How Much Does A Wood Burning Stove Installation Cost?

Wood Stove Installation Cost

A wood stove installation costs $1,200 to $4,500 on average, or between $2,300 to $7,000 if a chimney is installed. Labor alone to install a wood burning stove costs $250 to $800 and includes stove fitting, construction of a chimney, stove pipe, and ventilation system, hearth pad, and wall coverings.

• A wood-burning stove warms a home quickly and cheaper than oil, propane, or electricity
• Installing a wood stove can increase home sale value by $1,000 to $5,000
• Not all types require electricity and can provide heat continuously
• Adds a cozy ambiance to a room

Table of Contents

1. Wood Stove Installation Cost
   • Wood Stove and Chimney Install
   • Install Into Existing Fireplace
   • Basement, Conservatory, Mobile Home
2. Wood Stove Cost
   • Freestanding
   • Insert
   • Multifuel
3. Wood vs. Pellet Stoves Cost
4. Additional Wood Stove Cost Factors
   • Safety & Regulations
   • Energy Savings
   • Tax Rebates
5. Frequently Asked Questions
   • Lifespan
   • Cost of Logs
   • Who Installs?
   • Increases Home Value?
6. Hiring A Wood Stove Installer
7. Fireplace Installers

Cost Factors To Install Wood Burning Stove

According to the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association, the average wood stove installation costs $3,000 to $4,000, including the stovepipe, ventilation system, and labor. Costs depend on if an existing chimney is used, the height of the house, and the type of stove pipe and hearth installed.

Wood Stove and Chimney Installation Cost

The average cost of installing a wood stove and chimney is $2,300 to $7,000, which includes the stove, stovepipe, hearth pad, wall protection, and Class A chimney.

Cost To Install Chimney For Wood Stove

The average cost to install a chimney for a wood stove is $1,500 to $3,500 depending on the location and design. A Class A chimney pipe is installed through a wall, cathedral ceiling, or attic. Constructing a chimney inside the home instead of along an exterior wall helps it function properly.

A chimney is also known as a twin-wall flue system, a double-wall chimney pipe, a triple-wall chimney pipe, or an insulated chimney pipe.

Cost of Wood Stove Pipe

A wood stove pipe costs $100 to $550 on average, depending on the length and design. Costs are higher for cathedral ceiling installations since more stovepipe is required. A stovepipe is the internal ventilation pipe that connects the stove to a nearby chimney.

Pellet Stove Venting Cost

A pellet stove venting assembly costs $300 to $1,000 installed. A pellet stove venting pipe does not need to transition to chimney pipe and can be used to the termination point outside the structure. An exhaust fan pushes air out through the vent pipe. Pellet stoves can be vented horizontally through a wall or vertically through a roof.

Installing a Wood Stove into an Existing Fireplace

The cost of installing a wood stove in an existing home’s fireplace is $900 to $3,100, including labor and materials. The price depends on the type of stove or insert, height of the house, type of chimney liner, and whether an existing hearth is used.

• Freestanding Stove – Installed directly in front of an open fireplace on the existing hearth. The hearth pad will likely need to be extended. The chimney needs to be retrofitted with a stainless steel chimney liner.
• Fireplace Insert – Installed directly into an existing open fireplace. Inserts use blowers to circulate the air, which requires electricity. A stainless steel chimney liner must be installed in the existing chimney for a wood-burning insert. Pellet inserts can be vented through the chimney using a vent pipe.

Cost of Converting Gas Fireplace To Wood Burning Stove

The average cost to convert a gas fireplace to a wood-burning stove is $100 to $300. Converting is not possible with a ventless fireplace. Extra prices to convert include replacing the stainless steel liner, parts, masonry repair, and chimney construction or replacement.

Converting an existing masonry fireplace to a wood insert makes it 60% to 80% more efficient, and 90% more efficient for a pellet insert. It generates the same heat as a fireplace with one-third of the fuel and sufficient enough to heat an entire home.

Lining Chimney For Wood Burning Stove Cost

Chimney liner installation costs $900 to $3,800 for stainless steel, while high-end materials cost up to $7,000 to install. A flexible or rigid chimney liner matches the chimney down to the same size as the flue collar on the stove.

