Quick Answer: For a firebox retrofit, Dimplex’s Revillusion 24” (~$1,499.99) remains the most realistic plug-in insert on the market, with a patented log-and-ember effect this site treats as the realism benchmark. The Multi-Fire XHD 33” — sold today under Dimplex’s Nova branding — costs about the same at $1,474.99 (list $1,622.49) but trades some of that realism for a spec sheet claiming up to 1,000 sq ft of coverage on a 1,465W plug-in heater, more than double the Revillusion’s real-world footprint on similar wattage. If you’re willing to hardwire, the BF Deluxe 39” ($1,358.99, list $1,963.09, per Electric Fireplaces Depot) is the only one of the three that can genuinely deliver more heat, not just claim it — its optional 240V circuit pushes output to 9,200 BTU.
Dimplex’s own insert lineup is bigger than the single Revillusion model that shows up in most multi-brand roundups, including our best electric fireplace insert and best Dimplex electric fireplace guides. We pulled the three real firebox-retrofit lines Dimplex currently sells — Revillusion, Multi-Fire XHD, and BF Deluxe — and compared them on realism, heat claims, and install type.
Dimplex insert lineup compared
| Model | Best for | Heat | Install | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revillusion 24" | Best realism | 1,500W-class, ~400 sq ft | Plug-in, drops into firebox | $1,499.99 | ★★★★★ |
| Multi-Fire XHD 33" (Nova) | Best claimed coverage | 1,465W/5,118 BTU, up to 1,000 sq ft claimed | Plug-in, drops into firebox | $1,474.99 | ★★★★☆ |
| BF Deluxe 39" | Best real heat output | Up to 9,200 BTU on 240V | Hardwired only | $1,358.99 | ★★★★☆ |
1. Revillusion 24” — Best Realism
Dimplex Revillusion 24" Built-in Electric Firebox
- Dimplex's realism-focused flame patent, distinct from the IgniteXL's layered flame, built specifically to hold up when someone's standing right in front of the opening rather than viewed from across a room.
- $1,499.99 for the smallest 24" size, matching this site's existing verified Revillusion figure used across our Dimplex coverage — larger sizes up to 42" exist for wider firebox openings.
- Runs the same 1,500W-class heater as the rest of this site's plug-in canon, with no inflated sq ft claim attached to it, unlike the two models below.
Skip the long shipping wait and be cozy sooner — try Amazon Prime free for 30 days and get your electric fireplace delivered in two days.
If realism is the reason you’re buying a Dimplex in the first place, the Revillusion is the direct insert answer — the same conclusion our best Dimplex electric fireplace roundup reaches for anyone retrofitting an existing firebox instead of building a new wall feature.
2. Multi-Fire XHD 33” (Nova) — Best Claimed Coverage
Dimplex Multi-Fire XHD 33" Electric Firebox
- $1,474.99, down from a $1,622.49 list price, per Royal Fire Pits' current listing (also sold as the "Nova" line on Dimplex's own site) — a plug-in unit that works with any standard household outlet, no hardwiring required.
- Runs a 1,465W/5,118 BTU heater that Dimplex's own spec, per Royal Fire Pits, rates for up to 1,000 sq ft — more than double the ~400 sq ft this site's sizing canon uses for the Revillusion and IgniteXL on similar or higher wattage.
- Same within-brand pattern flagged in our Dimplex roundup for the Sierra and Multi-Fire Slim: a plug-in unit on essentially the same wattage as the flagship line, marketed for over twice the coverage. Treat the 1,000 sq ft figure as a ceiling, not a guarantee, and size to the room.
The Multi-Fire XHD costs almost exactly the same as the Revillusion, so the real choice between the two comes down to priorities: pay the same money for closer-to-real flame detail, or for a fireplace Dimplex markets as covering a bigger room on the same style of plug-in heater.
3. BF Deluxe 39” — Best Real Heat Output
Dimplex BF Deluxe 39" Built-in Electric Firebox
- $1,358.99, down from a $1,963.09 list price, per Electric Fireplaces Depot — the least expensive of the three models here, but hardwired-only, unlike the plug-in Revillusion and Multi-Fire XHD.
- Built for a dedicated circuit wired directly into the wall for a clean, custom installation — not a DIY plug-and-play retrofit, so budget for an electrician alongside the unit price.
- The one model on this list that can genuinely exceed the Multi-Fire XHD's claimed coverage rather than just claiming it: an optional 240V supply pushes output to up to 9,200 BTU, versus the XHD's 5,118 BTU on a standard 120V plug.
The BF Deluxe is the pick when a room genuinely needs more heat than a 1,500W plug-in unit can deliver, and you’re already planning to bring in an electrician for the install — the same tradeoff SimpliFire’s dual-voltage Scion makes in our best SimpliFire electric fireplace guide, on a different Dimplex model.
Plug-in claims vs. real hardwire heat
The Multi-Fire XHD’s “up to 1,000 sq ft” claim and the BF Deluxe’s 9,200 BTU aren’t the same kind of number. The XHD is rated on the same 120V/15A circuit as every other plug-in unit on this site — its sq ft claim is a marketing figure on stock wattage. The BF Deluxe’s higher BTU figure only applies once you’ve paid for a 240V circuit, a real electrical upgrade that unlocks more than double the heating element’s rated output. If whole-room heat is the actual goal rather than a supplemental glow, the hardwire route is the one backed by more watts, not just a bigger number on the spec sheet.
The bottom line
For the closest thing to a real fire in an existing firebox opening, the Revillusion 24” is still Dimplex’s strongest insert. If coverage claims matter more than flame detail at roughly the same price, the Multi-Fire XHD 33” is the alternative — just don’t take its 1,000 sq ft figure at face value. And if a room actually needs more heat, the BF Deluxe 39” is the only one of the three backed by real extra wattage, provided you’re willing to hardwire it.