How much does a chimney sweep cost?
A chimney sweep costs $150 to $375, with a national average of $275, according to HomeGuide.
Two other databases bracket the same answer. Angi publishes $129 to $381 with an average of $254. Fixr's range is $100 to $500 with a $400 average — higher because its typical job pairs the cleaning with a level 2 camera inspection rather than the basic visual check. Same service, one message: a routine sweep is a low-hundreds visit, and a quote far outside that band deserves a question first.
This page is general information, not professional advice. Prices move with your chimney, your region and the season, and the only number that counts is a written quote from a chimney professional who has looked at yours.
Chimney cleaning cost by fireplace type
One thing to clear up before the table: a chimney sweep and a chimney cleaning are the same visit under two names. Companies use the words interchangeably, and paying for both would be paying twice.
| Chimney type | Published cost |
|---|---|
| Wood-burning fireplace (masonry chimney) | $150 – $375 |
| Gas fireplace | $80 – $150 |
| Prefabricated chimney | $90 – $175 |
| Wood or pellet stove | $130 – $300 |
Source: HomeGuide
Angi's readings land in the same order: gas fireplace maintenance at $80 to $130, pellet stoves at $130 to $200, and standard wood stoves at $150 to $300. Wood costs more to sweep than gas everywhere, because wood smoke leaves creosote and gas mostly does not.
Source: Angi
Chimney sweep cost by number of flues
| Flues | Published cost |
|---|---|
| 1 | $100 – $250 |
| 2 | $250 – $400 |
| 3 | $400 – $700 |
Source: HomeGuide
What the inspection level does to the price
The visual level 1 check is baked into a standard sweep — HomeGuide prices it at $100 to $250 including basic cleaning. A level 2 inspection adds a video scan of the flue and runs $250 to $600 on its figures; Angi recommends that level when buying or selling a home or after storm or fire damage. Level 3 is the tear-into-it inspection for suspected structural trouble, at $900 to $5,000.
When a sweep costs less
Season moves this price more than almost anything else. Angi says sweeps charge more in late summer and fall, when everyone is getting ready to light the first fire, and that booking in spring or early summer could save money. Access matters too: a steep or high roof takes more time and more safety gear, and the bill follows. The cheapest sweep is a spring appointment on a chimney that gets cleaned every year.
Source: Angi
For the annual-cadence question — what the safety standard actually requires and when: how often a chimney really needs to be cleaned.
Questions people ask next
- What does a chimney sweep visit actually include?
- HomeGuide describes cleaning out the firebox, the smoke shelf, and vacuuming all debris, with a level 1 visual inspection included. The Chimney Safety Institute of America adds the test that matters: a complete sweeping covers the chimney flue and the smoke chamber, not just the brick you can see from the fireplace opening.
- Is a chimney cleaning different from a chimney sweep?
- No — the two names describe the same service, and this page covers both. What does change the work is the inspection attached: level 1 is the standard visual check, and levels 2 and 3 are deeper investigations priced separately.
- How long does a chimney sweep take?
- Fixr puts a level 1 or level 2 visit at around 30 minutes to an hour. A level 3 inspection is different work entirely and can take more than a day, but that level is only called for when structural damage is suspected.
- When is the cheapest time to book a chimney sweep?
- Spring and early summer, per Angi — prices rise in late summer and fall when the pre-season rush hits. Booking the annual visit in the off-season buys the same cleaning at the calmer price.
Written for homeowners by Most Recommended Chimney Sweeps, which measures which chimney sweeps AI assistants actually recommend in 0 U.S. metros. Nobody can pay to be on those lists. How we measure.