Install Wood Stove In Basement Cost

The average cost to install a wood stove in a basement is $5,000 to $9,500 depending on if there's an existing chimney. Expect to spend between $5,000 and $6,500 with an existing chimney, while building a new chimney from the basement up adds $2,000 to $3,000.

Cost To Install Wood-Burning Stove In Conservatory

Installing a wood-burning stove in a conservatory costs $1,500 to $5,000 on average and includes a Class A chimney. Installing a pellet stove instead is more cost effective because it can be vented through an exterior wall using a stovepipe.

Wood Stove Installation Cost For Mobile Home

Installing a wood-burning stove in a mobile or manufactured home costs $1,300 to $3,100 on average. Wood stoves installed in a manufactured home must have rear heat shields and be top vented, with a hard ducting system for bringing in fresh combustion air.

Brands such as Unforgettable Fires make a portable, steel, non-catalytic, gasifier wood stove designed for small spaces such as boats, RVs, or cabins.

Outdoor Wood Boiler Cost

The average outdoor wood boiler costs $7,000 to $16,000 to install based on the size and model. Outdoor wood furnaces can dramatically reduce heating costs, and large systems can supply hot water to your home, garage, pool, or spa.

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Wood Stove Cost

The average cost of a wood-burning stove is $400 to $4,400, depending on the size, material, and fuel type. The cheapest are small, non-catalytic stainless steel stoves designed to heat small areas, while the most expensive are cast-iron catalytic stoves that efficiently heat large areas.

*Living areas need to be open to get this coverage.

Choose from a freestanding stove, catalytic, non-catalytic, or hybrid, fireplace insert, pellet stove, or multifuel.

Catalytic vs. Non-Catalytic Wood Stoves

A hybrid stove combines a catalytic combustor with a secondary combustion chamber to achieve a cleaner burn throughout the burn range.

Standalone / Freestanding Wood Stove

The average cost of a freestanding wood stove is $1,600 to $3,500, depending on the material and combustion type. Freestanding wood stoves have a larger surface area with all sides exposed, which radiates heat more efficiently than fireplace inserts. A blower to circulate air is optional.

• There is no difference in heating performance between stainless steel and cast iron. However, cast iron gaskets eventually wear out.
• Soapstone stoves use thermal mass heat storage to absorb and slowly release heat for several hours after the fire is extinguished.

Wood Stove Insert Cost

An average wood stove insert costs $1,200 to $3,400 to install with a chimney liner or vent pipe, depending on the square footage you need to heat. Inserts fit inside your existing fireplace and heat 1,000 to 3,000 square feet depending on their size.

The enclosed design of a wood stove insert increases the efficiency and allows wood to burn for 3 to 5 hours before you need to add more. Most wood-burning inserts use a fan to circulate the air around the firebox to increase efficiency.

Wood stove inserts are typically not compatible with prefabricated metal fireplaces unless it's the same brand that uses the same chimney components.

Multifuel Stoves

Multi-fuel stoves cost between $1,900 to $4,300 to install and can burn various types of fuel. Some burn fire logs, firewood, smokeless coal, biomass fuels, processed silage pellets, wood pellets, and even corn. Multifuel stove installation requires an exhaust pipe designed for biomass.

Wood Stove Prices By Brand

The brand of wood stove also influences the overall cost. Although, the price of installation remains the same for each.

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Wood vs. Pellet Stoves Cost

Wood stoves cost $2,000 to $4,000 to install, while pellet stoves run $1,500 to $3,000 on average. Pellet stoves cost less to to install and can be direct-vented without an expensive chimney or flue. However, pellet stoves cost $20 more per month to fuel over the heating season.

• Some pellet stoves require premium-grade pellet fuel and may perform poorly if a standard grade is used. Pellets are made of compressed sawdust or wood chips.
• Logs for wood stoves are sold by the cord, while pellet fuel is sold in bulk by the ton or in 40-pound bags, usually by the pallet.
• On average, 1 ton of pellets = 1.5 cords of wood.

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Additional Wood Stove Cost Factors

Wood or pellet stoves must be properly installed and maintained to operate safely and be approved for insurance. All newly installed wood-burning stoves must meet federal EPA certification standards. It's illegal in most states to sell a home with a non-certified wood stove.

