How much does it cost to install a wood burner in Hertfordshire? (2026 guide)
What the national cost guides say a wood burning stove installation costs in 2026: labour, stove, flue liner, twin-wall flue, hearth and what changes the price.
One of our installsShort answer: the national cost guides put a stove plus installation at between about £1,800 and £5,500 in 2026, and a job that needs a twin-wall flue or a new fireplace built can go past that. Those are national averages, not our prices. Here is where the money goes.
Industry figures, September 2026. Checkatrade’s cost guide puts installation labour at around £2,000 for an existing fireplace and the average stove at about £950. BookaBuilderUK’s 2026 guide gives a whole-job range of £1,800 to £5,500 or more. Every figure in this guide is a national average from those guides, not our price. Your own price comes after a survey.
The five things that decide the price
1. The stove
A good 5 kW Ecodesign stove from a mainstream maker is typically £500 to £1,500. Cast iron, larger outputs, wide-screen glass, and boiler or double-sided models cost more. We will steer you to a stove that suits the room rather than the most expensive one.
2. Whether the chimney needs lining
Most older chimneys do. A flexible stainless steel liner, register plate and the labour to fit them is the biggest single cost after the stove. Checkatrade’s figure for fitting a new flue in an existing chimney is around £1,150.
3. No chimney at all
A twin-wall flue system is more expensive than a liner because every section is an insulated component and the route has to be built. Checkatrade quotes around £2,550 for installing an external twin-wall flue to an existing fireplace. A false chimney breast adds carpentry, plasterboard and finishing. See the no-chimney guide.
4. The opening, hearth and surround
Forming a new opening and hearth is £900 to £3,000 in the national guides depending on the work. Hearth materials alone are typically £50 to £400. Timber surrounds start around £700, and marble surrounds can run past £3,000.
5. Extras you should expect to see on a proper quote
- Carbon monoxide alarm (required)
- Ventilation if the stove needs it
- Cowl or terminal
- HETAS certificate (included in our price; there is no separate council fee because we self-certify)
- Making good and removing waste
Running costs
Allow around £100 a year for a sweep and service (Checkatrade). Fuel depends on how much you burn; dry wood under 20% moisture burns far more efficiently than damp logs and keeps the glass and flue cleaner.
How to compare quotes
Check each quote includes the liner (if needed), hearth, CO alarm, certificate and making good. A low quote that leaves those out is not a low quote. Ask who is actually doing the work and whether they are HETAS registered.
Want a real number for your room? Book a home survey.
Questions we get asked
Is a wood burner cheaper to run than central heating?
For heating one room in the evening, often yes, especially with dry logs. For heating a whole house, central heating is usually more efficient. Most people use a stove to heat the room they live in and run the heating less.
Why is the labour so much of the cost?
Lining a chimney safely, forming hearths and openings, and certifying the job to Building Regulations is skilled work that usually takes one to three days with two people.
How do I get an exact price?
Book a survey. Tom looks at the room, the chimney or the wall, and gives you a clear written quote.
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