Estimate gas, wood-burning, electric, or pellet stove install. Pick model, vent length, chase, surround, and mantel. 2026 data; not a contractor bid.
| Item | Quantity | Estimated range |
|---|
Got a contractor quote? Compare it to the planning range.
What this is: a planning-range fireplace calculator informed by Heatilator / Heat & Glo / Empire / Lopi manufacturer pricing, HomeGuide, HomeAdvisor, Homewyse, and licensed cost-estimating references.
Labor is modeled from per-unit installed rates with a crew-rate sanity check ($80-$160/crew-hr loaded billing rate), informed by BLS OEWS 47-2031 (Carpenters) and 47-2152 (Plumbers / Pipefitters).
Last updated: May 2026. Full methodology →
| Type | Range | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Electric plug-in (mantel-mount) | $700-$3,000 | Same day DIY |
| Gas insert (existing masonry) | $3,500-$8,500 | 1-2 days |
| Gas zero-clearance new install | $6,000-$14,000 | 3-5 days |
| Wood-burning insert (EPA) | $4,000-$9,000 | 1-2 days |
| Wood-burning zero-clearance new | $5,500-$12,000 | 3-5 days |
| Pellet stove (free-standing) | $3,000-$6,500 | 1-2 days |
| Type | Installed | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Electric | $700 – $3,000 | Ambiance + supplemental heat, no venting, DIY |
| Gas insert | $3,500 – $8,500 | Convenience in an existing masonry fireplace |
| Gas zero-clearance | $6,000 – $14,000 | A new fireplace where none exists |
| Wood insert (EPA) | $4,000 – $9,000 | Real fire + efficiency in existing masonry |
| Pellet stove | $3,000 – $6,500 | Efficient zone heating from a hopper |
Electric is plug-in ambiance with no real heat output to speak of; gas is the convenience standard; wood is the real-fire option but needs a Class-A chimney and EPA-certified unit; pellet is the most efficient but needs electricity and pellet storage.
The single biggest cost split is whether you already have a fireplace. An insert ($3,500–$8,500) slides a sealed unit into an existing masonry firebox — relatively quick. A zero-clearance new install ($5,500–$14,000) builds a fireplace where there wasn't one: framing a chase ($1,470–$2,500), running new venting, and finishing the surround. If you're adding a fireplace to a room that never had one, you're in zero-clearance territory, not insert pricing.
The appliance is only part of the bill. Budget for: a gas line run ($705–$1,200 plus $23–$40 per foot), venting (direct-vent $17–$30 per foot, Class-A wood chimney $47–$80 per foot), the surround and mantel (stone or tile $47–$80 per sq ft, a mantel shelf $882–$1,500), electrical for the blower and ignition ($294–$500), and tearing out an old fireplace if you're replacing one ($1,176–$2,000). These extras are why two "gas fireplace" quotes can differ by thousands.
Gas insert (existing masonry): $3,500-$8,500. Gas zero-clearance new install with chase + surround: $6,000-$14,000. Wood-burning insert (EPA-certified): $4,000-$9,000. Electric plug-in: $700-$3,000. Pellet stove install: $3,000-$6,500. Add gas-line run $400-$1,500.
Electric ($700-$3k) = cheapest, easiest, no vent, but visual-only heat. Gas ($3.5k-$14k) = clean, instant on/off, requires vent + gas line + permit. Wood ($4k-$10k) = traditional ambiance + real heat, EPA-certified models only by 2026 code, need annual chimney sweep + Class-A liner.
Yes. New wood-burning fireplaces must be EPA-certified (2.0 g/hr particulate). Gas units must be direct-vent (sealed combustion). Permit and inspection are required in nearly every jurisdiction. Carbon monoxide alarms within 10 ft of the bedroom are mandatory.
Wood = EPA-certified. Gas = direct-vent. Permit + inspection in nearly every jurisdiction. CO alarms within 10 ft of bedrooms.
Gas direct-vent and modern wood inserts add the most resale appeal. Electric and pellet stoves are room features, not whole-house value-adds.
Electric plug-in only. Gas and wood are pro work for code, safety, and warranty.
An electric unit runs $700-$3,000, a gas insert $3,500-$8,500, a gas zero-clearance new install $6,000-$14,000, a wood-burning insert $4,000-$9,000, and a pellet stove $3,000-$6,500 - before gas line, venting, and surround.
They overlap: a gas insert is $3,500-$8,500 and a wood-burning insert $4,000-$9,000. Wood needs a Class-A chimney and an EPA-certified unit; gas needs a gas line and direct venting. Gas wins on convenience, wood on real-fire feel.
Yes - a zero-clearance unit ($5,500-$14,000) builds a fireplace in a room that never had one, which means framing a chase, running venting, and finishing a surround. That is why it costs more than an insert into existing masonry.
