In short
A bioethanol stove is a freestanding fireplace that burns bioethanol without a chimney: unpack, fill, light. The five Planika models below cover every use case from a 2.5 kW table fire to a 4.1 kW room heater. Arcticon is the pick for heating a living room (3.5 kW, 20 hours per tank), Vertis for the strongest heat in a slim body (4.1 kW), Bubble for design-first rooms, Lotus and Chantico for indoor-outdoor use. All automatic BEV models have sensors and app control; the two portable models are manual.
Key takeaways
- Best for heating a living room: Arcticon, 3.5 kW and up to 20 hours per 5 litre tank.
- Most heat in the smallest footprint: Vertis, 4.1 kW from a 1.3 litre tank.
- Best design piece: Bubble, a 2.5 kW fire visible from every side.
- Indoors and outdoors: Lotus and Chantico Glassfire, 2.5 kW, no power needed, under 5 kg.
"Bioethanol stove" is what British buyers call a freestanding bioethanol fireplace; Germans say Ethanol-Ofen, the French poêle bioéthanol. Whatever the name, the product is the same: a fireplace you place in the room, fill with fuel and light, with no chimney, no flue and no installation. This ranking compares the five freestanding models we make on the numbers that decide whether you will be happy with one: heat, burn time, tank size, automation and weight. We are the manufacturer, so the criteria come first and you can check every figure on the product page.
How we ranked them
- Heat output (kW): what you feel in the room. 2.5 kW is a mood fire that warms the sofa zone, 3.5 to 4 kW noticeably heats a 25 to 35 m² room. Read how the numbers translate to square metres in our heat guide.
- Burn time per filling: how often you refuel on a long evening.
- Automation and safety: BEV (Burning Ethanol Vapours) models light electronically, have a fuel pump, child lock and sensors for temperature, fuel level and tilt. Manual models rely on the user for safe refuelling.
- Where it can stand: indoor only or indoor and outdoor; required room volume.
- Weight and footprint: whether one person can move it and where it fits.
Comparison table
| Model | Heat output | Burn time | Tank | Automation | Use | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arcticon | 3.5 kW | up to 20 h | 5 L | BEV, automatic | indoor | 36.5 kg |
| Vertis | 4.1 kW | up to 4 h | 1.3 L | BEV, automatic | indoor | slim column |
| Bubble | 2.5 kW | 4.5 h | 1.3 L | BEV, automatic | indoor | 24.1 kg |
| Lotus | 2.5 kW | up to 3.5 h | 1.5 L | manual, no power needed | indoor and outdoor | 4.5 kg |
| Chantico Glassfire | 2.5 kW | up to 3.5 h | 1.5 L | manual, no power needed | indoor and outdoor | 4.2 kg |
1. Arcticon: best bioethanol stove for heating a living room
Arcticon is a 126 cm high column with the fire visible from three sides and the largest tank in the range: 5 litres, enough for up to 20 hours of flame, so you refuel every few evenings, not every evening. With 3.5 kW it is a real supplementary heater for rooms from 35 m³ (about 15 m² and up); in a 25 to 30 m² living room you feel it within half an hour. It is a BEV device: electronic ignition, two flame stages, refuelling only when cold, sensors that shut it down if it tilts or overheats, child lock. At 36.5 kg it stays where you put it. Black or white. Choose it if you want one fireplace that does heat, atmosphere and safety without compromise.
2. Vertis: most heat per square centimetre
Vertis is the slim one: a vertical fireplace with the highest heat output of the five, 4.1 kW, from a 1.3 litre tank that lasts up to 4 hours at full flame. It needs a minimum room volume of 41 m³ (roughly 17 m² and up) precisely because it heats so well. Same BEV automation as Arcticon, two flame stages, 230 V for the electronics. Choose it for a narrow spot where a wide stove would not fit and you still want warmth.
3. Bubble: the design piece with real fire
Bubble is a round, 65 cm wide fireplace that sits on the floor or hangs on the wall, with the flame framed by toughened glass. 2.5 kW is enough to warm the seating area and the shape makes it the focal point of a room. BEV automatic with a 1.3 litre tank and 4.5 hours of burn time, 24.1 kg. Choose it when the fireplace is part of the interior design and heat is a bonus.
4. Lotus: portable fire for inside and outside
Lotus weighs 4.5 kg, needs no power socket and burns up to 3.5 hours on 1.5 litres: a fireplace you carry from the living room to the terrace. It is a manual burner, so you light it with a long lighter and let it cool before refilling. 2.5 kW is pleasant warmth at the table, not room heating. Choose it for flexibility and for homes where a fixed fireplace is not an option.
5. Chantico Glassfire: the flame in a glass cylinder
Chantico Glassfire puts the same 2.5 kW manual burner inside a glass cylinder, which protects the flame from drafts on a balcony or terrace and keeps curious hands at a distance. 4.2 kg, 1.5 litres, up to 3.5 hours. Owners rate it 5 stars for exactly this: simple, safe, atmospheric. Choose it as the outdoor-capable table fire.
Which bioethanol stove for which situation
| Situation | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Living room 25 to 35 m², you want warmth | Arcticon | 3.5 kW, 20 h per tank, automatic |
| Narrow spot, maximum heat | Vertis | 4.1 kW in a slim column |
| Design-led interior | Bubble | round frame, wall or floor |
| Rented flat, balcony, moving house | Lotus or Chantico | portable, no power |
| Children or pets at home | any BEV model | child lock, sensors, refuelling only when cold |
Running cost and fuel
All five burn fireplace-grade bioethanol. Use Fanola, the fuel the burners are calibrated for: one litre burns 3 to 5 hours depending on flame setting, so an evening costs a few euros. Details in the fuel guide. None of the models needs a chimney, a permit or a service contract.
FAQ
What is the difference between a bioethanol stove and a bioethanol fireplace?
Only the word. A stove is a freestanding fireplace that stands on the floor; built-in burners go into walls and furniture. See all freestanding models in the freestanding collection.
Can a bioethanol stove replace central heating?
No. It is a supplementary heater of 2.5 to 4 kW for the room it stands in.
Is a 5 kW bioethanol stove available?
Freestanding models top out around 4 kW; 5 kW and more comes from built-in BEV burners planned with our project department.
Do I need ventilation?
A bioethanol fire uses oxygen like a gas hob: normal room ventilation is enough, open a window for a minute every hour or two on long evenings. Each model lists its minimum room volume.
Ranking prepared by the Planika Team in October 2026 from the technical specifications of the current range; figures are also shown in the Key facts block on each product page. Planika designs and manufactures these fireplaces in Bydgoszcz, Poland since 2001.
