Converting a Wood Fireplace to Gas: Real 2026 Costs & Options

Converting a wood-burning fireplace to gas is one of the most requested chimney projects of the year — and one of the most misquoted. Here's a transparent 2026 breakdown of what the three real conversion options cost, which one fits your fireplace, and what "included" should actually mean on the invoice.

The three conversion paths

There isn't a single "gas conversion." There are three, and they live at very different price points.

1. Vented gas log set (least invasive)

A decorative log set drops into the existing firebox and vents through the open damper. Realistic. Warm ambiance. Almost no efficiency.

• Log set + burner: $450 – $1,200
• Gas line run (10–25 ft from meter): $400 – $900
• Damper clamp + permit + install: $250 – $500
• Total installed: $1,100 – $2,600

2. Vented gas insert (best heat)

A sealed firebox that slides into the existing masonry opening and vents through a new stainless liner up the flue.

• Insert unit: $2,200 – $4,800
• Stainless liner + install: $1,400 – $2,600
• Gas line + electrical + finish trim: $700 – $1,500
• Total installed: $4,300 – $8,900

3. Direct-vent conversion (new construction, no chimney needed)

Full sealed unit with dual-wall pipe out a sidewall. Used when there's no usable chimney or when the customer wants zero draft variability.

• Total installed: $5,500 – $11,000+

What drives the final price

• Gas line distance from the meter — every extra 10 ft adds $150–$300
• Type of gas — natural gas is cheaper to run; propane needs a tank and regulator
• Chimney condition — a cracked flue means a full reline is non-negotiable
• Local permit and inspection — required almost everywhere for gas work

What a legitimate quote should include

• Pressure test on the gas line
• Manufacturer-spec vent liner (not a "we'll reuse the old flue")
• Manual damper clamp (code requirement on vented log sets)
• CO test at final firing
• Written warranty on the burner AND the install labor

Bottom line

Budget $1,500–$2,500 for a simple log set, $5,000–$8,000 for a proper vented insert, and don't accept any gas quote that skips a pressure test or a CO reading. Anyone cutting those corners is cutting the wrong ones.