A fireplace may look appealing in your home, but it’s also an opportunity to set up a fire for warmth during the colder months. Electric furnaces may be an option, but for those who want to burn real wood, a little bit more maintenance is necessary to get the best results.
One of the things you can do to help your fire burn stronger and longer is to invest in a fireplace grate. These products can vary in size, shape, and design, and there is a bit of consideration you need to put into selecting a grate so that it matches your fireplace. But even with that in mind, some products are better than others—and we’re here with your best fireplace grate guide to help you!
Fireplace Grate FAQs
1. What do fireplace grates do?
Fireplace grates work to help with making your fires burn longer. By placing your coal and wood on a grate, you can allow for more oxygen to reach and fuel the flames. Ash also drops below the grate, rather than potentially smothering the bottom of the fire.
2. What material is best for a fireplace grate?
Steel and cast iron are two of the most common materials used in fireplace grates, and both are good. Steel is generally better for only using wood; cast iron grates work for both coal and logs with smaller gaps. Unless it’s on the heavier side, iron is typically less durable.
3. Are grate heaters like fireplace grates?
A grate heater will serve the similar purpose of helping fires burn better, but they also have tubes that heat the air inside them. A grate heater tends to be more expensive, but they do allow a fireplace to heat a much larger area.
4. What should I look for in a fireplace grate?
Foremost, you want the grate to be the right size to fit inside your fireplace. Afterward, you should choose the material based on how often you plan to use the fire and if you plan to burn coal or not.
How We Reviewed
While you will have to take the time to pick out a fireplace grate that best fits your fireplace shape and burning plans, that will only limit the options on the market so much. That’s why we carefully looked at each of the products on our list to ensure that whatever your fireplace’s needs are, you’ll have a quality grate that will stand up to the task and is worth the cost.
Overall Price Range of Fireplace Grates
Depending on where you shop and what you look for in a fireplace grate, the cost can vary. Inexpensive models can have prices close to fifty dollars, while other models can easily cost one or even two-hundred dollars. Generally, a higher cost grate will use more robust materials, which will last over time, becoming a worthwhile investment.
Top Picks for the Best Fireplace Grate
Without further delay, let’s delve into the top contenders for the title of best fireplace grate!
Heritage Products Heavy Duty Steel Fireplace Grate
This steel fireplace grate is one option that will likely be more durable than other products made of the same material. It’s suitable for stacking up massive piles of logs without buckling, though the gaps in the bottom of the grate won’t serve you well when it comes to supporting twigs or pieces of coal.
This grate is twenty-one inches wide and fourteen inches deep. The design also tapers toward the back, making it possible to fit most fireplace structures, and the raised edges on the front and back keep logs from rolling off in those directions.
While this grate uses durable, heavy-duty steel to stand up to regular use, the finish over the steel does have a problem of peeling rather quickly, so keep that in mind.
Pleasant Hearth Premium Solid Steel Fireplace Grate
Another steel option for your fireplace is this grate offering from Pleasant Hearth. You’ll see many similarities between this and the Heritage Products model, as they both have front and back raised edges to keep logs from rolling free and more significant gaps between the bars, which means it can support large pieces of wood but not smaller parts.
However, Pleasant Hearth has used a heat-resistant finish that will allow the grate to look clean even after extensive use. The company has a lifetime warranty on this product, which is assuring that it should last even through heavy use.
This hearth is a bit larger with measurements of thirty by 15.2 by 7 inches, though it should fit in most average sized wood burning fireplaces.
Grate Wall of Fire Model M-G Fireplace Grate
This grate has a slightly different design than the others we’ve covered so far. Instead of providing a complete platform to rest your logs on, Grate Wall of Fire’s offering has a taller design that lines up with the back end of your fireplace and uses the height of the front facing bars to keep logs from dangerously rolling around.
While the design may be a bit different than what we’ve shown off so far, it does help to eliminate smoke issues. It’s also stylish, with decorative cast iron decorations on the upper spokes. If you don’t like them or they don’t fit the décor of your home, they’re easy to remove.
The cast iron material makes this grate highly durable, too. The M-6 model is twenty-six inches wide and fifteen inches tall, but Grate Wall of Fire also has other sizes available if these measurements aren’t right for your fireplace.
Panacea Cast Iron Fireplace Grate
One of the features we mentioned as common among cast iron grates is evident in what Panacea has to offer: there are much smaller gaps between the bars, making it possible to burn smaller pieces of wood and use coal along the way. Anything too small to burn effectively or ash will be the only things that fall through, making it easier to clean.
While many other fireplace grates can be on the higher range of the price spectrum, this one is a little under fifty dollars, making it a good deal if you don’t have a lot of free space in your budget. Even so, the cast iron material will hold up to extended use, though the overall design is a bit blocky and may not fit in with your décor.
This grate is 24 inches wide, which will fit into many fireplaces, and all edges are slightly raised to prevent wood and coal from falling out over the sides.
