Pellet Stove vs. Propane Fireplace: What’s the Better Heating Option for Your Home?

Turn up the heat with pellets or propane

modern living room with gas fireplace
Photo: vitapix/ Getty Images
modern living room with gas fireplace
Photo: vitapix/ Getty Images
Highlights
  • Pellet stoves burn compressed pieces of organic material known as pellets.

  • Propane fireplaces are gas fireplaces that run on propane.

  • On average, it costs $1,250 to $4,000 to install a pellet stove.

  • Gas fireplaces, including propane-powered models, cost $2,500 to $10,000.

Get quotes from up to 3 pros!
Enter a zip below and get matched to top-rated pros near you.
Geo Icon

There’s nothing quite as comforting as curling up in front of the fire on a chilly winter evening. But before you start planning your cozy night in, you’ll need to choose the right heating source for your home. Wood-burning fireplaces are a classic pick, but there are also more efficient, lower-maintenance alternatives—including pellet stoves and propane fireplaces. Below, we’ll compare pellet stoves versus propane fireplaces to help you find the best option.

Pellet Stove vs. Propane Fireplace: Key Differences

Pellet stoves and propane fireplaces are both heating sources for your home, but they run on different types of fuel. The former uses pellets—small, cylinder-shaped pieces of compressed wood or other organic material—while the latter runs on propane. Both are fairly simple to use, but it takes a bit of extra work to keep a pellet stove burning.

What Is a Pellet Stove?

close up of domestic pellet stove
Photo: Reflexpixel/ istock/ Getty Images

A pellet stove creates heat by burning compacted wood waste known as pellets. Alternatively, some pellet stoves may run on corn kernels or nutshells. Available as freestanding units or fireplace inserts, these heating sources have several important components, including a hopper for loading pellets, a fan that pushes hot air into your living space, and a thermostat, which you can set to your preferred temperature.

ProsCons
Easy to control the temperaturePellets can be heavy and require storage space
Produces low levels of emissionsRuns on electricity
Doesn’t always require a chimneyCan be noisy

Best for:

  • People searching for a clean heating source

  • Anyone who wants to set their stove to a particular temperature

  • Individuals interested in an eco-friendly whole-home heating option

Pros of a Pellet Stove

With a pellet stove, heating your home is simple. Once the pellets are loaded into the hopper, all you need to do is set your preferred temperature and leave the rest to the stove. Plus, as a pellet stove runs, it produces few pollutants. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, they’re the cleanest solid-fuel residential heating appliance.

You may also have some flexibility in terms of where you install a pellet stove within your home. For example, you can put a pellet stove insert into an existing fireplace, or you can vent a pellet stove through your roof or an exterior wall.

Cons of a Pellet Stove

To use a pellet stove, you’ll need a dry place to store your pellets. You’ll also need to be able to carry the pellet bags—which usually weigh around 40 pounds each—from the storage area to your stove. If you keep your stove burning at a low setting, one bag of pellets lasts around 26 hours.

Another downside is that pellet stoves require electricity to power their various electrical components. Not only does this increase your operating costs, but it also means you’ll need a backup power supply—like a generator—to use your pellet stove during a power outage. Plus, some pellet stoves make noise when they’re on, which may bother some people.

What Is a Propane Fireplace?

man adjusting air on fireplace
Photo: FluxFactory/ istock/ Getty Images

A propane fireplace is a type of gas fireplace. Although it runs on propane, the firebox often has faux logs to make it look more like a traditional wood-burning fireplace. Propane fireplaces come in multiple styles, including vented models, which send emissions out through a chimney, or ventless versions, which don’t require a chimney connection and exhaust directly into your home.

ProsCons
Doesn’t need manual refuelingCan be harder to install than pellet stoves
Minimal cleaning requiredUpfront costs may be higher
Can be installed with or without a chimneyVentless propane fireplaces are banned in certain areas

Best for:

  • Folks who’d prefer not to haul or store bags of pellets

  • People looking for a heating source that doesn’t require regular cleaning or upkeep

  • Anyone who wants quick heating with the flip of a switch

Pros of a Propane Fireplace

Unlike pellet stoves, propane fireplaces don’t require regular refilling. Instead, they connect to your home’s propane tank via a gas line, so there’s minimal effort needed to use one of these fireplaces. There’s less cleaning involved, too, because propane fireplaces don’t produce ash when they burn.

