How Much Does a Gas Fireplace Insert Cost?

Average Cost to Install a Gas Fireplace

Gas Fireplace vs. Gas Fireplace Insert Costs

You’ll pay almost twice as much for the cost of a built-in gas fireplace than you would for an insert. While both use the same gas inserts, a built-in fireplace includes all the custom carpentry around the insert. 

Gas Fireplace Insert Cost

For a gas fireplace insert, expect to pay roughly $2,900 for just the unit or about $3,700 with material and labor. Installing an insert is an option for converting a fireplace to gas. High-end materials can drive up the cost to about $13,500 with venting and custom surrounds. However, you’ll likely need to run a gas line; installing a gas line costs about $25 per linear foot.

A fireplace insert sits inside an existing fireplace and is the most likely option if you're updating an old gas fireplace for a newer model. Plus, if you've got a wood-burning stove and want to upgrade to a gas model, you can convert your existing fireplace by having the wood stove removed and the gas insert fitted with minimal disruption and remedial work. 

Built-In Gas Fireplace

Built-in gas fireplaces cost an average of $6,700. Prefabricated models cost between $3,300 and $5,300, while custom installations range from $5,500 to $13,500. Similar to an insert, built-in fireplaces don't require an existing fireplace. Instead, you have the fireplace built as part of the project, which accounts for the higher price tag. In general, built-in models have a higher BTU (British thermal unit) and better efficiency than many other types of fireplaces.

Cost to Install Other Gas Fireplace Types

Gas fireplace pricing, including installation, varies depending on the type you buy. While most tend to run in the $3,000 to $9,000 range, a simple tabletop unit can cost as little as $100, and a custom island or peninsula can run you as much as $13,500. Take a look at the most common gas fireplace types and their typical prices.

Tabletop Gas Fireplace

Tabletop gas fireplaces cost an average of $250 and don't require installation beyond hooking it up to a gas line. While these technically aren’t fireplace inserts, these prefabricated units are most often used outside on a patio instead of a firepit. They're popular because they provide gentle heat and a little ambient lighting without smoke. Plus, they only require a small branch line for gas, which costs much less to install than a full-size line.

You’ve most likely seen tabletop fireplaces in the center of large outdoor tables, but they can also work on smaller tables, pillars, and even on top of a brick retaining wall.

Gas Log Fireplace

A gas log fireplace typically costs $1,800 to $7,200 to install, but adding a gas log add-on to an existing setup costs $800 on average. Any of the fireplace styles mentioned here can come with a gas log-style design inside it.

Wood-look ceramic logs sit on top of a vented or unvented burner that heats the logs. The logs then radiate the heat into the room. Some also have flames, a steam option to simulate smoke, and a backlight to mimic the glow of a real fire. With most of these fireplaces, you can choose to heat the room or simply simulate the look of a roaring fire. 

Freestanding Gas Fireplace

Freestanding gas fireplaces generally cost $1,700 to $6,800. They don't require custom construction or an existing cavity. They can stand anywhere in your home and don't need to sit against a wall. A wallet-friendly alternative is a freestanding wood stove, which costs slightly less.

While they can come in any size, shape, and style, the most common units look like traditional wood-burning or pot-bellied stoves. You’ll still need to connect the unit to a gas line, and you may want to set the stove into a surround, although many freestanding units come with an attached surround.

Wall-Mounted Gas Fireplace

A wall-mounted gas fireplace costs an average of $1,300 to $4,100 to install. These units tend to be ultra-modern and can be set into the wall or sit on the wall with little or no framing, although you can add a surround if you wish. Wall-mounted fireplaces are a good space-saving option when floor space is at a premium. 

Corner Gas Fireplace

For a corner gas fireplace, expect to pay around $6,400. A prefab unit costs between $2,000 and $5,500 (installed), while a custom unit will run you between $3,000 and $11,000. Corner fireplaces don't require existing cavities, but you'll still need to run a gas line, and for a vented model, a suitable vent is also necessary.

Corner units are a good choice in compact rooms or where there simply isn't much wall or floor space available. Corners are often wasted space, even in small rooms, so you can make the most of that space by filling it with a gas fireplace. 

