What is the total average cost of a new gas fireplace insert installation?
You might be wondering, “what does it cost to upgrade my wood fireplace to a gas fireplace?” – The short answer, on average between $7,200 – $8,800. (This average price includes the gas fireplace insert unit, decorative front, metal surround, venting, install labor, electric labor, gas labor and chimney labor.) A direct vent gas fireplace might be a little bit more than a gas fireplace insert in a masonry chimney. In general, expect to spend more than $7,200 on a quality gas fireplace insert installation.
Gas fireplace inserts are installed into a masonry fireplace. Real brick with no combustibles or wood framing nearby. Gas fireplace inserts have two three inch liners, one for the exhaust and one for the fresh air running up to the top of your chimney ending in a cap that seals off the chimney from critters and the weather. Gas fireplace inserts require a gas line and access to electricity, often installed inside of the firebox. People buying a gas fireplace insert want efficient heat in their inefficient masonry fireplace.
What is the total average cost of a new gas fireplace installation?
Direct Vent Pre-fab Gas Fireplaces cost on average $7,200 – $16,200, depending on the scope of the project.
Prefabricated gas fireplaces do not require a masonry chimney and can be installed in a blank wall. You can even upgrade your cold, inefficient gas fireplace that came with your home! (Wondering how to determine if you have a gas fireplace? The telltale sign of a gas fireplace usually a silver cap directly behind the existing gas fireplace with a warmer, more efficient gas fireplace.)
Pre-fab direct vent gas fireplaces (aka gas fireplaces) are easy to confuse with gas fireplace inserts. Gas fireplaces and gas fireplace inserts are two separate products that solve two different solutions. Gas fireplaces can replace an existing gas fireplace or be a new installation on a blank wall. The venting is a metal box on the outside of your home.
Gas Fireplaces vs. Gas Fireplace Inserts vs. Gas Logs
Both gas fireplaces and gas fireplace inserts have convective glass and many require a screen for protection. If you want to have a gas fire without any glass, you are interested in gas logs! This takes us to our first step, what kind of gas fireplace will help create your ideal space?
What do I need to know before getting a new gas fireplace installation?
#1) What are your gas fireplace project goals?
Gas Fireplace Insert | Average All In Cost: $7,200 – $8,880
- Pros:
- Combustion behind glass.
- No odor.
- No known health risks.
- Safe to use with pets & kids.
- No sooting or ash.
- Produces net positive heat.
- Service is available from quality fireplace and stove service providers.
- Cons:
- Requires ventilation access.
- Higher installation cost.
- Can not touch fire. (Might be a pro?)
Gas Fireplace Insert Buying Tip: We and most fireplace experts recommend vented hearth appliances like a direct vent gas fireplace insert as opposed to vent free gas logs in 2025.
Why buy a gas fireplace insert? Gas fireplace inserts work for homes with a masonry fireplace. If you want heat in addition to ambiance, a gas fireplace insert is the best option. Gas fireplace inserts work with natural gas and propane. Usually folks who most benefit from their gas fireplace insert are people who want to come home and take the chill off without waiting around for a wood fire to get hot.
See a gas insert up close. Yes, that fire is really behind nearly invisible glass!
Gas Fireplace | Average All In Cost: $7,200 – 16,200
What does it cost to replace my old gas fireplace? Taking out an old pre-fabricated gas fireplace and replacing it with a new gas fireplace costs all in on average $8,200 – $16,200. The large difference in price is due to project scope and could include mantel, finish, electrical, gas line, unit, venting and labor.
- Pros:
- Energy Efficiency – Direct vent gas fireplaces are highly energy-efficient as they draw in outside air for combustion, reducing the amount of indoor heated air lost up the chimney.
- Elegant Design – Creates a sleek, integrated look in walls, ideal for new constructions or significant remodels.
- Cons:
- Construction – Requires wall construction or remodeling, which can increase installation costs.
- Glass Barrier Requirement – The sealed glass front is necessary for safety, but it reduces the natural ambiance of an open flame, which some users may miss.
Example of a direct-vent sealed gas fireplace, built into a wall. No masonry fireplace required.
What do open gas logs cost in 2025?
The average cost for vented gas logs, including installation, ranges from $400 to $3,800. This depends on the size, brand, and any additional work needed for the installation. While they’re more affordable than gas inserts or direct vent fireplaces, they’re designed primarily for ambiance, not heating.
Vented Gas Logs | Average All In Cost: $400 – $3,800
- Pros:
- Beautiful Flame: The flame pattern of vented gas logs is as close as you can get to a natural wood fire, making them a great choice for aesthetics.
- Less Mess Than Wood: While not the most efficient option, vented logs eliminate the mess of ash and creosote, as well as the hassle of storing wood.
- Open Flame Experience: With no glass barrier, you can enjoy the open flame just like you would with a traditional fireplace.
