How Much Does It Cost to Fit a Wood Burner? Our 2026 Guide to Wood Burner Installation Costs

Fast Facts

• It costs around £4,300 to fit a wood burner, covering both the stove and the labour
• A good-quality stove on its own is usually about £1,500
• Fitting is roughly £2,800, and a new flue or chimney adds around £2,550 on top

Wood-burning stoves heat your home in a greener way, and they look lovely doing it. The catch is that the price you see on a stove is rarely the price you pay in total.

We fit these every week across the island, so we know where the money actually goes. Here is a plain breakdown of what it costs to fit a wood burner, plus answers to the questions our customers ask most.

How much does it cost to fit a wood burner?

Expect around £4,300 all in. That covers the stove and the labour to fit it. Prices swing a lot though, because a simple swap into a working chimney is a very different job from starting with a bare wall. High-end stoves alone can reach £15,000.

Wood-burner Costs at a Glance

• Wood burning stove, fitted: £2,500 to £15,000, average £4,300
• Wood burning stove, stove only: £500 to £2,500, average £1,500
• Ceiling hung wood burner, supply only: around £5,500
• Ceiling hung wood burner, fitting only: around £5,000
• Fireplace surround: £230 to £3,460, average £1,845
• Chimney flue: around £2,000

NB: all prices include VAT and are ballpark averages.

That said, these costs can vary widely depending on lots of different factors. With that in mind, let’s delve a little further into the two main elements that make up your total cost: the cost of the wood burner itself and the price of installing it in your home.

How much does a wood burner cost?

The average cost for a high-quality wood burning stove itself is around £1,500. However, the cost of a wood burning stove can vary a lot based on the size and style you choose. You can pick up a smaller model for under £500. Meanwhile, larger, more contemporary designs could cost you anything from £2,000 upwards.

How much does wood burner installation cost?

The average cost to fit a wood burner is £2,800 for the labour side. What pushes that up is groundwork rather than the stove itself. Your bill climbs if:

• You need to form a new fireplace and hearth
• Your chimney needs to be lined
• You don’t currently have a chimney

How much does fireplace installation cost?

A fireplace is a brilliant surround for any wood burning stove and is heat-proof for safety. Meanwhile, your wood burning stove will need to be placed on a non-combustible hearth with at least 100 mm of clearance to the side and 225 mm in front. Even if you currently have a fireplace and hearth, they may not be big enough to accommodate your wood burning stove while also allowing enough room around the stove itself. If your installation involves forming a new fireplace and hearth, you’re looking at an additional £500 – £2,000 on top of your original installation cost.

How much does a chimney flue installation cost?

When installing a new wood burning stove, you should replace an old chimney flue (if it exists) to ensure the condition of the flue is known. On average, you’re looking at around £1,250 to install a new flue liner into an existing chimney. On the other hand, you may not currently have a chimney at all, especially if you live in a new build. In this case, you’ll usually need to install a suitable flue pipe system for your wood burning stove. This could cost you an extra £2,550.

Factors affecting the cost of wood burner installation

We’ve already touched upon some of the main factors that can affect the cost of installing a wood burner. But here’s the full lowdown to help you understand exactly what you’re dealing with.

Type of wood burner

There are a few different types of wood burners to choose from. The main ones are:

• Pellet fed wood burning stoves (also known as pellet stoves or pellet burners)
• Log wood burning stoves (also known as log burners)
• Multi-fuel stoves
• Range cookers

Stoves that are wood burning only can only burn wood pellets or logs that have an appropriate moisture content. On the other hand, multi-fuel wood burners can burn both wood and other fuels, like smokeless coal. These types tend to cost a similar amount. Alternatively, you can expect to pay more for a range cooker, as they’re designed for both heating and cooking. They can be either wood burning or multi-fuel.

Size/wattage of the stove

The bigger the room where you’re installing your wood burner, the bigger your stove will need to be. And, as you can imagine, larger stoves cost more. If you have a small room, you may only need a 3 – 4 kw stove. But if your room is much larger, you may need a 5-6 kw stove or more. These have a significant price difference.

Stove design

Wood burning stoves come in all shapes, sizes and materials. The most common materials used are iron and steel. Meanwhile, you can purchase stoves with different designs which will increase the visual beauty of the burner, as well as its cost. Choosing the right stove for your needs will depend on your taste, the style of your home and, of course, your budget.

Chimney or flue

You’ll need a chimney or flue to channel the emissions from your wood burner to the outside. As we’ve already covered, your costs will vary hugely depending on whether you can use an existing flue or chimney. If you don’t have a chimney, you’ll need to invest in a suitable flue system, which will add around £2,550 to your installation cost.

