Log Burner Cost Calculator

A log burner can make a room feel warmer and more inviting, but the cost of installing one can vary significantly from property to property.

Installing a log burner can cost anywhere between £900 and £ 6,000+. The cost will depend a lot on the stove that you choose and how much work is needed to install it. Our log burner cost calculator can help provide you with an estimated price based on your specific property and installation requirements.

Costs can vary depending on the stove itself, whether you have a suitable chimney, the need for a chimney liner or twin-wall flue, hearth work, and any other additional building work needed. Use our log burner cost calculator to get a more personalised estimate for your project.

Log Burner Installation Cost Calculator

How to Use Our Log Burner Cost Calculator

Our log burner cost calculator considers all the main factors that can affect the cost to install a log burner.

Some information that you may need to provide includes:

• The type and range of stove that you want.
• Whether your property has an existing chimney.
• Whether the chimney needs cleaning or needs a liner.
• Whether you need a new twin-wall flue system.
• Any fireplace opening or preparation work needed.
• Your location within the UK.

Provide information that most closely matches your particular project, and the calculator will provide you with an estimated total price.

The result is an estimate rather than a fixed quote. The final cost will depend on the property, the log burner you choose, and the amount of work needed for the installation.

What Type of Log Burner Are You Installing?

The stove itself is a major part of the overall log burner cost. Standard wood-burning stoves, multi-fuel stoves, and larger-output models can all vary in price.

Basic wood-burning stoves can start at around £500, while larger or more elaborate models can cost several thousand pounds.

A standard freestanding wood-burning stove will generally have different installation requirements from an inset model, which is designed to sit within a fireplace opening. Multi-fuel stoves can also differ in price from straightforward wood-burning models.

The size of the stove matters too. A larger-output appliance may cost more to purchase, although the right output should be determined for the room rather than simply choosing the biggest model available.

A lower-priced log burner can cost around £500-£1000. More expensive models can cost around £2000-£3500 or more. The price of your log burner should, therefore, be considered alongside the cost of fitting it.

Does the Property Already Have a Chimney?

Having a suitable existing chimney can make a significant difference to the overall cost of installing a log burner.

If the chimney is already suitable and does not require major work, the installation may be relatively straightforward. However, many existing chimneys need cleaning, checking or lining before you can go ahead and fit a new stove.

A chimney liner can add around £600-£1000 to the project, depending on the type of liner, the size of the chimney, and the ease of access.

If there is no usable chimney, you may need a twin-wall flue system. This can increase the overall installation cost quite considerably because the flue system needs to be installed through the property and terminated safely.

A complete installation with an existing chimney requiring no major work is around £900-£3000 depending on the stove. Where a chimney needs cleaning and a liner, the costs can rise to around £2000-£4500+. An installation without a chimney, requiring a twin-wall flue, can cost around £2500-£6000+.

Chimney Liner and Flue Costs

A chimney liner or flue system can account for a substantial part of the total log burner installation cost.

The price can depend on the chimney height, ease of access, diameter of the flue, and the condition of the existing chimney. You may also need scaffolding for the work. This can also add to the overall cost.

As a general guide, installing a chimney liner costs around £600-£1000.

Materials and access requirements may push the price towards either end of this range.

A full twin-wall flue system is usually more expensive because there is more installation work and material involved. This is reflected in the higher overall costs for properties without an existing chimney.

Hearth and Fireplace Preparation Costs

The area where the log burner will sit may need some work before the installation can begin.

Depending on the property, potential work could include:

• Installing or replacing a hearth
• Opening up an existing fireplace
• Altering the fireplace recess
• Removing an old fire
• Plastering or making good surrounding walls
• Adding suitable non-combustible materials

The cost of opening up a fireplace is around £300-£1200; however, the final price will depend on the size of the opening, the condition of the fireplace, and the amount of building work that is required.

Even relatively small preparation jobs can increase the total cost, so it is worth including any known fireplace work when using the calculator.

Does the Chimney Need Repairing?

You should check the condition of the chimney before installing a log burner. If there are any problems, you may need to deal with these separately before you can use the chimney or flue.

Potential additional work could include:

• Repointing damaged brickwork
• Chimney pot replacement
• Chimney cowl installation
• Repairs to damaged brickwork
• Removing blockages
• Making the chimney safe for use

These costs will not apply to every installation. However, it’s important to keep in mind that any damage to the chimney could add to the overall cost of the job. For example, chimney repointing is generally charged according to the amount of brickwork that needs attention, while replacing a chimney pot or fitting a cowl can add a few hundred pounds to the total cost.