Fireplace Hearth Cost

The average hearth installation costs $200 to $500 depending on the material. A stove board or hearth is required and sits under the stove and stovepipe and acts as a noncombustible base. Hearth pads are made of concrete underlayment board with tile, brick, marble, limestone, granite, or slate on top.

The pad must extend a minimum of eight inches around all sides, 18 inches in front of loading doors and under any horizontal run of the stovepipe from the stove to the chimney. An average hearth pad size is 3’ x 3’.

Building A Brick or Masonry Fireplace

Building a masonry hearth, chimney breast, and chimney costs $3,500 to $5,600 to showcase a fireplace insert. Installing a prefabricated brick fireplace costs $2,000 to $3,000, while an authentic mason-built brick fireplace runs $10,000 and up.

Wood Stove and Chimney Cleaning Costs

A chimney cleaning costs $150 to $250 on average and comes with a level-1 inspection. According to The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), a chimney must be swept at least once a year. The best time to have a chimney cleaned is in spring, after the heating season.

Stove Size & Heat Output

Based on your local climate, choose a stove that emits the right number of BTUs per square foot of the room or area. If the stove is too small, you may be tempted to over-fire it, causing damage to the stove. Too large, and constant under-firing will reduce its efficiency and promote more rapid creosote buildup.

The best indicator of heat output of a wood-burning stove is the size of the firebox. For pellet stoves, the best indicator of heat output is the feed rate, or the number of pounds per hour the auger can deliver to the firebox.

Wood Stove Installation Regulations

First, check the EPA’s regulations for wood-burning appliances to see if your city allows the installation of wood-burning stoves.

Installation

• Permits cost $50 to $250 and are typically required. Licensed contractors will get the permits for you.
• If there is no nearby outlet, another outlet will need to be installed and wired for it. Hiring an electrician costs $120 to $150 to install an outlet.
• Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are required before installation and cost $30 to $100 on average.
• Pellet stoves require much less clearance for installation than wood-burning stoves.

Chimney Requirements

The chimney must extend at least three feet above the roof’s surface, two feet above anything within 10 feet of it, and 3 feet above the roof peak. A roof bracket is required for stability if the chimney extends more than five feet above the roof.

A Class A termination cap, or chimney cap, must be installed above the minimum height extension to prevent birds from entering. There should be no more than two elbows in the chimney pipe, as they inhibit drafts, and an interior install is preferred to an exterior wall install, as exterior chimneys produce more creosote.

Stove Pipe

The stovepipe is also called interior flue or black pipe and can be 22- or 24-gauge, single-wall or double-wall (used for close clearances). Note that no stovepipe can pass through walls, ceilings, floors, or windows.

If construction requires more than eight feet of stove pipe (such as with a vaulted or cathedral ceiling), it is recommended to use a double-wall stovepipe, which provides insulation and keeps the combustion gasses hot enough to vent up by the natural draft.

Wood Stove Ventilation

All wood-burning stoves require combustion air—natural draft, mechanical draft, or direct-vent sealed combustion. You may need to install outside combustion air intake for a wood-burning or pellet stove to meet local building code requirements.

Proper ventilation is typically a duct that runs from a four-inch hole in an outer wall directly to the firebox or a location near the stove. For pellet stove venting, it is possible to use a special wall thimble kit that includes an air intake opening alongside the exhaust vent.

Wall Protection

The average cost for wall protection range from $66 to $500 depending on the materials chosen—stone veneer, brick, or stove board. This is mandatory for combustible walls or ceilings located closer than 36 inches to the stove and 18 inches to the stovepipe (internal flue).

• A metal heat shield attached at the back of the stove can reduce the clearance from 36 inches to 12 to 18 inches, depending on the type of stove. These typically cost from $130 to $200.
• The average cost for masonry wall protection is $26.48 per square foot, including materials and labor.

Insurance Premiums

Some insurance companies increase the cost of your premium by 2% if you install a wood stove. You must notify your carrier and provide proof that it was installed by an NFPA-certified professional. The stove must be UL-approved, and you must have smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in the home.

Wood Stove Removal Cost

The cost to remove a wood stove is $0 to $250, not including any home repairs. Some recycling programs will remove an old wood stove from your home at no cost. Some states have ruled that non-certified old wood stoves must be destroyed.

