How much does it cost to install a fireplace in 2026?

Fireplace installation cost depends heavily on type. A gas fireplace insert installed into an existing firebox runs $2,500 to $6,000 installed. A new direct-vent gas fireplace with framing and finishing costs $4,000 to $10,000. A prefab wood-burning fireplace with chimney runs $6,000 to $14,000. A custom masonry wood-burning fireplace costs $10,000 to $25,000 or more depending on size and materials.

What is the cheapest way to add a fireplace to a home?

An electric fireplace insert is the lowest-cost option — units cost $300 to $2,000 and installation is minimal if you have an existing firebox or are using a wall-mount unit. The next tier is a gas fireplace insert into an existing masonry firebox, which costs $2,500 to $6,000 installed and requires only a gas line connection rather than new construction. Both avoid the cost of building a new chimney or hearth from scratch.

Does adding a fireplace increase home value?

A fireplace adds measurable resale value in most U.S. markets — the National Association of Realtors estimates a fireplace adds $1,000 to $5,000 to home value on average, though this varies significantly by region. In cold-climate markets (Midwest, Northeast, Mountain West), fireplace value is higher. In warm climates, the value premium is modest. Gas fireplaces are generally more valued than wood-burning for resale because of convenience.

Do I need a permit to install a fireplace?

Yes — fireplace installation almost always requires a building permit, and in most jurisdictions, inspections at multiple stages (rough-in, final). Gas fireplace installations also require a permit from the gas utility or local authority in most areas. Skipping permits on a fireplace creates serious insurance and resale complications, and unpermitted fireplaces in older homes are a common source of inspection failures during home sales.

How much does a fireplace remodel cost?

A cosmetic fireplace remodel — new surround, updated mantel, resurfacing the facing with tile, stone, or shiplap — typically costs $1,500 to $8,000 depending on materials and the scope of framing changes. Adding a new gas insert to an existing wood-burning fireplace costs $2,500 to $6,000. Full structural changes (relocating the firebox, changing the opening size) can reach $15,000 to $30,000 and involve significant masonry or framing work.

Fireplace Installation and Remodel Cost Guide 2026

May 28, 2026 · Cost Guide · 6 min read

Fireplace installation costs range from $1,500 for a basic electric insert to $25,000 or more for a custom masonry wood-burning fireplace built from scratch. The spread is wide because the type of fireplace, whether new construction or a conversion, and the complexity of venting all drive costs independently. Based on our directory of home remodeling contractors and permit data across major U.S. markets, gas fireplaces represent the most popular installation choice in 2026 for cost, convenience, and resale value reasons — but the right type depends on your existing infrastructure and how you plan to use the fireplace.

Fireplace Types and What Each Costs

Electric Fireplace Inserts and Wall Units

Electric fireplaces are the lowest-cost and simplest option. A quality electric insert for an existing firebox runs $300 to $1,500 for the unit, with minimal installation labor ($100 to $300). Wall-mount electric fireplaces in the same price range require only a standard 120V outlet. Higher-end models with realistic flame effects and heating capacity reach $2,000 to $4,000 for the unit.

The tradeoff: electric fireplaces produce heat but lack the aesthetics and feel of gas or wood flames. They are the right choice for apartments, condos with no gas service, or supplemental heat in a single room without the budget for a gas installation. They do not require permits in most jurisdictions, do not need venting, and can be installed by a homeowner in a few hours.

Gas Fireplace Inserts (into Existing Masonry Firebox)

A gas insert conversion is the most common fireplace upgrade in existing homes. The insert unit costs $1,500 to $4,000; installation — which includes connecting the gas line, fitting the insert into the existing firebox, and installing a new liner in the existing chimney — runs $1,000 to $2,000 in labor, bringing total installed cost to $2,500 to $6,000.

Gas inserts require an accessible gas line (if none exists, adding one costs $500 to $1,500 depending on distance from the main supply) and a proper liner installation to vent combustion gases. The result is a unit that turns on with a switch or remote, produces consistent heat, and requires minimal maintenance compared to a wood-burning firebox.

Direct-Vent Gas Fireplaces (New Construction)

A direct-vent gas fireplace can be installed in virtually any exterior wall without an existing chimney — it vents through a coaxial pipe that runs horizontally through the wall, eliminating the need for a vertical chimney chase. This makes them practical for rooms where a traditional fireplace was never possible.

Unit cost: $2,000 to $5,000 for a mid-range direct-vent fireplace. Installation including framing, drywall, gas line, and finishing work: $2,000 to $5,000 in labor. Total installed range: $4,000 to $10,000. For premium linear fireplaces (the wide, horizontal style popular in contemporary homes), units alone run $4,000 to $12,000, with total installed costs reaching $10,000 to $20,000.

Prefab Wood-Burning Fireplaces with New Chimney

Adding a new wood-burning fireplace where none exists requires a prefabricated firebox and either a metal chimney system (less expensive) or a masonry chimney (more expensive). Total installed cost for a prefab wood-burning fireplace with a metal chase and chimney: $6,000 to $14,000. Factors that push cost higher: multi-story chimney runs, fire blocking through floor assemblies, and finishing work on the exterior chase.

Wood-burning fireplaces require regular chimney cleaning (annually for active use), produce creosote that must be managed as a fire hazard, and are subject to local air quality restrictions in some regions. Check local regulations before specifying a new wood-burning installation — many jurisdictions in California, Colorado, and the Pacific Northwest restrict new wood-burning fireplaces or limit days of use.

