Chimney Liner Guide: Sizing, Insulation, and Insert Relines
Updated August 2026
If you're installing a wood insert into a masonry fireplace, or relining an old masonry chimney for a freestanding stove, you need a stainless steel flex liner run the full height of the chimney, sized to match your stove's flue collar. The Drolet and Englander wood stoves and inserts we carry use a 6-inch collar, and our stainless steel chimney liner kits come in 4-inch and 6-inch — always confirm against your stove's manual before ordering. Below: how sizing works, which steel grade you need, when insulation matters, and what it costs.
What a stainless steel chimney liner does
A liner is a continuous stainless steel flue that runs inside your masonry chimney from the stove or insert connection all the way to the top. It gives the exhaust a correctly sized, sealed, smooth path out of the house. Old masonry chimneys often have cracked clay tiles, gaps, or a flue that's far too large for a modern stove — all of which weaken draft and let creosote build where you can't see it. The liner fixes all three problems at once.
For wood inserts this isn't optional: Drolet and Englander insert manuals call for a full-height liner connection, and most inspectors and sweeps will insist on one. For a freestanding stove venting into an existing masonry chimney, a reline is how you bring that chimney up to the job. (New Class A chimney systems and stovepipe are a different animal — that's covered in our chimney and stovepipe guide.)
Which stainless grade: 304, 316 or 904?
You will see liners sold in several stainless grades, and the difference is corrosion resistance rather than strength.
- 304 / 304L — the standard grade for wood-burning appliances. Wood exhaust is comparatively benign, and 304 is what the great majority of wood stove and insert relines use. This is what our kits are.
- 316 / 316Ti — higher corrosion resistance. Typically specified for coal, oil and some gas appliances, whose exhaust is more aggressive, and occasionally chosen for wood in very wet climates or exposed exterior chimneys.
- 904 / AL29-4C — premium alloys aimed at condensing and high-corrosion applications, usually oil and certain gas appliances.
The practical answer: if you are burning wood, 304 is the appropriate and standard specification, and paying for 904 buys corrosion resistance you will not use. If you are burning coal or oil, or converting an appliance that does, you want 316 or better — and we do not stock those, so buy from a supplier who does rather than fitting a 304 liner to a coal appliance.
What size chimney liner do I need?
Match the liner diameter to your stove's flue collar. That's the whole rule. The wood stoves and inserts we sell have a 6-inch collar, so a 6-inch liner is the correct match — check the specifications page in your manual to confirm yours. Going larger is not better: an oversized flue lets exhaust slow down and cool, which hurts draft and accelerates creosote. Going smaller restricts the exhaust and is unsafe. Match the collar.
If your appliance needs a 4-inch liner — the Drolet ECO-65R and some smaller appliances do — we stock 4-inch kits in both lengths: the VOLKA-425 ($399) at 25 ft and the VOLKA-435 ($519) at 35 ft.
We do not currently stock 5-inch liners. Do not fit a 6-inch liner to a 5-inch collar to make it work; the mismatch will cost you draft and create a creosote problem. Buy the correct diameter from a supplier who carries it, or call us on 1-888-914-0022 and we will tell you honestly whether your appliance is one we can supply.
For length, measure from where the liner connects at the stove or insert up to the top of the chimney, then round up — extra liner can be trimmed, a short liner is a returned liner.
What a chimney liner costs
Our stainless steel liner kits, complete with top plate, cap and connector hardware:
| Kit | Size | For | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stainless Flex Liner Kit — VOLKA-425 | 4" × 25 ft | 4-inch appliances, chimneys up to 25 ft | $399 |
| Stainless Flex Liner Kit — VOLKA-435 | 4" × 35 ft | 4-inch appliances, taller chimneys | $519 |
| Vortex Insert Liner Kit — VOLKI-625 | 6" × 25 ft | Wood inserts, chimneys up to 25 ft | $449 |
| Vortex Insert Liner Kit — VOLKI-635 | 6" × 35 ft | Wood inserts, taller chimneys | $559 |
| Stainless Flex Liner Kit — VOLKA-625 | 6" × 25 ft | Freestanding stove relines | $499 |
| Stainless Flex Liner Kit — VOLKA-635 | 6" × 35 ft | Freestanding stove relines, taller chimneys | $579 |
All six are 304-grade stainless flex kits. No Sales Tax in any state, and all six ship free. Browse the full range in chimney liner kits.
What professional relining costs
Buying the kit is one number; having someone fit it is another. HomeGuide's 2026 figures put chimney liner installation at $1,500 to $4,000, with a stainless steel reline specifically at $900 to $3,800. HomeAdvisor puts the average at about $2,500, with most projects landing between $1,500 and $5,000. The spread is real: chimney height, roof access, flue condition and whether the old liner has to come out all move the number.
| Job | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| DIY reline, straight flue, our kit | $399 – $579 |
| Professional stainless reline | $900 – $3,800 |
| Chimney liner installation, all types (average $2,500) | $1,500 – $4,000 |
| Level 1 chimney inspection (often bundled) | $150 – $500 |
| Add: masonry repair found at inspection | $500 – $2,000+ |
| Add: offsets, cathedral ceiling or steep roof | $500 – $1,500 |
That gap is the single largest saving available anywhere in a wood stove project. A straight-shot reline done yourself on a $499 kit typically saves $1,000 to $3,000 against an installed quote — more than the price difference between a budget stove and a mid-range one.
It is also the reason to get the inspection done first. The surprises that blow up a relining budget — a cracked crown, spalled masonry, a flue that turns out never to have been lined — are all things an inspection finds before you have bought anything. Get the installed price in writing, and ask whether a pre-install inspection is included; on an older chimney it should be. Our wood stove installation cost breakdown puts relining in the context of the whole project.
