What a log burner costs to install
What happens on the day, typical prices, what moves them up or down, and the certificate you should end up holding.
On the day
- Survey first. Fireplace, chimney or flue route, room size, hearth.
- Sweep and test. Approved Document J says a flue should be swept before relining, and it is tested for soundness.
- Liner or flue. Usually a flexible stainless liner down the chimney, or a twin-wall system where there isn't one. Detail
- Hearth. The stove sits on something non-combustible, kept clear of anything that burns.
- Air. Some stoves need a permanent vent. The installer sizes it from the stove's output.
- CO alarm in the same room. Alarm rules
- Light it, test it, hand over. You're shown the controls and a notice plate is fixed recording the flue and hearth.
MyJobQuote puts a typical installation at one to two days depending on complexity.
Sources: Approved Document J, 2022 edition (GOV.UK); MyJobQuote, log burner installation cost (updated 10 September 2026).
Typical installed prices
Supply and fit, VAT included, from tradespeople's quotes gathered by MyJobQuote (page dated 10 September 2026). National, not Devon-specific, and not a quote.
| Job | Budget | Mid-range | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Existing chimney, nothing major | £1,400 to £2,000 | £1,900 to £2,800 | £2,700 to £4,000+ |
| Existing chimney, swept and lined | £2,000 to £2,800 | £2,200 to £3,200 | £3,200 to £4,500+ |
| No chimney, twin-wall flue | £2,500 to £3,500 | £3,000 to £4,500 | £4,500 to £6,000+ |
Parts on their own
| Item | Typical |
|---|---|
| Chimney liner, fitted | about £800 |
| Twin-wall flue, fitted (no chimney) | £1,900 to £3,300 |
| Hearth, supply only | £150 to £380 |
| Sweep before installation | about £85 |
| CO alarm, supply only | £15 to £40 |
Source: MyJobQuote, log burner installation cost (updated 10 September 2026).
What moves the price
- Chimney or not. A sound existing chimney is the cheap route. No chimney means twin-wall, which costs more.
- State of the chimney. Sweeping, lining, leadwork repairs all add up.
- The stove. Budget to premium is a wide band.
- Fireplace work. Opening up a blocked one, a new hearth or surround.
- Access. Tall stacks and awkward roofs can mean scaffolding.
- Registration. An unregistered fitter can leave you paying building control separately.
Source: MyJobQuote, log burner installation cost (updated 10 September 2026).
The certificate
In England and Wales, most stove installations must be notified to building control. HETAS points out the paperwork matters for home insurance and when the house is sold. Two routes:
- A HETAS-registered installer, registered for that work, self-certifies through HETAS. No application from you. You receive a HETAS Certificate of Compliance afterwards.
- Anyone else, yourself included, means applying to the council's building control before starting. Expect a fee and an inspection.
Sources: HETAS, regulations; HETAS, working with building control.
Planning permission
For a house, a flue is usually permitted development, so no application. Limits apply under Class G: it stops being permitted if the flue would rise a metre or more above the highest point of the roof, or, in a conservation area, National Park or AONB, if it goes on a wall or roof slope facing a road at the front or side. Listed buildings and flats: check with the council.
Six questions for any installer
- Registered with HETAS for this work, and will you notify it and send the certificate?
- Does the quote cover sweeping, a smoke test, the liner or flue, the hearth and the CO alarm?
- Does this room need an air vent for this stove?
- Scaffolding needed, and is it in the price?
- Is my address in a smoke control area, and is the stove Defra-exempt?
- How long will you be here?
Want a real number for your house?
Describe the room and the chimney. It reaches one HETAS-registered installer, who gets in touch to arrange a look at the job. Costs you nothing, commits you to nothing.