Island Gas Fireplace

Island gas fireplaces typically cost $8,100, and prefab units start at $2,700 and go up to around $6,800. Custom island gas fireplaces cost between $6,900 and $13,500 to install.

The price range is so large because there are various sizes and endless customization options. These four-sided fireplaces are often used within a feature wall or column to bring cohesiveness to an ample space or connect two divided rooms. 

Peninsula Gas Fireplace

A peninsula gas fireplace costs an average of $8,300 to install. For a prefabricated unit, you can expect to pay between $4,700 and $6,800; the unit runs from $2,700 to $8,000,not including labor. If you want a custom peninsula gas fireplace, it'll cost between $7,000 and $12,000, and add-ons can push the price up even higher. For example, adding a custom stone veneer costs $2,000 and up.

Homeowners use these fireplaces to divide a room or provide a fireplace for two already divided rooms without installing two units. You may see them on a feature wall that houses an entertainment system.

Price of Gas Fireplace Installation by Vent Type

When choosing a gas fireplace, you’ll have a choice between a vented or ventless system. Always check with your installation pro to learn which one is best suited to your home and location. 

Ventless Gas Fireplace

A ventless fireplace does not require a chimney or vent system. It costs about half as much as a vent style or $1,500 to $4,600 on average, including labor. In these systems, the fireplace draws in indoor air, heats it, and releases it back into the room. As such, some exhaust also makes it back into the room because there's no direct vent for it to escape through.

That's why these fireplaces—while they let more heat into the room and are more affordable—are controversial; they're heavily regulated in most states and banned in some areas. It's crucial that you check the regulations in your area.

Direct-Vent Fireplace

A direct-vent fireplace costs $4,300 to $11,200 on average, including labor and a new vent configuration. The vent expels potentially harmful exhaust by-products outside, and a secondary inlet draws air from outside into the firebox, where it's heated and pushed into the room. Multiple vent configurations are available, including through a side wall or roof.

Direct-vent fireplaces are more efficient than those with a chimney, and there are fewer risks than with a ventless fireplace. If an existing vent system is in place, installation is more affordable. If one doesn’t exist, adding a new vent configuration is costly. 

Gas Fireplace Installation Cost Breakdown

Installing a gas fireplace is a potentially complex job with many different components. You'll need to account for materials and labor, permitting fees, and unforeseen issues. Here's the cost breakdown for gas fireplace installation.

Materials

Gas inserts come with everything you need for a complete installation, including the connections for the gas line in most cases. If you need to make any modifications to the cavity or gas line in your home, you might need to account for extra materials in your cost to convert a fireplace to gas. Materials alone cost $600 to $3,400, with most people paying around $2,000. You’ll also be looking at additional material costs if you need to add a chimney or vent. 

Labor

Labor for gas fireplace installation typically costs between $500 and $1,500, but it can reach up to $6,000. The price varies based on the complexity of the job. Installing a simple prefab gas fireplace in a well-prepared area that needs no remedial work could cost $300 to $600. Meanwhile, a larger installation involving new liners, modifications, a custom surround, new gas or propane lines, or any remedial work could cost up to $5,000.

If a new vent or chimney is required, or the existing chimney needs remedial work, you’ll need to allow for an additional $1,000 to $6,000 in labor. 

Permits

Permit fees vary from $100 to $400, depending on the number and type of permits you'll need. While not every state requires permits for fireplace installation, many do, particularly if they involve new or extended gas lines, a ventless system, or the installation of a new vent or chimney. Check with your city building control office and your local fireplace installer to find out more.

Factors That Influence the Cost of Gas Fireplace Installation

Quite a few factors affect the overall cost of installing a gas fireplace insert. The material and location will impact your overall costs, while any chimney additions, mantels, doors, and blowers can also drive up the price tag. 

Installing a Fireplace Surround

If you need a new surround for your fireplace, the material you choose greatly influences the project price. Metal surrounds start at $30 per square foot installed, while marble averages $160 per square foot.