Wood Stove Safety Tips

Wood stoves can be made safe as long as the tips below are followed.

• Keep all combustible materials clear from the stove and flue pipe.
• Burn only dry, well-seasoned wood. Wood that is not correctly seasoned will produce too much smoke exhaust.
• Dispose of hot ashes outside the building in a closed metal container.
• Make sure carbon monoxide detectors are installed and test them frequently to ensure they are working.
• Consider opening a window for extra ventilation.
• Never start a stove fire with flammable fluids such as gasoline or fire starter used for grills.
• Never burn garbage or other non-wood materials in a wood or pellet stove.
• Never allow a wood fire to burn unattended.
• Supervise children around a wood stove, and teach them never to touch the sides or doors. Consider putting up a physical barrier or safety screen (included with all wood stoves).
• Install a switch lock to prevent children from turning the appliance on.
• If your wood or pellet stove has a remote control, keep it out of reach of children.
• Have the stove and chimney inspected by a chimney professional before every heating season.

Energy Savings

The cost of running a wood-burning stove is offset by the energy savings. Using a wood stove for zone heating allows you to heat the most-used rooms in the house more than rooms that are not in use. Zone heating typically saves 10 to 40 percent on annual heating costs.

Tax Credits and Rebates

The federal government offers a Residential Energy Credit of $300 for the cost and insulation of a biomass (pellet) stove that's at least 75% efficient. While nearly all wood and pellet stoves claim 75%+ efficiency to qualify, many are actually less than 75% efficient.

Many states offer rebates for replacing an old wood stove with an EPA-certified wood stove, up to $5,000.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Lifespan of a Wood-Burning Stove?

The average lifespan of a wood-burning stove is 10 to 20 years, depending on proper operation, maintenance, and quality of the stove. While the cheapest stoves may last only two to three heating seasons, high-quality wood stoves can last a lifetime.

Are Wood Burning or Pellet Stoves Cost Effective?

Both pellet and wood burning stoves are cost effective and provide more heat per dollar than oil, gas, or electricity. High-efficiency wood-burning stoves cost more to install than pellet fuel appliances. However, running a pellet stove costs about $150 more per heating season.

New EPA-certified wood stoves are about one-third more efficient than old wood stoves as well as central wood-burning furnaces and boilers, which compensates for the higher cost within about two heating seasons.

Who Installs Wood Stoves?

Fireplace and chimney professionals install wood burning stoves. The best wood-burning stove installation contractors are often chimney sweeps. For wood stove installation, make sure you hire a National Fireplace Institute (NFI) or Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) certified professional.

What’s the Cost of Logs for a Wood-Burning Stove?

Cordwood or logs for a wood-burning stove cost $175 to $580 per cord on average. Most homeowners spend $700 to $2,300 per heating season on cordwood for a wood stove.

How Much Does a Bag of Wood Pellets Cost?

A 40-pound bag of wood pellets costs $4 to $8, depending on the quality. Choose premium-grade pellets for top-fed pellet stoves or standard-grade pellets for bottom-fed stoves. Wood pellets with no binding agents or fillers cost up to $52 per bag and are used for grills and smokers.

Does a Wood-Burning Stove Increase Home Value?

On average, a high-efficiency wood-burning stove increases a home's value by $1,000 to $5,000. Sixty percent of homeowners look for a fireplace or wood stove when purchasing a home.

How Much Is A Used Wood Stove Worth?

A used wood stove is worth $300 to $1,000 depending on its condition, size, age, and material.

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Hiring A Wood Stove Installer

Installing a wood stove must be done by a professional certified by the National Fireplace Institute (NFI) or the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) to meet applicable regulations and to qualify for coverage by homeowner insurance companies.

A chimney professional can advise you on the appropriate wood stove size for your home, and the safest and most efficient chimney design. Improper chimney design or construction can result in poor operation of the stove, damage to the stove, and fires.

However, much of the cost to install a wood-burning stove is in the chimney installation. If you have an existing masonry chimney, you may be able to safely install a correctly sized, flexible chimney liner yourself to attach to a freestanding wood stove. Start by getting free estimates, then compare your options.

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