireplace when the fire is the appropriate size and the fireplace is properly vented.
If the fireplace is overloaded with wood and if wood is placed too close to the chimney masonry, then the chimney can exceed 1,000 degrees and create the potential for a chimney fire.
Will a chimney fire burn itself out? Maybe. But never “hope” it does. If you hear the crackling of a fire in the chimney, call 911 immediately.
If you have a fire extinguisher in your home, and you should of course, then consider trying to put out the fire in the fireplace before evacuating the home.
Does a Fireplace Really Warm a House?
Yes, a fireplace does heat a house. A fireplace heats a house best when a heat exchanger and fan are used.
An open fireplace does radiate some heat into the space immediately in front of it. But that’s about all the heat you will get from it.
When a fireplace is open, and the flue is open, it is basically a large hole in your home. So, don’t expect a lot of heat to come out of the fireplace to warm your house. Most of the heat goes up the flue and doesn’t heat your home.
An enclosed fireplace with a heat exchanger and fan does a much better job heating your home. Instead of losing the heat, 60% to 75% of the heat created can be converted to useful heat.
Will a fireplace warm an entire house? If your home is less than 1,000 square feet and the fireplace is enclosed as described, then it might be able to heat your whole home. That is especially true if the outside temperature is above freezing.
It is unlikely that a fireplace can heat an entire home that is larger than 1,000 square feet.
Will Gas Fireplaces Shut Off If Too Hot?
Yes. Most gas fireplace units have a heat sensor and will shut themselves off if they get too hot.
There are a few reasons why a gas fireplace gets too hot.
First, improper installation and setup of the unit can cause overheating. For example, if the flue isn’t adjusted properly, too much heat builds up, and the gas fireplace will turn off.
Secondly, gas logs that are too large for the fireplace rating can cause overheating.
Thirdly, some experts suggest that ceramic gas logs can cause the fireplace to get too hot because they heat up quickly – from cold to 800 or 1,000 degrees in a few minutes. This sudden rise in temperature can cause the fireplace to overheat and shut off.
What to do? If your fireplace overheats and shuts off on a regular basis, have the logs or burner assembly checked to make sure it is properly installed and the right size.
Also consider having a fireplace blower added. It will disperse hot air quickly – blowing it into the room, where you’ll enjoy more heat from your fireplace unit.
Similarly, a ceiling fan that is blowing air up will pull heat out of the fireplace and distribute it in the room, preventing fireplace overheating.