- Budget-Friendly: Vented gas logs tend to be less expensive upfront than gas fireplace inserts or direct vent fireplaces.
- Cons:
- Less Heat: Most of the heat from vented gas logs escapes up the chimney, so they’re not ideal if you’re looking for efficient heating.
- Higher Gas Use: Because of the heat loss, vented logs burn more gas without providing much warmth to the room.
- Maintenance Required: An open flue means you’ll need to maintain your chimney regularly to ensure it’s safe and functional.
Vent Free Gas Logs | Average All In Cost: $400 – $2800
- Pros:
- Does not require venting installation.
- Lower installation and product cost.
- Widely available at Home Depot, Lowes & online.
- Produces heat with an attractive open flame.
- Cons:
- Difficult to repair.
- Hard to find reputable service.
- Gas odor in home. Health risks.
- No ventilation for combustion.
- Potential for soot on walls and ceiling.
- Moisture & humidity buildup.
- Burns pet hair, dust and dirt.
Vented vs Unvented Gas Logs
Vented Gas Log Buying Tip: If you want to buy gas logs, you can also purchase vented gas logs in an existing pre-fab wood fireplace. Vented gas logs are typically installed in a masonry fireplace or a prefabricated wood fireplace. Many “builder grade” wood pre-fab fireplaces have gas logs with a gas line going through the back of the wood fireplace. Vented gas logs in a pre-fab wood fireplace is a very common installation type.
Example of gas log set with an open flame, no glass. Vented and unvented options available.
What is the difference between a fireplace insert, gas logs & a fireplace?
Still not sure if you need a gas fireplace or a gas fireplace insert? Videos of gas fireplaces and gas fireplace inserts can be very helpful in understanding the difference. We are hard at work on new posts, but until then, Ember’s Fireplaces does an excellent job at educating folks learning about fireplaces. To learn more about the differences between gas fireplaces and gas fireplace inserts, check out the video “Gas Insert or Gas Fireplace (Which one do I need?)“
By comparison, gas fireplaces only have the unit and the front. No surround is required since gas fireplaces are built into a wall and meet up with the exterior. Unlike gas fireplace inserts, gas fireplaces do not require a metal surround to fit perfectly into the space. Hopefully, we have cleared up the differences and you are able to confidently choose the best heating solution for your home!
Choose between a gas fireplace insert, a gas fireplace or gas logs and let’s move the show on the road to the next step! Now that you know what you want to purchase, we need to determine your access to utilities.
Our favorite gas fireplace insert for 2025 is the Heat & Glo Escape. Learn more here!
Now that you know what you want, let’s figure out how you will fuel your fireplace.
#2) Do you have the necessary access to utilities?
In order to install a gas fireplace or gas fireplace insert you need access to fuel. Gas fireplaces utilize either natural gas or propane (LP) gas. If you have natural gas you are in luck, that is a huge asset for your home! Major congrats! Natural gas is the most affordable heating fuel source in many parts of North America. If you do not have natural gas, then propane is your other option. The cost of installing a new propane tank can be prohibitive and you will need to refill often if you are using your gas fireplace frequently at high temperatures.
Natural gas is on average, the most efficient fuel source available to residents of Chester County, PA and most of the United States. The cost to gain access to natural gas can be quite high if you do not have a line near your home. PECO and other providers have a map available with where the natural gas line runs. If you can not get access to natural gas, your other option is propane (LP) gas. We recommend, finding out if you have natural gas access near you by searching “natural gas available at my address?“
Propane (LP) gas is a great option for home heating, if you live in a more remote location without availability to natural gas. (We most often see folks with a minimum of a 250lb propane tank for home heating.) Gas fireplaces burn about 1 gallon of propane per 2.2 hours. Learn more in our Pennsylvania Fireplace Fuel Cost Guide. Propane tanks come in all shapes and sizes.
Propane fireplace home heating tip: If you only have a 120 gallon tank be prepared to get your propane refilled frequently during the season. Schedule proactive refuels in the fall and winter to avoid running out of fuel.
If you have access to gas, the next step is to run the gas line to the location of your new gas fireplace or gas fireplace insert. Running gas line can be expensive! If you already have a gas line to your masonry fireplace, this is an asset for your home. It is a fascinating science, at definitely takes some time to plan correctly for longer runs. When gas line is run correctly, all of your gas appliances must have equal access to gas pressure. Running a long gas line could potentially be one of the most expensive parts of your gas fireplace project.
Average cost of running new gas line to a fireplace is $600 – $2,000, depending on what is required.
Electricity is necessary for your gas fireplace to operate efficiently. After the gas line, we need to get electric installed in the location of your gas fireplace. Electricity enables your fireplace to turn on and run its fan. Electric labor to a fireplace costs $400 – $800, but is highly dependent on access and can vary. (At The Stove Shop, an in-person site visit is required to determine these details.)
