Stainless-Steel Liner Cost Calculator
Stainless is the liner for wood and multi-fuel. It is priced by diameter and length — a bigger bore and an insulation wrap both add to the per-foot cost.
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Stainless is the go-to liner for wood and multi-fuel, priced by diameter and length. About $1,342 here. A bigger diameter and an insulation blanket both add cost, but insulation keeps the flue hot and cuts creosote.
When the appliance burns wood, stainless is not a luxury — it is the grade that survives the heat and the acids that wood smoke throws off. What varies is the diameter and the grade. A 6" liner for a modern stove is the cheapest run; step up to a 7" or 8" bore for a fireplace or a high-output stove and the price per foot climbs, because there is more metal in every foot and the coil is heavier to handle.
The second lever is the insulation wrap. Bare stainless is cheaper today, but an insulated liner runs hotter, drafts better and glazes up with creosote far more slowly — which means fewer sweeps and a safer flue. For wood, the wrap almost always pays for itself. This tool prices the run at the rate for your diameter, adds the wrap and labor, and leaves the grade decision to you and your installer.
Formula
Length at the diameter-appropriate rate, plus the wrap and labor:
liner = length_ft × rate_per_ft
total = (liner + insulation + labor) × (1 + contingency)
Use the rate your supplier quotes for the specific diameter and grade — that is where the size shows up in the cost.
Worked example
A 19 ft run of 7" stainless for a bigger stove, at $34/ft for that bore, a $140 insulation wrap and $520 labor, with a 10% cushion:
- Liner: 19 × $34 = $646
- Subtotal: $646 + $140 + $520 = $1,306
- Total: $1,306 × 1.10 ≈ $1,437
Drop to a 6" bore and the per-foot rate falls; skip the wrap and you save now but pay in draft and cleanings later.
Grade and diameter, before you price
Two spec choices decide the rate. Grade: 304-grade stainless suits most wood and pellet relines, while a heavier 316Ti alloy is the pick for very heavy wood use, coal, or corrosive gas — it costs more but resists acid attack. Diameter: size it to the appliance outlet, never guess big — an oversized liner runs cool and creosotes, an undersized one chokes the appliance. The flue-liner-size and wood-stove-flue-size tools give you the right bore before you shop the rate.
Get the size and grade from the appliance manual and the Chimney Safety Institute of America guidance, then quote the per-foot rate for exactly that liner. The number here is a planning estimate, not a bid.
Reference table
Size the liner to the appliance outlet, then price it — diameter is the main lever on the per-foot rate. Confirm against the manufacturer’s instructions and NFPA 211.
| Appliance | Typical liner | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Modern wood stove / insert | 6" | The common size; a 6" flexible liner is the cheapest run. |
| Larger / high-output wood stove | 7–8" | Bigger diameter = a higher rate per foot. |
| Open wood fireplace | per the 1/10 rule | Sized off the opening — see the flue-liner-size tool. |
| Gas appliance (Cat. I) | per listing | Match the manufacturer’s vent table, not the old flue. |