Hearth

You’ll need a hearth to protect your floor. If you can use an existing hearth, you’ll be able to reduce your costs. On the other hand, if you need to install a new hearth, your costs will vary depending on what material you choose. Some common materials include:

• Slate
• Glass
• Tiles
• Stone

Hearth costs can range from around £150 – £400 for just the materials.

Fireplace surround

A fireplace surround can add a lovely finishing touch to your log burner, and give it that sense of grandeur it deserves. The cost of installing a fireplace surround will vary depending on the design and material you choose. Surrounds can range from intricate Victorian pieces to modern and contemporary designs. Popular materials include:

• Marble
• Timber
• Limestone
• Sandstone

Costs start at around £700 for a simple timber surround but can climb to more than £3,000 for marble.

Beam

Many homeowners choose to install a beam above their wood burner. Not only does it make a visually appealing feature, but it can also make a great shelf for styling. In this way, a beam can be a cost-effective alternative to a fireplace surround. You can expect to pay anywhere from £700 for the beam itself.

Chamber Linings

Boarding out the inside of your fireplace chamber means budgeting for chamber linings. A standard vermiculite board runs about £50, and most jobs need three. Fireproof boards with a brick or slate effect look far better in an open chamber, but they push the cost per board closer to £80.

Additional wood burner features

Do you want a wood burner that has additional features? For instance, some wood burners can swivel while others are designed to be double-sided. These features can add to your stove’s visual appeal and practicality. But they will come at an extra cost.

Additional wood burner installation costs

As well as your wood burner installation cost, there are some other prices you’ll need to budget for. Here are the main ones.

Stove fan

Stove fans are a great way to boost your wood burner’s performance. They’re typically placed on top of the stove. Then, once it reaches a certain temperature, they work to push warm air around the room. Stove fans typically cost around £50 and are widely available.

Maintenance

Your wood burner should have an annual check, sweep and service by a registered tradesperson to keep it working efficiently and make sure it’s safe. Allow £100 for this.

Repairs

Your wood burner should last for 10 – 20 years. However, like anything, it may need to be repaired from time to time. One of the most common issues is the stove rope cracking or breaking. The average in-store stove rope repair cost is £40.

How much is it to install a wood burner alternative?

There are several alternatives to wood burners – each with its own pros, cons and costs. Here are the main wood burner alternatives.

How much does it cost to install a gas stove?

Gas stoves use mains or bottled gas to provide instant heat and are easy to operate. The average cost to install a gas stove is £1,500 , while the average cost of the stove itself is £750. Unlike wood, however, gas is a fossil fuel and contributes to global warming.

How much does it cost to install an electric stove?

Electric stoves run on electricity but have the look and feel of an open fireplace. You can choose from both portable and wall-mounted options. The average cost of an electric fireplace is £1,050, plus £700 for installation.

How much does it cost to install an open fireplace?

A beautiful feature in any room, open fires offer appealing scents. However, they’re not as efficient as wood burning stoves.  The average cost to build a fireplace and install an entire chimney system is £3,750. However, you could pay a lot less to open up an existing fireplace.

Is it worth installing a wood burner?

Wood burning stoves are a fantastic option if you’re after an efficient, environmentally-friendly way of keeping your home warm that looks great too. Here are the main benefits of a wood burner.

Save on central heating

Wood burning stoves can provide ‘spot’ heating in particular rooms to reduce the burden on your central heating system. This can help you to save money on your energy bills – especially around early autumn and late spring when evening chills might otherwise cause you to turn on your whole heating system.

Clean to use

Compared to open fires, wood burning stoves are easy to live with. They don’t spit coal or wood onto the carpet or emit fumes into the room itself. As well as this, they don’t have an open chimney. An open chimney can be problematic as it can be a major source of air leakage and there is the potential problem of soot build-up that you will need to deal with.

Environmentally friendly

Wood burners run on logs or pellets, which are renewable fuels rather than fossil ones. Burn well-seasoned wood from a sustainable source, and the carbon released is close to what the tree absorbed while growing. Air quality still matters, so a modern Ecodesign stove is the sensible pick, as it produces far less particulate matter than an open fire or an older model.

Create a great focus for a room

Nothing says ‘cosy’ quite like the warm glow of a wood burning stove. There’s also something incredibly pleasing about the simple process of starting a fire, and the resulting warmth it provides. There are so many styles out there to choose from. So, you can make a real statement in your home with either a traditional or contemporary design. 

Easy to control

The ability to control the air intake of wood burning stoves gives you a level of control that you won’t get with an open fire.

Longevity

Wood burners can be expected to last for 10 to 20 years with regular maintenance. All you need to remember is to book an annual check, sweep and service by a registered tradesperson.

