“What does a fireplace cost?” is really five questions wearing one sentence, because the type decision moves the number by an order of magnitude before any other factor gets a vote. The honest answer is a tiered map:
The tiers, smallest to largest
Electric: the appliance plus (sometimes) a dedicated circuit and surround carpentry. No venting, no gas, no chimney, which is why it’s the budget tier and the only true DIY-adjacent option, where electric shines
Gas insert into an existing fireplace: appliance + liner + gas connection, transforming what you have rather than building new, the best value-per-dollar transformation in the catalog
New direct-vent gas fireplace: appliance, framing, venting run through wall or roof, gas line extension, and finish work, the mainstream “add a fireplace where none exists” project
New wood-burning (factory-built): firebox, full-height chase construction, Class-A chimney, the romance of wood at the price of real construction
Masonry construction: footing, brick, flue tile, crown, generational construction at generational pricing
What moves the number within a tier
The venting path: the biggest variable in gas installs, a straight shot through an exterior wall is simple; routing through two stories to the roof is not. Gas line reality: distance from the meter and whether your current service has capacity. Finish ambitions: the surround, stone, tile, mantel, built-ins, routinely costs more than the appliance and is limited only by taste. Permits and inspection: real line items in most metroplex cities, the permit guide.
How to shop this well: decide the type first (the decision guide), then get the full-scope quote, appliance, venting, fuel, framing, finish, permits, as one fixed number. The industry’s trap is the appliance-only price that grows a venting surcharge, a gas-line adder, and a finish “allowance” after commitment. Ours arrive whole, in writing. Start with the room.
CDThe Chimney For Dallas team — CSIA-certified chimney and fireplace specialists working across the DFW metroplex. Meet the team or book a free estimate.