Chimney liner installation costs a national average of $2,500, with most homeowners paying $1,500 to $5,000, per Angi’s 2026 data.4 Four of the five sources we reviewed put the average at $2,500, but several figures match exactly across pages with no attribution — and matching figures alone don’t establish independent corroboration. Published ranges still differ.1,2,3,4,5 Figures below are the latest published national figures* from each source.
*National figures, not local quotes. Angi’s page is 2026 data (updated September 21, 2026); HomeAdvisor was updated June 20, 2026; HomeGuide was written February 9, 2026; Fixr was updated January 31, 2025; Bob Vila was updated July 19, 2022. Your price depends on liner material, flue size and shape, roof access, chimney condition, and local labor.
$2,500
national average (Angi, 2026)
$1,500 – $5,000
typical range (Angi, HomeAdvisor)
$625 – $7,000
low–high spread (Fixr)
$400 – $1,250
typical labor (Angi, HomeAdvisor)
What sources say
| Source | Figure | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Angi | $2,500 average; most pay $1,500 – $5,000 | Chimney liner cost guide (2026 data, updated September 21, 2026) |
| HomeAdvisor | $2,500 average; $1,500 – $5,000 range | Chimney liner installation cost guide (updated June 20, 2026) |
| Fixr | $2,500 average; $1,800 – $4,000 average range; $625 low, $7,000 high | Chimney liner installation guide (updated January 31, 2025) |
| HomeGuide | $1,500 – $4,000 average installation | Chimney liner cost guide (written February 9, 2026) |
| Bob Vila | $2,500 national average; $625 – $7,000 typical range | Chimney liner cost guide (updated July 19, 2022) |
Angi owns HomeAdvisor, and their average, range, labor figures, and material table are identical with no attribution — matching figures, not corroboration.1,4 Bob Vila’s $625–$7,000 range endpoints match Fixr’s published low and high exactly, its $400–$1,250 labor range matches Angi and HomeAdvisor exactly, and its per-square-foot material prices partly match theirs — again matching figures across pages with no attribution.1,2,3,4 Where the sources genuinely disagree, we flag it below.
Cost by material
Material prices are quoted per linear foot, per square foot, or per kit depending on the source, and the figures do not always agree. Per linear foot (materials only), HomeGuide prices liners at $6 to $120 overall and Fixr at $5 to $200 rigid and $15 to $120 flexible.2,5
| Material | HomeGuide (per ft) | Fixr (per ft) | Angi / HomeAdvisor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stainless steel | $20 – $90 | $20 – $40 rigid; $40 – $90 flexible | $65 per sq ft (wood or gas) |
| Aluminum (gas only) | $5 – $30 | $5 – $20 rigid; $15 – $30 flexible | $100 – $300 per kit |
| Clay / terracotta | $6 – $15 | $6 – $15 rigid | $10 per sq ft (wood only) |
| Cast-in-place | $40 – $120 | $25 – $250 | $25 per sq ft (wood or gas) |
| Ceramic / Thermocrete | $50 – $200 | $50 – $200 rigid | — |
HomeGuide’s clay and ceramic per-foot ranges match Fixr’s exactly — more matching figures without attribution.2,5 Bob Vila’s per-square-foot prices tell a mixed story: its clay ($10) and stainless steel ($65, about $100 installed) match Angi and HomeAdvisor, but its cast-in-place price of $250 per square foot is ten times their $25 per square foot — a discrepancy the sources do not reconcile.1,3,4 For installed totals by liner type, HomeGuide prices aluminum at $625 to $2,250, stainless steel at $900 to $3,800, ceramic at $1,000 to $5,000, clay at $2,000 to $3,500, and cast-in-place at $2,000 to $7,000; DIY liner kits run $300 to $800 before installation.5
Single-wall vs. double-wall
For metal liners, single-wall material runs $20 to $40 per foot and double-wall $40 to $90 per foot — figures identical on Fixr and HomeGuide, another exact match with no attribution.2,5 HomeGuide puts installed costs at $35 to $70 per foot for single-wall and $50 to $160 for double-wall.5 Fixr claims double-wall liners increase drafts by approximately 20 percent — its figure, presented as its own.2
Labor and replacement
Typical labor runs $400 to $1,250 (Angi, HomeAdvisor, and Bob Vila — identical figures) or $500 to $1,500 (Fixr, matching HomeGuide’s labor adder).1,2,3,4,5 Full relining with old-liner removal averages $1,200 to $4,600, and removal or follow-up work bills at $75 to $150 per hour (Fixr).2 Bob Vila notes homes with multiple appliances venting through the chimney pay about $400 more.3
Related costs to budget
A pre-installation chimney inspection averages $450 (Angi), $125 to $250 including cleaning (Bob Vila), or about $400 for a Level 2 inspection with a basic sweep (Fixr) — differing figures with different stated scopes, not reconciled by the sources.2,3,4 A pre-installation sweep runs about $250 to $255 (HomeAdvisor, Angi); permits typically cost $50 to $200 (Bob Vila).1,3,4 Liner insulation adds $300 to $800 (Fixr) or $200 to $1,500 (Bob Vila) — differing ranges, not reconciled.2,3 If the inspection finds damage, chimney repairs run $160 to $750 (HomeAdvisor); Bob Vila prices a broken crown near $900, a partial rebuild around $2,800, and refacing at $2,500 to $5,000.1,3
How long a liner lasts
Angi puts overall liner lifespan at 15 to 25 years: aluminum around 5 years, stainless steel 15 to 20, and clay or cast-in-place up to 50 with maintenance.4 Fixr’s rule of thumb is replacement every 15 to 20 years, and HomeGuide recommends replacing stainless liners every 15 to 20 years (though its own materials table says 15 to 25 — an internal inconsistency we preserved).2,5
Are liners required by code?
For masonry chimneys, generally yes. HomeGuide states that fire codes require most solid-fuel chimneys to have a liner, and Bob Vila notes liners are required in most areas — and the model residential code backs the core claim: the 2024 International Residential Code (Section R1003.11) states “masonry chimneys shall be lined,” with lining material appropriate to the connected appliance per its listing and manufacturer’s instructions, and Section R1003.11.1 lists accepted lining systems (clay flue lining meeting ASTM C315, listed systems meeting UL 1777, factory-built chimney units, or other approved materials that resist flue gases up to 1,800°F).3,5,6 The IRC is a model code that states and cities adopt with amendments and on different cycles, so check the rules in force for your property with your installer or local building department.
Related guides
Chimney Cap Installation Cost
Chimney Repair Cost
Chimney Sweep Cost
Fireplace Installation Cost
All cost guides
Sources
1. HomeAdvisor — How Much Does It Cost to Install a Chimney Liner? (updated June 20, 2026)
2. Fixr — Chimney Liner Installation Cost (updated January 31, 2025)
3. Bob Vila — How Much Does a Chimney Liner Cost to Install? (updated July 19, 2022)
4. Angi — How Much Does a Chimney Liner Cost? (2026 Data, updated September 21, 2026)
5. HomeGuide — How Much Does a Chimney Liner Cost to Install? (written February 9, 2026)
6. 2024 International Residential Code, Sections R1003.11 and R1003.11.1 (ICC Digital Codes)