Add value to your house

Wood burners are sought-after by many homeowners. So, it makes sense that adding a wood burner to your home could increase your property’s value and saleability. Estate agents often put the uplift at around 5%, though it depends heavily on the property and the area, so treat it as a bonus rather than a reason to buy.

Can I install a wood burner myself?

You can legally install your own wood burning stove. However, unless you have dedicated training and experience, we would advise against it. Stoves made from metal or steel are very heavy and can cause injury from lifting or dropping. Plus, if you don’t install your wood burner correctly, the risks could be huge. Just think of the damage that smoke and fire could do to you, your family and your property! Aside from this, you’ll need to ensure that any stove installation complies with building regulations. A professional will take on any risk and use their wealth of knowledge to make sure the installation and future use of the stove is safe and compliant.

Who should install my log burner?

We would always recommend hiring a registered competent installer to fit your log burner. This will give you peace of mind that the person you’re hiring has the necessary skills, experience and training to complete the job to a high standard. Some of the competent person schemes for installing wood burning stoves are:

• HETAS Registered Installer
• OFTEC

Using a HETAS-registered installer saves you a step. They can self-certify the work to Building Control, so you get your compliance certificate without applying separately. Keep that certificate safe, as buyers and insurers ask for it.

Key takeaways for wood burner installation

• Wood burners look great and heat efficiently, which is why they hold their appeal
• It costs around £4,300 to fit a wood burner, covering supply and installation
• Your chimney situation is the biggest cost swing, followed by the stove’s output
• Fitting one yourself is legal but risky, and Building Control still applies

FAQs

How much does it cost to fit a wood burner UK?

The average cost to get a wood burner fitted in the UK is £2,800. You’ll also need to factor in the cost of the wood burner itself, which will typically be around £1,500.

Can I replace my gas fire with a wood burner?

Yes! Replacing an existing gas fire with a new wood burner is relatively straightforward – it just needs a bit of planning. Firstly, if your gas fire is flueless (no chimney), then you will need to plan for the addition of a flue. If there is a fireplace and an existing flue then you’ll need to check that the flue is big and well-constructed enough to allow the wood burning stove to work correctly. Always make sure that your gas fire is removed safely. You’ll need a Gas Safe registered engineer to carry out this work.

What flue does my wood burning stove need?

All wood burning stoves need a flue, the diameter varies from model to model but is typically from 4 to 6 inches.

Can I have a wood burning stove if my home doesn’t have a chimney?

Yes! If your home doesn’t have a chimney, you can still have a wood burning stove. In this case, you’ll need a specially designed steel flue. This type of flue is effectively a series of stainless steel tubes that will connect your stove to an external vent. The flue can be exposed internally within the void of the ceiling space. Alternatively, you can move it to the outside wall behind the back of the stove.

Do you need a full chimney for a wood burner?

No. You don’t need a full chimney for a wood burner. You don’t need a chimney at all, as you can instead use a special steel flue to connect your stove to an external vent. Even if you have a chimney, it won’t usually be lined if your house was built before the middle of the 20th century. In this case, you’ll usually need to install a stainless-steel flue liner to go with your wood burning stove. These are effectively just long flexible tubes, which are there to reduce leakage, improve draw and to provide a sealed system.

Do wood burners heat the whole house?

• That depends on lots of different factors, like the size of your house, the size of your wood burner and where in your home it’s located. That said, if you want your wood  burner to heat your whole house, you can take certain steps to help distribute the heat to other rooms. These include:

• Using a fan to circulate heat

• Installing vents in the ceiling of the room where your stove is located so heat reaches the bedrooms above

• Installing ducting from your wood burner to other parts of your home

• Installing a boiler-stove which supplies heat in the form of hot water to radiators as well as radiant and convective heat into the room where the boiler-stove is installed.

Do you need permission to install a wood burning stove?

You won’t normally need planning permission to install a wood burner.

If you live in a listed building or a unique area, you’ll need to check that you have permitted development rights. You’ll also need to check with your local council before carrying out the work, just to make sure that there aren’t any local regulations stopping you from installing a wood burner. Other than that, you’ll usually be able to crack on without getting planning permission. On the other hand, if you’re hoping to install your wood burner yourself, you probably will need planning permission or approval from your local Building Control.

What are the building regulations for wood burners?

The building regulations for wood burners are extensive. Just a few areas that they touch on include:

• The hearth

• Ventilation in the room

• Requirement for a carbon monoxide alarm

If you live in a smoke-control area (mainly urban areas), you’ll also have to buy a DEFRA-approved stove to comply with building regulations.

Further Information

The Island Pellet Stoves website has a range of resources and frequently asked questions to help you get the best from your wood burning stove or wood burner. Follow the link below for more information or give us a call on – 0330 111 4747