Adding Chimneys or Vents

A new chimney costs up to $11,000 and adding a venting system can cost up to $3,000. You’ll spend $500 to $4,000 or more in labor alone. You don’t necessarily need a chimney for a gas insert, including a direct-vent style. For gas, it’s more a desirable aesthetic than a necessity. A direct vent, particularly if it's a simple side vent with the fireplace sitting on an external wall, will be included in the fireplace installation price. 

Mantel Shelf

Adding a mantel shelf costs an average of $500 to $1,200, but your style and material choices can push the range up by several thousands of dollars. The material, size, intricacy of the design, type of craftsperson you hire, and whether it's a single-shelf or a floor-to-ceiling installation will all contribute to your final costs.

Fireplace Door

Fireplace doors cost $600 to $900, with some models coming in at $2,000. Fireplace doors are a simple and easy way to update the look of your insert and match your remodeling efforts without replacing the entire unit. In addition to adding a design element, they can help regulate heat and stop hot air from escaping through the chimney or vents when the fireplace is not in use. 

Fireplace Blower

Blowers move air around the outside of the fireplace to help push out hot air for heating purposes. Fireplace blowers cost $100 to $1,500, depending on their efficiency, size, and performance. Most professional residential installations cost $300 to $700 in total. If your fireplace doesn’t distribute heat effectively or evenly, adding a blower increases performance, reduces running costs, and boosts energy efficiency by facilitating better heat distribution. 

Indoor vs. Outdoor Gas Fireplace

Whether you choose an indoor or outdoor fireplace, they can elevate your living space, create a sense of relaxation, and add a focal point wherever they are.

Outdoor gas fireplaces cost an average of $1,500 to $20,000 to install, depending on the material you choose. You'll also need a gas line and a model rated for the outdoors, and these outdoor setups complement other outdoor living ideas.

Indoor gas fireplace inserts cost about half as much as an exterior model. Indoor fireplace setups can help with interior heating costs, but they usually require an enclosure or hood and possibly a new gas line.

An outdoor gas fireplace is safer and more environmentally friendly than having a fire pit if it uses propane. It’s not significantly safer than having a gas fireplace indoors. In either case, there's no ash or soot to clean up or flying embers to worry about.

Other Gas Fireplace Cost Considerations

Besides the initial installation, there are a few other variables to consider before committing to a gas installation. You’ll need to consider how much it costs to run, maintenance fees, tax incentives for other types of fireplaces, and how energy efficient they are.

Cost to Run a Gas Fireplace

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the typical household heating costs during the winter months (October through March) of 2020 and 2021 for natural gas were just over $500, while the costs for the same period for propane were around $1,200. Although gas prices have risen, it is still the least expensive heating method.

Ongoing Maintenance Costs

While gas fireplaces typically require less maintenance and are less prone to problems than wood and electric fireplaces, you still need to be aware of the potential repair costs. Gas fireplace repair typically costs $200 to $1,000. Besides repairs, you’ll only really need to wipe it down once or twice a year to clean the mild soot buildup.

Gas Fireplace Inspection Costs

Annual gas fireplace inspections cost between $75 to $125. Technicians perform a number of checks including examining the firebox and venting system, dampers, and chimney. Having a yearly inspection helps identify and allow you to correct any potential problems before they become costly and potentially dangerous issues.

Energy Efficiency

Direct-vent fireplaces convert up to 80% of the fuel into heat. Ventless models manage a conversion of 90%. The higher the fireplace's energy efficiency, the more it'll cost you initially, but the less it costs to run. Plus, the better the energy efficiency, the lower your home's carbon footprint. 

Tax Credits

There are currently no tax credits for installing a gas insert. However, you can get a U.S. biomass tax credit for qualifying wood and pellet inserts. Tax credits can help offset wood fireplace insert costs. These units can increase the home's value, but they require more space and a chimney of some type. 

DIY Gas Fireplace Installation vs. Hiring a Pro

It’s typically a bad idea to install a gas fireplace insert on your own, and in some places, it’s simply not allowed due to building codes. Since you’ll be hooking the insert up to a gas line, check with your local code enforcement agency before starting any work. In some places, you’ll need to hire a gas fireplace installer in your area who holds a license and can handle gas lines.