Best Fireplace Glass Doors and Screens for Winter
An open masonry fireplace is lovely on a January night, but it can also pull warm air up the chimney and toss sparks onto the rug. A good set of glass doors or a sturdy screen fixes both problems.
Glass doors close off the opening when the fire is dying down or the fireplace is not in use, which helps stop cold drafts. Screens stay in front of an active fire to catch embers while letting the heat and the view through.
Measure the fireplace opening carefully before you buy, at the top, bottom, and height, since glass doors need to fit the opening closely to seal well.
Best Overall Glass Doors: Pleasant Hearth Ascot
The Pleasant Hearth Ascot is one of the most popular fireplace door sets for standard masonry fireplaces, with a black finish that suits most rooms.
Its tempered glass doors and built in mesh panels let you close the glass for drafts or open it with the mesh in place for an active fire.
It comes in several sizes, so it is easy to match to a common opening.
Pleasant Hearth Ascot Fireplace Glass Door
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Black tempered glass fireplace door set with built in mesh for standard masonry fireplaces.
Shop on Amazon →Best Modern Look: Pleasant Hearth Alpine
The Alpine has a slimmer frame and a clean, modern profile that works well with painted brick and stone surrounds.
Bi fold glass doors open wide for loading wood, and the cooling chamber design helps keep the frame from running as hot.
It is a good pick if you want the fireplace to look more finished without a heavy, traditional frame.
Pleasant Hearth Alpine Fireplace Glass Door
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Modern bi fold fireplace glass door set with a slim frame for masonry fireplaces.
Shop on Amazon →Best Traditional Style: Pleasant Hearth Fenwick
Fenwick doors have an oil rubbed bronze look and a more classic frame that pairs well with traditional mantels.
Like the other Pleasant Hearth sets, they include mesh panels behind the glass for safe viewing of a live fire.
Choose this one if black hardware would look out of place in your room.
Pleasant Hearth Fenwick Fireplace Glass Door
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Traditional style fireplace glass door set with an oil rubbed bronze finish.
Shop on Amazon →Best Fold Out Screen: Amagabeli 3 Panel Fireplace Screen
If glass doors are more than you need, a freestanding screen is the simplest way to stop sparks.
The Amagabeli three panel screen is wrought iron with fine mesh, and the side panels angle in to cover wide openings.
It sets up in seconds and folds flat for storage in summer.
Amagabeli 3 Panel Wrought Iron Fireplace Screen
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Freestanding three panel wrought iron fireplace screen with fine spark mesh.
Shop on Amazon →Best Single Panel Screen: UniFlame Black Wrought Iron Screen
UniFlame's single panel screen has a slightly arched top and sturdy feet, giving a tidy look in front of a smaller fireplace.
The flat panel is easy to move aside when you add wood, then slide back into place.
It is a nice budget companion to glass doors or a standalone fix for a fireplace you only use now and then.
UniFlame Single Panel Black Wrought Iron Fireplace Screen
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Single panel wrought iron fireplace screen with spark mesh and stable feet.
Shop on Amazon →Frequently Asked Questions
Do fireplace glass doors save heat?
They help most when the fire is out or dying down. Closing the doors keeps warm room air from being pulled up the chimney, especially if the damper is left open while embers cool.
Can I burn a fire with the glass doors closed?
Follow the manufacturer's instructions. Many makers recommend keeping the glass open and the mesh closed during a hot fire, then closing the glass as it dies down.
Do I still need a screen if I have glass doors?
Most glass door sets include mesh panels, which act as a built in screen. A separate screen is mainly useful if your doors do not have mesh.
Will glass doors fit any fireplace?
No. They are sized to the opening and made for either masonry or prefab fireplaces, so measure carefully and check the product's fit guide.
Tips for Choosing Fireplace Doors and Screens
- Measure three times. Measure width at the top and bottom and the height on both sides. Order doors for the smallest measurement so they fit the opening.
- Check your fireplace type. Doors for masonry fireplaces are different from doors for factory built or prefab fireplaces, so buy the type made for yours.
- Keep the mesh closed. With an active fire, close the mesh and leave the glass open unless the manufacturer says otherwise, so the glass does not overheat.
- Clean the glass cool. Wipe soot off the glass only once it is completely cool, using a fireplace glass cleaner.