Insert kits versus standard reline kits
The insert kits (VOLKI) are configured for the classic insert install: liner drops down the chimney, connects to the insert's collar at the bottom, and terminates at the top of the masonry chimney. The standard kits (VOLKA) are configured for relining a masonry chimney that a freestanding stove connects into through a thimble.
Two accessories solve the awkward connections at the bottom. The hook-up liner system ($79) makes the liner-to-collar connection on the Drolet Escape 1800-I and the Englander Blue Ridge 150-I, 300-I, and 500-I inserts. If your insert's collar doesn't line up with the chimney flue above it, the offset liner adaptor ($279) — which fits all Drolet and Englander wood inserts — bridges the misalignment.
Buying the insert and the liner together? Our Escape 1800-I and Escape 1500-I bundles pair the insert, faceplate and liner kit at a package price, saving up to $278 — see the wood insert guide.
Pellet appliances are different
A pellet insert vents through a 3-inch flexible liner, not a 6-inch one — the ComfortBilt HP22i liner kit ($489) is the purpose-built version. Freestanding pellet stoves usually vent straight out a wall instead. Our pellet vent pipe guide covers that side with full parts pricing.
Insulated or uninsulated?
Insulating a liner keeps the flue gases hotter on the way up. Hotter gases mean stronger draft, faster warm-up, and less creosote condensing inside the liner — which is why insulation is most valuable on exterior chimneys and in cold climates, where an uninsulated liner sheds heat into cold masonry. Whether insulation is required in your install depends on the liner's listing, the condition of your chimney, and local code, so follow the installation instructions that come with the liner and, when in doubt, have a chimney professional confirm.
Can I install a liner myself?
A straight-shot reline is one of the more DIY-able chimney jobs: the liner feeds down from the roof, connects at the bottom, and caps at the top. It's a two-person job because of roof work and the length of the liner. Offsets, damaged chimneys, or any uncertainty about the flue's condition are where you bring in a chimney sweep — and a pre-install inspection is a good idea on any older masonry chimney regardless. Follow the kit's installation instructions and your stove manual throughout; they govern the details of your specific install. Our wood stove installation guide covers where relining fits in the wider project.
Frequently asked questions
What size chimney liner do I need for a wood stove?
Match the liner to your stove's flue collar diameter. The Drolet and Englander wood stoves and inserts we carry use a 6-inch collar, so a 6-inch liner is the match. Never size down, and don't size up — an oversized flue cools the exhaust and weakens draft. Confirm the collar size in your stove's manual.
Do you sell 4-inch chimney liners?
Yes. We stock 4-inch stainless flex kits in 25 ft (VOLKA-425, $399) and 35 ft (VOLKA-435, $519), which suit 4-inch appliances such as the Drolet ECO-65R venting into masonry. We do not currently stock 5-inch liners.
What grade of stainless steel chimney liner do I need?
For wood-burning appliances, 304 or 304L stainless is the standard and appropriate grade, and it is what our kits use. 316 and 904 grades offer higher corrosion resistance and are typically specified for coal, oil and some gas appliances. If you burn wood, paying for 904 buys resistance you will not use.
Do I need a chimney liner for a wood insert?
Yes. Drolet and Englander insert manuals call for a full-height liner from the insert collar to the top of the chimney, and inspectors expect one. Venting an insert into an unlined or partially lined masonry chimney hurts draft and lets creosote build in the masonry.
How much does it cost to reline a chimney?
Professional chimney liner installation runs $1,500 to $4,000 per HomeGuide's 2026 figures, with a stainless steel reline specifically at $900 to $3,800; HomeAdvisor puts the average around $2,500. Masonry repairs, offsets and difficult roof access push it higher. Doing a straight-shot reline yourself with a complete kit costs $399 to $579.
Is it cheaper to install a chimney liner yourself?
Considerably — a straight, accessible flue is a realistic two-person DIY job, and doing it yourself saves roughly $1,000 to $3,000 against an installed quote. Offsets, damaged flues and older chimneys of unknown condition are jobs for a chimney sweep, and no saving is worth a liner that fails an inspection.
How much does a chimney liner cost?
Our complete stainless steel kits run $399 to $579 depending on diameter, length and configuration, including top plate, cap and connector hardware, with No Sales Tax and free shipping. That is the DIY material cost; see the two questions above for what professional installation adds.
Should a chimney liner be insulated?
Insulation keeps flue gases hot, which improves draft and reduces creosote — most valuable on exterior chimneys and in cold climates. Whether it's required depends on the liner's listing, your chimney's condition, and local code, so follow the liner's installation instructions.
How do I know if I need the 25-foot or 35-foot kit?
Measure from the liner connection at the stove or insert to the top of the chimney and round up. Excess liner can be trimmed at install; a liner that comes up short can't be stretched.
Can I install a chimney liner myself?
Straight runs are a realistic two-person DIY job — feed the liner from the roof, connect at the bottom, cap at the top. Offsets, damaged flues, or older chimneys of unknown condition are jobs for a chimney sweep, and a pre-install inspection is smart on any older masonry chimney.
Related guides
- Wood Stove Pipe Installation: Parts and Prices
- Chimney Caps: When to Replace One
- Wood Burning Fireplace Inserts
- Faceplates and Trim Kits for Wood Inserts
- Pellet Stove Vent Pipe: Parts and Prices
- Wood Stove Flue Guide: Sizing and When to Reline
Written and reviewed by the StoveSource team. We sell and ship every liner kit covered here.