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Pellet Stove Prices by Material

Pellet stoves are available in cast iron and stainless steel. Each material creates a very different stove in terms of looks and costs, although their performance is similar. For most people, the choice comes down to appearance because one may fit better with your aesthetics than another.

Stainless Steel Pellet Stove

Stainless steel pellet stoves are more contemporary than cast iron. While a cast iron stove looks like a century-old wood stove, a stainless steel stove has a much more modern appearance. These stoves are sleek, round, or rectangular columns, often taller and thinner than cast iron. They come in top and bottom-loading and a full range of sizes. They perform the same as a cast iron stove, but stainless steel does not hold heat as well. While the stove is running, it puts out consistent heat, but when it shuts off or runs out of fuel, there is no heat left. Depending on the size, they cost between $1,000 and $3,000.

Cast Iron Pellet Stove

Cast iron pellet stoves have a much more classic appearance than stainless steel. This is what people think of when they hear “wood-burning” or pellet stoves. They are often heavier, shorter, and wider than stainless, with a very traditional aesthetic. They come in many colors so that you can find one that complements your decor. They also come in top and bottom-loading styles and a full range of sizes. Cast iron holds heat better than stainless, which means that the stove can give off residual heat once the burner is off. They cost between $1,500 and $4,000 on average, depending on the size.

Pellet Stove Cost by Combustion Method

Pellet stoves are fueled by compressed, biobased pellets made from a mixture of wood, sawdust, food scraps, and other items. Those pellets are fed into the stove’s hopper, where they are conveyed to the combustion chamber. Pellets can be fed into the stove from the top or bottom. The method you choose comes down to personal taste, safety, and cost.

Top-Feed Pellet Stove

In a top-feed stove, the pellets are placed in the top of the stove and fed down into the combustion chamber. This is a gravity feed, and most pellet stoves use it. This method causes fewer accidental fires but can lead to ash buildup, lowering the stove’s efficiency. If you use a top-feed stove, you need low-ash pellets. Some top-fed stoves have a pellet backup, which can cause the stove to jam. Top-feed stoves cost between $1,000 and $3,500 on average.

Bottom-Feed Pellet Stove

Bottom-feed stoves move the pellets from the bottom directly back into the combustion chamber. This is a more efficient way to move the pellets because there is less chance of jamming. The flames may sometimes reach the hopper, but the ash drops harmlessly downward. Newer models include vacuums and pellet breakers that prevent issues with flames, making them even safer to use. Using this stove type requires you to empty the ash collection about once a week. This stove type is rarer, produced by only a few companies, so your choices are limited. They cost $2,000 to $4,000 on average.

Pellet Stove Prices by Type

While most pellet stoves are freestanding, some can be installed in existing fireplaces as well. These are known as fireplace inserts, and they can convert your wood-burning fireplace into a pellet-burning stove. Both freestanding stoves and inserts come in many sizes and styles, and both help heat your home. However, they have different costs and considerations.

Freestanding Pellet Stove

Most pellet stoves are freestanding, resembling an old-fashioned wood stove or contemporary stove box, and they can be installed near an outside wall. This provides greater flexibility for installation and does not require a fireplace.

Freestanding units need a fireproof pad below or be placed on a non-combustible surface. You need to install a chimney or vent for the stove unless they are a direct vent unit. They have a broader range of styles and can be traditional or contemporary. These stoves cost $1,000 to $5,000 on average.

Wall-Mounted Pellet Stove

While less common, some pellet stoves, called direct-vent stoves, can be wall-mounted. They do not require a chimney because they vent directly outside. These units have to be installed properly to avoid air leaks, but they can save space in homes and look like a fireplace insert. They can be less expensive to install. They cost about the same as other types because they do not need a chimney or pad. Expect costs of $1,000 to $5,000.

Pellet Stove Insert Cost

Inserts convert your fireplace into a pellet stove. They can use your existing chimney, but you may need a new liner, depending on the age and condition. You may also need to have electricity run to the insert, which can increase the project cost. However, you do not need a fireproof pad because the hearth is already in place.

Like freestanding stoves, they can come in many styles and sizes. Inserts cost more on average than freestanding units, including installation. They cost around $2,000 to $6,000.

Pellet Stove Costs by Size

Like any heating unit, pellet stoves are sized by their BTU production. However, unlike some heating sources, the amount of BTUs does not always correspond to how many square feet you need to heat. Vaulted ceilings, upper stories, and non-open floor plans may need larger units than the same-sized home with an open floor plan, lower ceilings, and good airflow. Most pellet stoves produce a range of BTUs, with high and low heat settings. Pellet stoves often have two sets of BTUs - input and output. The input is the number that the pellets could produce if 100% were converted to heat. The output is the actual number produced because pellet stoves are only 73% - 75% efficient. Always check the output number for accuracy. Below are some of the more common sizes and average costs.