You may also need a chimney sweep before the installation. This is usually a relatively small cost compared with the stove, liner, or building work.

Ventilation and Air Supply

Some log burner installations may require additional ventilation or air supply arrangements depending on the stove, your property and applicable regulations.

Under Approved Document J, combustion appliances need an adequate air supply and suitable arrangements for safely removing combustion products. In some circumstances, this means you may need a permanent air vent in the room.

If an air vent or other changes are needed, this will add to the overall installation cost. The exact requirements will depend on your particular installation, so this is something that should be considered when you are comparing your calculator estimate with quotes.

Additional Log Burner Installation Costs

The stove and basic fitting may not be the only costs that you have to consider with this type of work. Depending on your property, you may also need to budget for other things, too.

These may include:

• Chimney sweeping
• Flue liner installation
• Twin-wall flue system
• Hearth installation
• Fireplace alterations
• Chimney repairs
• Scaffolding
• Ventilation
• Carbon monoxide alarm
• Removal of an existing fire or stove
• Making good and decorating after installation

Not every project will require all of these. In some cases, you may just need to get some of these jobs done along with your log burner installation. The costs for these jobs can vary from home to home, and some jobs will cost more than others. For example, chimney sweeping costs around £80-£120 whereas a chimney liner costs around £600-£1000. Consider your particular project, and this will help you determine whether any extra work will be needed for the job.

How Much Does a Log Burner Cost?

The overall cost of a log burner installation can vary by quite a bit. Below is a list of the average costs for different log burner installations to give you a better idea of what you might expect to pay:

• Stove with an existing suitable chimney - £900-£3000+
• Stove with chimney cleaning and a liner - £2000-£4500+
• Stove with a new twin-wall flue system - £2500-£6000+

The average overall installation cost is around £2300. These figures include the stove and installation costs. The totals can vary depending on the type of log burner that you choose and the work that is required to complete the installation.

Our log burner cost calculator can help you to narrow down this range by taking your specific property and installation requirements into account.

How Does Location Affect Log Burner Installation Costs?

Your location can greatly affect the overall cost to install a log burner. This is because labour rates and access costs can vary across the UK.

Those based in London and the South East can expect to pay more for labour costs than those based in the North or other regions of the UK. Properties with difficult access may also cost more to work on, particularly if scaffolding is needed or if any additional equipment is needed to complete the work properly and safely.

This is why it is important to take your location into account when calculating the cost of installing a log burner.

How Long Does It Take to Install a Log Burner?

If you are planning on getting a log burner installed at your home, you may be curious about how long this type of work will actually take.

A straightforward installation into an existing suitable fireplace and chimney can often be completed within 1 to 2 days.

However, these timescales can increase if the chimney needs to be lined, if any repairs are required, or if the fireplace needs opening up. Installing a new twin-wall flue system can also involve more work than using an existing chimney.

For example, a chimney liner alone can take around 1 to 3 days, depending on the type of liner and chimney. So with this in mind, it is important to consider any additional work that could add time to the job in order to get a complete estimate of how long the total job will take.

Do You Need Building Regulations Approval?

It is important that log burner installations comply with the applicable Building Regulations as well as the manufacturer’s installation instructions.

In England and Wales, solid fuel installations must be notified to the relevant Local Authority Building Control. This can be done through a Competent Person Scheme, such as HETAS, where the work is eligible for self-certification.

Alternatively, it will need to go down the appropriate Building Control route. A HETAS-registered installer can provide a Certificate of Compliance following eligible work.

In England, Approved Document J provides some guidance for combustion appliances and specifically covers solid-fuel appliances, fireplaces, hearths, flues, and chimneys. It also includes requirements relating to carbon monoxide alarms.

Current government requirements also include solid fuel and biomass within the categories covered by self-certification schemes.

Ready to Get a Quote?

A log burner can cost relatively little to install when an existing fireplace and chimney are suitable, but additional flue, chimney or building work can quickly increase the price.

Our log burner cost calculator can give you an estimated price based on your choice of stove, your current chimney situation, and the likely installation requirements for your particular home.

The final cost that you pay will depend on the log burner itself, the condition of your chimney, your flue requirements, and any additional work that is needed for your specific installation. Once you have an estimate, compare quotes for your installation and get a clearer idea of the price for your property.