Fireplace Price Tags, Demystified

Selecting a new hearth is not unlike selecting a new car: It’s important to look at sticker price as a starting point, explains Hoffman. “Fireplaces have options like a car does. You have simple models to deluxe models,” says Hoffman. “What’s reflected in the sticker price is often the most basic option.”

So it’s important not just to consider the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP), but also research the costs of other components and variables such as:

A thorough product website or dealer will help you narrow down the selection by prompting you to think about your needs, wants and space. Many showrooms, including Hoffman’s, also offer a pre-visit checklist to get you thinking about the basics before you even call or step foot in the store. This will save time and help the sales representative show you models in your budget that fit your lifestyle and home.

Installation costs vary depending on the type of fireplace, where it is being installed and the ways in which it needs to be hooked up and vented—but a good rule of thumb is to budget about 25 to 50 percent of the price of the hearth.

“Nine out of 10 times, you don't have any issues with venting a gas fireplace,” says Hoffman. And in the rare event that you do, he adds, features like a power vent can be used—but that workaround could add another $2,500 to the price tag. Gas fireplace venting and installation costs may also vary depending on whether you go with a traditional one-sided model versus a bay, pier or see-through style.

Gas and electric models typically are low-maintenance hearth options, with no cleaning and little to no regular maintenance involved unless a problem arises. Because of the safety risks involved with soot buildup in a chimney, wood-burning models typically need yearly maintenance and frequent cleanings. A simple sweep on a well-maintained wood-burning fireplace could cost in the $100 range, while sweeping a neglected chimney could cost up to $800.

“Often this is a question people ask when looking at a fireplace: Is it going to cost a lot to run?” says Hoffman. “It's really not.” The cost to run any fireplace is overall pretty low, but depends on the type, as well as how—and how often—you use it.

Similar to the premise of a hybrid car, you can turn down your home’s thermostat and "zone heat" the rooms you use most with an efficient gas fireplace. It cuts down on the fuel consumed by your furnace and if done correctly, could help reduce home heating bills by 20 to 40 percent, according to the Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association.

“Let's say you have a fireplace in your living room and you spend a lot of time in there with it on,” says Hoffman. “Most people turn the furnace down anyway when they go to bed, so maybe instead of having the furnace go down at 9 p.m., turn it down at 7 while you're watching TV, reading or doing puzzles in the living room with the fireplace on. It may take a while to figure out the math, but at some point, you'll end up saving a little bit of money. Rather than heating the whole house with the furnace during the winter, you could just heat the area you’re in.”

Even the most basic fireplace models typically have several upgrade or add-on options—some more costly than others.

Functionality add-ons can include:

Aesthetic/ambiance add-ons can include:

A hearth dealer will walk you through all options—and associated costs—that are relevant to your home and fireplace in order to stay within your budget.

Hoffman encourages homeowners to keep these tips in mind to ensure that there are no surprises as you go through the hearth shopping process:

Hoffman adds that if you prefer not to make multiple showroom visits, some dealers may be able to draw up an estimate by talking through details via phone or video chat. “A picture's worth 1,000 words,” he says. “Take a picture of what you want, where it’s going to go, what you want to do, then come in to the showroom or call—we can do so much with email and FaceTime these days, too.”

Heat & Glo offers a wide range of fireplaces, including gas, wood and electric products. If you’re interested in adding a fireplace into your new construction home, start here. If you’re remodeling an existing home, we’ve got you covered, too.