Pellet Stove Prices by Brand

Many companies produce pellet stoves. Some specialize in a specific style or feed method, while others may have many products. Each has a cost and other attributes to consider as well.

King Pellet Stove Costs

If you want a basic pellet stove that cheaply produces heat, consider the King brand. These are a budget set of stoves that you can find anywhere. They come in many sizes and are made mostly of stainless steel. They feature top feeding technology and are designed to be easy to set up and install. They cost between $900 and $1,500 on average.

St. Croix Pellet Stove Price

St. Croix makes many pellet stoves with an emphasis on sustainability. They have traditional cast iron and stainless steel models. They also make inserts that go into existing fireplaces. Most of their stoves are simple, with an emphasis on quality. Expect prices to range from $1,400 to $3,000.

Harman Pellet Stove Prices

Harman is the leader in the bottom-feeding pellet stove industry. Their stoves are very high-quality with many safety features that ensure a smooth loading with little chance of jamming or fire reaching the hopper. They have many technical advances to make adjustments via remote as well. Their products come in cast iron and stainless steel in many sizes. They cost between $2,000 and $5,000.

Ravelli Pellet Stove Cost

Ravelli makes many attractive high-end pellet stoves. Their stoves come with ceramic liners in different colors to improve their aesthetics. They have remote control features to adjust fan speed and heat effortlessly. They make a full range of contemporary and traditional models. Their stoves cost between $2,500 and $4,000 on average.

Enviro Pellet Stove Prices

Enviro makes several freestanding pellet stoves. Their stoves range from contemporary stainless steel models to traditional cast iron. Their high-efficiency models reach up to 60,000 BTUs, higher than many stoves. These are high-quality stoves designed for easy use. Prices range from $3,000 to $5,000 on average.

Lopi Pellet Stove Prices

Lopi manufactures luxury pellet stoves. Their stoves are premium state-of-the-art models that can burn up to 57 hours in one hopper. They include easy-to-use controls and are made of cast iron for better heat retention and durability. Their stoves are more traditional in appearance. Expect costs between $4,000 and $5,000 on average.

Pellet Stove Installation Cost

Pellet stoves are relatively simple to install. Some can be installed inside a wall and vent directly outdoors. Others do not require a vent and instead vent back into your home. However, most need a chimney or vent with a fireproof pad. For installation, direct vent stoves are mounted into the wall and sealed in place. For most others, a fireproof pad is placed, the stove set on top, and a chimney installed by cutting a small hole in the wall.

Some stoves may need an air intake at the back, which requires another cut. This takes around 2 - 3 hours but may take less if you have previously installed a stove or an existing vent.

Labor costs vary for pellet stove installations, depending on the stove type and installation location. On average, expect to spend around $600 to $1,000 on labor for a freestanding stove. For a cast iron freestanding stove, labor is around $800, the vent about $300, the pad $100, and the stove $2,800 for a total of $4,000.

Pellet Stove Insert Installation Cost

Pellet stove inserts are easy to install. The insert is set into place, with flanges filling any remaining space around the stove. Some chimneys may need a new stainless steel liner designed to work with the stove. This liner is very easy to install because most are flexible. The liner costs around $300, while the installation labor costs around $1,000 to $2,000 for the liner and insert together. With the insert, expect to pay between $4,300 and $7,300 for the unit fully installed.

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Where to Install a Pellet Stove

Pellet stoves are fairly versatile in where they can be installed, but they have some restrictions. Ideally, they should be placed along a wall for easy venting, approximately 6 inches from the wall, on a fireproof pad flooring material.

Some models can be vented back into the room. If you opt for the traditionally vented types, this limits you more because you must determine the best place to run a chimney. These stoves must be set 36 inches from furniture or drapes and kept out of foot traffic.

Consider the area you are heating. If you have an open floor plan, your pellet stove can efficiently heat a larger area. But if you have smaller sectioned rooms, the stove needs vents and fans to reach larger areas.

If you have several locations to install the stove, keep in mind how far you need to carry the pellets and where the pellets will be stored. You also need a 120-volt outlet near the stove’s final location.

Pellet Stove Heat

The job of a pellet stove is to produce heat. Stoves are rated by how much heat they can produce in BTUs. Size your stove directly to the room or area’s size. Larger rooms and spaces require more BTUs and a larger stove.

The heat produced by the stove is dry and comfortable. The stove may allow the heat to radiate out naturally or use fans to blow and direct the heat into the room. To ensure even and consistent heating, keep the hopper section of the stove filled with pellets.

Cost to Run a Pellet Stove

Pellet stoves burn small compressed pellets to produce heat. These are made of various materials, including pressed-down sawdust that is easy to scoop and feed. Depending on your stove’s efficiency, you could have hoppers that hold enough pellets to run for two days at a time.