Custom Masonry Fireplaces

A custom masonry fireplace built by a mason from scratch is the most expensive option and increasingly rare in new construction due to cost and the time required. Expect $10,000 to $25,000 for a standard masonry fireplace and chimney in a single-story application; $20,000 to $40,000 for a two-story or exterior chimney. The price reflects both material cost (brick, mortar, firebrick, stone) and the specialized labor of a masonry contractor, which commands premium rates in most markets.

Custom masonry is primarily pursued in high-end renovation projects where the aesthetic of real brick or stone is a specific goal, or in restoration projects where a period-appropriate fireplace is required to match existing architecture.

Fireplace Remodel Costs (Updating an Existing Fireplace)

If you have an existing fireplace in good structural condition but want to update its appearance, cosmetic remodels offer the best return on investment in the fireplace category.

Surround and Facing Updates

Replacing an outdated brick facing with tile, stacked stone, shiplap, or a custom stone veneer costs $1,500 to $5,000 depending on material and size. Tile surrounds are at the lower end; natural stone or custom-cut marble at the higher end. Labor is the primary driver: tiling or setting stone on a vertical fireplace surface requires precision, and the surrounding drywall often needs repair or patching after the old surround is removed.

Mantel Replacement

A new wood mantel shelf or full mantel surround costs $500 to $2,500 for the unit (depending on wood species and design), with $300 to $800 in installation labor. Custom-built mantels or those fabricated from stone or marble are $2,000 to $8,000 installed. A new mantel alone is one of the highest-impact cosmetic changes in a living room for the cost involved.

Firebox Refacing and Repainting

High-temperature paint for the firebox interior costs $30 to $80 for the product alone and can be applied by a homeowner. Professional cleaning, tuckpointing (repairing deteriorated mortar joints), and painting the firebox interior typically runs $300 to $700. Full firebox relining for a gas insert — replacing the clay tile liner with a stainless steel liner — costs $1,500 to $3,000.

What Drives Cost Variation

Three factors account for most of the cost spread within any fireplace type:

Venting complexity: A horizontal through-wall vent for a direct-vent gas unit in a single-story house is straightforward. A vertical chimney run through two floors with fire blocking through each floor assembly is significantly more labor. Every additional story adds roughly $1,500 to $3,000 to the chimney or venting cost.
Gas line access: If the installation point is far from the main gas supply line, running a new gas line adds $500 to $2,500. If no gas service exists to the home (propane or oil-heated homes), adding gas service involves utility coordination that can add months and $2,000 to $5,000 to the project.
Finishing and surround scope: A fireplace dropped into a drywall opening with minimal finishing is significantly cheaper than one with custom built-in shelving on both sides, a stone surround floor-to-ceiling, and a custom mantel. The fireplace unit itself is often 40 to 60% of the total project cost; the surrounding finish work is the balance.

Permits and Inspections

Fireplace installation almost always requires a permit. Most jurisdictions require inspections at rough-in (before walls are closed up around the gas line or framing) and at final completion. Gas line work specifically requires inspection by the gas utility or local authority in most states — skipping this step is a serious insurance and safety risk. Our detailed guide on home renovation permits covers what is required in each project category and what happens when permits are skipped.

Finding the Right Contractor

Fireplace installation sits at the intersection of multiple trades: masonry, gas fitting, carpentry/framing, and electrical (for ignition and blower systems). The contractor coordinating the project — whether a general contractor or a fireplace specialty company — should confirm that each licensed trade is covered. Our guide on hiring a remodeling contractor covers what credentials to verify and questions to ask before signing. For context on how to evaluate whether a fireplace installation fits your broader renovation budget and financing options, our guide on financing a home remodel covers HELOC, home equity loan, and personal loan options applicable to a fireplace project.

Browse our directory to find remodeling contractors by city with verified profiles and project history, or find home remodelers near you with fireplace installation experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to install a fireplace in 2026?: Fireplace installation cost depends heavily on type. A gas fireplace insert installed into an existing firebox runs $2,500 to $6,000 installed. A new direct-vent gas fireplace with framing and finishing costs $4,000 to $10,000. A prefab wood-burning fireplace with chimney runs $6,000 to $14,000. A custom masonry wood-burning fireplace costs $10,000 to $25,000 or more depending on size and materials.
What is the cheapest way to add a fireplace to a home?: An electric fireplace insert is the lowest-cost option — units cost $300 to $2,000 and installation is minimal if you have an existing firebox or are using a wall-mount unit. The next tier is a gas fireplace insert into an existing masonry firebox, which costs $2,500 to $6,000 installed and requires only a gas line connection rather than new construction. Both avoid the cost of building a new chimney or hearth from scratch.
Does adding a fireplace increase home value?: A fireplace adds measurable resale value in most U.S. markets — the National Association of Realtors estimates a fireplace adds $1,000 to $5,000 to home value on average, though this varies significantly by region. In cold-climate markets (Midwest, Northeast, Mountain West), fireplace value is higher. In warm climates, the value premium is modest. Gas fireplaces are generally more valued than wood-burning for resale because of convenience.
Do I need a permit to install a fireplace?: Yes — fireplace installation almost always requires a building permit, and in most jurisdictions, inspections at multiple stages (rough-in, final). Gas fireplace installations also require a permit from the gas utility or local authority in most areas. Skipping permits on a fireplace creates serious insurance and resale complications, and unpermitted fireplaces in older homes are a common source of inspection failures during home sales.
How much does a fireplace remodel cost?: A cosmetic fireplace remodel — new surround, updated mantel, resurfacing the facing with tile, stone, or shiplap — typically costs $1,500 to $8,000 depending on materials and the scope of framing changes. Adding a new gas insert to an existing wood-burning fireplace costs $2,500 to $6,000. Full structural changes (relocating the firebox, changing the opening size) can reach $15,000 to $30,000 and involve significant masonry or framing work.