Making sure you have the correct measurements is a vital process when purchasing a new fireplace grate. We will go through the process to get the correct measurements for a new fireplace grate.

You will need a few things to help you:

Tape measure for the correct measurements, paper to write down those measurements, and a pen or pencil to write on, and depending on the light levels in your room, a flashlight can help. We also recommend that you wear some clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty, because chances are high that you will get dirty and sometimes it is difficult to remove soot from clothes.

Step 1: measure the width:

Measure the width of your fireplace opening at the back of your fireplace and record this measurement. Make sure you go back as far as possible to get the most accurate dimensions, this is where the flashlight can come in handy.

Measure the width of your fireplace opening at the front of your fireplace and record this measurement.

Now that you have both the width of the back and the width of the front, subtract 6 inches from each dimension. If, for example, your front width is 42 inches, then you would subtract 6 inches, giving you a final width of 36 inches. If the rear width is 38 3/4, I would round to the next whole number and then subtract 6 inches for the final 32 inches.

You will need the back width to make sure you are buying the correct rack size as they can be found in various backrest widths. Some chimneys have a radical cone and some chimneys have no cone.

NOTE: The most common mistake when ordering a fireplace grate is looking only at the front width and ignoring the rear width on a tapered fireplace. This usually ends in a costly return after you pay for shipping. Make sure to confirm all measurements before ordering.

Keep in mind that fireplace grates are classified by their front width, you may need to search several sizes before finding one that will fit your fireplace.

Step 2: measure the depth:

Measure the depth of your fireplace from the fireplace door, or from the beginning of the fireplace opening, and record this measurement.

Now that you have your depth dimension, subtract 6 inches from this measurement.

Ideally, you want to have approximately 3 “on all sides of the louver to ensure proper feature and airflow.

Step 3 – Find your grid:

With these dimensions, you now have a guide to get started looking for a new fireplace grate! We hope this short article has been valuable to you.