Pellet stoves use a small amount of electricity. This keeps the stove working and the fan circulating. Unlike wood stoves, you can adjust the heat setting on a pellet stove ranging from low to high. The lower you keep the temperature, the longer the fuel burns.

Pellets cost roughly $5 for a 40-pound bag, and most places sell palettes of 50 bags for $250. The exact amount that your pellet stove burns and how much you need depends on the stove size, hopper size, how often it runs, and the stove’s running temperature. Many hoppers can hold 40 or 60 pounds of fuel at a time, with enough for a continuous burn of 48 hours or more on low heat.

How Much Electricity Does a Pellet Stove Use?

A pellet stove’s electricity use varies, depending on the stove’s size, whether it is on low or high heat, and how many hours you use it a day.

The average stove requires between 360 and 460 watts to ignite. They may use between 80 and 345 watts per hour, depending on your stove and the setting.

To calculate total costs, find the exact number of watts used per hour by your model and the cost of electricity per watt in your area.

Pellet Stove Maintenance

Pellet stoves are fairly low-maintenance. Beyond keeping them filled, you need to periodically either empty the ashtray for bottom-loading feeds or clean out the auger in top-loading feeds. Service the stove yearly or every other year to ensure that the circuit board and moving parts are in good condition. The original installer of the stove typically provides this service.

Pellet Stove Pros and Cons

Like any heating system, pellet stoves have pros and cons. They are a relatively inexpensive and easy way to heat your home. They are more sustainable than other methods because the pellets can be made of many materials, including recycled sawdust. Pellet stoves are attractive and easier to use than wood-burning stoves.

However, if the power goes out, a pellet stove ceases to function. While they can produce enough heat to technically warm 2,000 sq.ft. or more, they can only do so if you have the right airflow in your home. Vaulted ceilings, second floors with stairwells far from the stove, and no vents between floors all mean that your stove may only heat a small portion of your home. They are good for supplemental heat and heating the main living areas of your home but often do a poor job of heating a larger space effectively.

Pellet Stove vs Wood Stove

The closest alternative to a pellet stove is a wood stove. Both look similar and come in freestanding or insert styles. While pellet stoves burn compressed pellets fed into a hopper, wood stoves burn split logs fed by hand. Wood stoves do not rely on electricity, making them a better choice if you worry about power outages, but they are higher maintenance and more difficult to use.

Pellet stoves can be operated by remote and allow you to switch between high and low settings easily. Wood stoves need constant monitoring and do not operate at different levels. However, wood can be gathered from nearly anywhere to burn in the stove, while pellet stoves rely on synthetic fuel. However, their costs are fairly comparable at the start. Some wood stoves cost more for larger models.

Pellet Stove vs Gas Stove

Gas stoves are another method of efficiently heating your home without a furnace or boiler. Gas stoves are cast iron glass-front stoves with a traditional appearance like many wood and pellet stoves. They run on natural gas or propane fed to the stove via a gas line. Like pellet stoves, they can run on high or low settings.

Pellet stoves require electricity to run, but many gas stoves do not. A gas stove can function in a power outage. While you need to feed a pellet stove, gas stoves run without direct contact with the fuel, so you do not need to worry about fuel supply beyond making sure the gas line works. Otherwise, the two stoves look similar and can be installed anywhere. They have similar costs for purchase and installation.

Gas Fireplace vs Pellet Stove

Another alternative to the pellet stove is a gas fireplace. Gas fireplaces operate via a gas line like a gas stove and do not require electricity to run. They can look like a traditional fireplace or have a modern appearance. While pellet stoves take more room, gas fireplaces are usually flush with the firebox they are installed in and can be placed anywhere inside a wall. Pellet stove inserts can be used inside an existing fireplace but often extend farther into the room. Gas fireplaces tend to cost more, with a built-in unit costing around $6,550. They can be more invasive to install than a pellet stove. While a pellet stove only requires a vent, gas fireplaces need full enclosures.

Enhancement and Improvement Costs

Carbon Monoxide Detector

Pellet stoves do not produce as much carbon dioxide as wood stoves or other flame-based heaters, but they produce some. You need to install a carbon monoxide detector. They cost around $20 on average.

Back-up Power Supply

Pellet stoves cannot run without electricity. If you want to ensure continuous use, consider installing a generator for between $4,000 and $10,000.

Metal Ash Vacuum

An ash vacuum can make cleaning the stove easier. They cost between $80 and $200 on average.

Remote Adjustable Thermostats

Some pellet stoves can be adjusted via remote control. You can alter the temperature settings remotely on the built-in thermostat. These stoves are higher-end than the others, with costs starting close to $3,000.