There are a variety of propane fireplace options to choose from, including built-in, insert, and freestanding styles. Even if you don’t have a chimney, you may be able to use a propane fireplace—you’ll just need to install a ventless (rather than a vented) model.

Cons of a Propane Fireplace

Installing a propane fireplace is often harder than setting up a pellet stove. In addition to venting it out of your chimney or wall, you have to connect the fireplace to a gas line and propane tank as well. Ventless models don’t require venting, but they’re not permitted in all areas, so check your local laws before buying one.

In general, it costs more to install a propane fireplace than a pellet stove—both for the unit itself and labor. You’ll pay even more if you have to run a new gas line or install a propane tank.

Pellet Stove vs. Propane Fireplace

So, which heating source best meets your needs? Here’s how propane versus pellet stoves compare in different categories, including cost and maintenance.

Cost: Pellet Stove

On average, installing a pellet stove costs between $1,250 and $4,000, including materials and labor. By comparison, a typical propane or natural gas fireplace installation costs $2,500 to $10,000. Ongoing expenses will vary depending on a few factors, including the size of your stove or fireplace and how often you use it.

Maintenance and Upkeep: Propane Fireplace

With a propane fireplace, there’s no need to buy and store pellets, reload the hopper, or dispose of ash—which makes it less labor-intensive to run than a pellet stove.

However, whether you have a pellet stove or propane fireplace, you’ll want to schedule an annual inspection to make sure it’s working safely. You’ll pay a chimney sweep $130 to $200 for pellet stove cleaning and inspection or $80 to $130 for a gas fireplace maintenance visit.

Options and Customizations​​: Propane Fireplace

Pellet stoves and propane fireplaces both come in a range of shapes, sizes, and styles, but overall, propane fireplaces are more customizable. Inside the firebox, you can install ceramic logs to recreate the look of a wood-burning fireplace, or you can add other decorative elements, like beads or stones.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, a pellet stove can heat an entire house—as long as you choose one that’s large enough for that purpose. For context, pellet stoves generate between 8,000 and 90,000 British Thermal Units (BTUs), and you’ll need 30 to 60 BTUs per square foot, depending on your climate zone. If you’re unsure which size pellet stove to buy, reach out to a local pellet or wood stove repair company.

You don’t necessarily need a chimney for a pellet stove. However, all pellet stoves need some type of venting system to get rid of gasses and other potentially harmful byproducts of combustion. If you don’t have a chimney, an alternative option is to vent your pellet stove through an exterior wall of your home.

Need professional help with your project?
Get quotes from top-rated pros.
The homeowners guide to appliance repairs
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
inside of fridge with food
Apr 25, 2025
Apr 25, 2025
Having issues with your fridge? Use this refrigerator repair cost guide to see what it will cost to fix the issue and keep your appliance in good working order.
a silver refrigerator in a modern kitchen
Apr 16, 2025
Apr 16, 2025
One of the most common fridge problems is a blown compressor motor. Use this guide to determine the cost of replacing the compressor and to estimate the total cost of your repair.
laundry room with washer and dryer machine
Apr 25, 2025
Apr 25, 2025
Is your washer on the fritz? We’re breaking down common washing machine repair costs to help you prepare to fix it while sticking to your budget.
Laundry basket of clothes near washing machine
Apr 14, 2025
Apr 14, 2025
Why is my washer not filling with water? The answer could be simple enough to fix yourself, or it may require professional repair. Here's how to know.
A woman loading dirty clothes in washing machine
Apr 20, 2025
Apr 20, 2025
Dryer fires are scary, but they are also largely preventable. Here are seven causes of dryer fires and how to prevent them from happening.
Wood burning stove
Apr 15, 2025
Apr 15, 2025
If your home smells like a wildfire, it’s time to figure out why your wood burning stove is smoking and how to get rid of the fumes.