Landmann Steel Fireplace Grate
This grate is an example of a steel model that still has mesh beneath the bars, allowing for you to burn smaller pieces of wood and use coal and embers, with mostly ash slipping through the bottom. This design choice means that you have the opportunity to still use firestarters without needing to invest in a more substantial, cast-iron design.
Even though that can be an advantage for some, note that the lighter weight of the steel in this grate means that it won’t last as long as more substantial models, though it will be easier to move around. The welding is also excellent, so you won’t have to worry about the model falling apart.
Combining a decent build with a lower price, this grate is perfect for anyone who doesn’t plan on extensively using it and only occasionally starting a fire; those who plan on heavily using their fireplaces should invest in a sturdier grate.
Uniflame C-1546 Hex Bar Fireplace Grate
This hexagonal-shaped fireplace grate is another steel model that’s on the sturdier side. It accomplishes this by using heavier steel. This design does make it inconvenient to move around if necessary, but it will last much longer than lighter weight models.
The different design style makes it fit well into modern home designs, and you can also count on all the surrounding edges to have curled ends, securing all the wood inside. The design is 27 inches long, making it suitable for use in more massive fireplaces without making you sacrifice overall space.
While the build of this grate is quality, the packaging that it comes in isn’t suitable for a product of this weight, which means you might have issues ordering the grate offline.
Mr. Flame Self Feeding Cradle Grate
If you are considering investing in a more expensive grate, then this offering from Mr. Flame can provide an option while also showing off a different type of design. The cradle’s build not only looks different but doesn’t entirely rely on bars. Even without a grate, it can allow for the use of coal and smaller pieces of wood thanks to the smaller gaps in the center of the grate.
Another nice feature of the Mr. Flame fireplace grate is that you can adjust it into three different positions: back, front, or cradle. Depending on your choice, you can help improve heat circulation, build more massive fires, or even allow for ash to fall through more efficiently. Adjusting the position can also allow the grate to work best in your fireplace.
This cradle grate is 24 inches wide, and the height can depend on how you position it.
Vestal Manufacturing Cast Iron Fireplace Grate
If you want a simplistic design that will get the job done and last for some time, then Vestal Manufacturing’s offering might make the right choice if it fits your aesthetic. The design has raised front and back edges, but the sides are open so that you don’t have to limit the size of the logs that you use.
Like other cast iron designs, this grate is highly durable, and the raised edges don’t stick out much, which may be the right design you need This company also manufactures their products in the US, which is excellent news if you pay attention to where your products originate. The price is also affordable.
The only thing to look out for is that heavy use will turn the black finish on this grate white over time.
Hy-C Liberty Foundry Cast Iron Fireplace Grate
Another option that’s similar in many ways to the previous grate is this product from Hy-C Liberty Foundry. The basket style will securely hold onto logs, and the tapered design that’s 27 inches in front and 23 in the back means it will fit into many different fireplace styles.
The cast-iron build makes this grate very durable, and the grid-style allows you to use charcoal and smaller starter materials, though it has some challenges with paper use. Since the unit comes in one piece, you can use it right out of the packaging.
While this grate is overall excellent, some customers have found that it wobbles slightly due to uneven legs, so plan for that possibility before you order.
Panacea Products Black Wrought Iron Fireplace Grate
The last fireplace grate on our list is another Panacea product, but this one has a focus on fitting into smaller fireplaces. At eighteen inches in length, the bars in this grate have wide gaps between, so you’ll need to use only logs, even though this is a cast-iron model.
Since it is smaller, it won’t handle heavy weights well, so you’ll need to pay attention to how you build your fires. However, since it’s on the lighter side, you can move it between your hearth and outside as you need to, and the material will hold up to extensive use.
Comparison Table
- Heritage Products Heavy Duty Steel Fireplace Grate – Steel – Not suitable for coal – 21-inch – $70
- Pleasant Hearth Premium Solid Steel Fireplace Grate – Steel – Not suitable for coal – 30-inch – $77-$88
- Grate Wall of Fire Model M-G Fireplace Grate – Cast iron – Not suitable for coal – 26-inch – $163
- Panacea Cast Iron Fireplace Grate – Cast Iron – Suitable for coal – 24-inch – $49
- Landmann Steel Fireplace Grate – Steel – Suitable for coal – 30-inch – $33-$48
- Uniflame C-1546 Hex Bar Fireplace Grate – Steel – Suitable for coal – 24-36-inch – $202
- Mr. Flame Self Feeding Cradle Grate – Cast iron – Suitable for coal – 24-inch – $180
- Vestal Manufacturing Cast Iron Fireplace Grate – Cast Iron – Suitable for coal – 27-inch – $85
- Hy-C Liberty Foundry Cast Iron Fireplace Grate – Cast Iron – Suitable for coal – 27-inch – $79
- Panacea Products Black Wrought Iron Fireplace Grate – Cast Iron – Not suitable for coal – 18-inch – $28
The Verdict
So after looking over all these products, which is the best fireplace grate? We want to call Uniflame’s Hex Bar Fireplace Grate the winner, especially since they have various sizes available to fit your home best. Of course, your needs and fire use may vary, so there’s that to consider. If you choose one of the options on this list, you’ll be in good shape!