Access and clearances are everything in the world of fireplace installation. We need access to your existing gas lines and electric lines in order to hook in the fireplace and all related utilities. Unfinished basements, ash dumps, crawl spaces and the like make our jobs just a little bit easier. It is highly beneficial to already have a gas line running to your masonry fireplace.
Easy access is an asset for every homeowner. Take advantage of it if you have it! Fireplace installation labor costs are much less time consuming if you already have gas and electric running to the job site. At The Stove Shop Fireplace Experts, we can install a gas fireplace insert within 3 hours if the gas, electric and level 2 chimney sweep are completed ahead of time by the homeowner.
Next step, consider your budget and commit to your vision.
Remember, you are investing in your home’s long term value for the next 15-20 years.
3) What is your fireplace project budget?
The quality of a gas fireplace insert will impact your price. Lower priced gas fireplaces provide less heat and will have fewer visual options. A higher priced gas fireplace has much higher levels of heat and are typically easier to repair & service.
What gas fireplace brand if your favorite in 2025? In our opinion, the highest quality gas fireplaces and gas fireplace inserts are provided by Heat & Glo. We find that reliability and consistency are most important when intentionally putting fire in a home. Heat & Glo alongside Heatilator and Majestic are our favorite gas fireplaces on the market.
Find a certified fireplace installer near you through the National Fireplace Institute. The NFI offers certification in gas, wood and pellet fuels and is the highest standard of safety in the fireplace industry. A certified professional is the most important component of installing a fireplace. At the end of the day, installing a gas fireplace is putting fire in your home, on purpose.
Safety learned through experience is the most important factor for quality fireplace installation and service. Make sure the company installing your fireplace or stove knows the brand they are working with on your project. If they tell you, “this is the first time we are working with this brand of fireplace”, it might be wise to get another opinion.
If you are purchasing a new gas fireplace insert, most fireplace shops worth their salt will require a level 2 chimney inspection to do the installation. A level 2 inspection is a chimney report with pictures of all accessible areas of the flue including attics and crawl spaces. It is a comprehensive report that requires more time than the standard level 1 chimney sweep. The Chimney Safety Institute of America is an awesome resource to find high quality chimney sweeps near you.
You can always spend less money, but similar to a wedding dress, most folks hope to purchase a fireplace only once in their lifetime.
New Gas Fireplace or New Gas Fireplace Insert Installation in 2025
$7,200 – $8,800 (average cost)
“Why do YOU care about my fireplace?”
At the end of the day, The Stove Shop is a family-owned business that can only install a limited number of gas fireplaces stoves every year. If you are reading this in New York, California or Minnesota, we want you to buy a quality fireplace product because we want you to love hearth products like fireplaces and stoves.
People are losing the ability to choose if their home even has a fireplace anymore. Home builders are not including gas fireplaces, hearths or masonry chimneys in their new homes nearly as often to save money. This removes an important asset for many future homeowners and diminishes the value of the fireplace in the American home.
At The Stove Shop, we believe if you have a wonderful experience with your fireplace, then you will come to love the heat and choice available to your family. Fireplaces are a decision that we want families to make for themselves. If you buy a low quality pellet stove from a big box store, it will only further the story for your family that stoves and fireplaces are just a thing of the past. We believe the freedom afforded by having individual heating fuel choice is worth taking the time to make this information available without any advertisements or distractions. It will be a cold world if a majority of American homes are limping along with electric heat as their only option.
Fireplaces represent more than heat—they’re a cornerstone of comfort, independence, and tradition. Make a choice your family will appreciate for generations.
In conclusion, the average cost of a new gas fireplace or gas fireplace insert in 2025 is at least $7,000 all in. If you plan on replacing your gas fireplace, it might cost more depending on project scope. At the end of the day, fireplaces can absolutely help provide meaningful heat in your home. If your fireplace is not creating impactful warmth, please consider replacing your existing fireplace.
Direct warmth is an investment in how you heat your home. If you only have electric heat with no other sources of warmth, the peace of mind created through a high quality fireplace is life changing. We can’t wait to continue sharing our passion for fireplaces with you as we continue to grow and improve! At The Stove Shop in Phoenixville, PA we have a fireplace showroom filled with burning gas fireplaces and gas fireplace inserts for you to enjoy. (You can even check out our fireplace showroom virtually!) Please reach out if you have any questions. We are honored to help you stay warm and save money.
The Stove Shop Fireplace Experts
The Stove Shop Fireplace Experts is located at 20 E. Pothouse Road Phoenixville, PA 19460. Our hours are 10am – 5pm Tuesday thru Friday and 10am – 4pm on Saturday. Our goal since 1977 has been to help our customers stay warm and save money. If you want to learn more about heating your home with a fireplace check out, “How to get more heat from your fireplace“.
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