Hearths are an integral part of many types of fireplaces, and help to keep both you and your house safe from having a fire in your home.

I have two fireplaces in my home: one in my living room and one in my kitchen. The same chimney serves both fireplaces, but each fireplace has different sized hearths that are made from different materials.

Wondering why my hearths were so different in size and material, I’ve done a ton of research into fireplace hearths over the years.

I’ve therefore put this article together explaining everything you need to know about fireplace hearths, including their purpose, what size they need to be, and what the best materials are for use in a hearth.