How much does an outdoor wood furnace or boiler cost?
How much does an outdoor wood furnace or boiler cost?
$7,000 – $12,000 Average cost (unit only)
9,000 – $16,000 average total cost (unit + installation)
Outdoor wood furnace boiler prices
Outdoor wood boiler prices are $9,000 to $16,000 installed on average, depending on the brand, size, and features. Running an outdoor wood boiler costs $800 to $3,200 per year to buy wood. Larger outdoor wood furnaces also supply usable hot water for a home, garage, barn, or pool.
| Square foot | Unit price | Total cost installed |
|---|---|---|
| 1,500 – 2,000 | $6,500 – $10,000 | $8,500 – $14,000 |
| 2,000 – 2,500 | $7,000 – $11,000 | $9,000 – $15,000 |
| 2,500 – 3,000 | $7,500 – $12,000 | $9,500 – $16,000 |
| 3,000 – 3,500 | $8,000 – $13,000 | $10,000 – $17,000 |
| 3,500 – 4,000 | $8,500 – $14,000 | $10,500 – $18,000 |
Average cost to install an outdoor wood boiler
The following table shows the average cost to install an outdoor wood boiler (OWB):
| National average cost | $12,500 |
| Minimum cost | $7,500 |
| Maximum cost | $20,000 |
| Average cost range | $9,000 to $16,000 |
* Cost data is from research and project costs reported by HomeGuide members.
Standard vs. wood gasification boiler price comparison
Wood gasification boiler prices are $10,000 to $20,000 installed for high-efficiency furnaces.
Standard-efficiency outdoor wood boilers cost $7,500 to $16,000 to install.
| Boiler type | Unit price | Total cost installed |
|---|---|---|
| Standard wood boiler (70% to 85% efficient) | $5,500 – $12,000 | $7,500 – $16,000 |
| Wood gasification boiler (90% to 95% efficient) | $8,000 – $16,000 | $10,000 – $20,000 |
Standard outdoor wood boilers can burn wet wood but smoke a lot more. These models require more wood, have more heat and energy loss, but are the cheapest to buy and install.
Gasification outdoor wood boilers need dry wood but use less wood per season. These models are more efficient and have less smoke, emissions, ash, and soot to clean.
Outdoor wood furnace prices by brand
The following table shows prices for outdoor wood furnace and boiler brands:
| Brand | Price range |
|---|---|
| Central boiler | $8,300 – $16,000 |
| HeatMaster | $5,600 – $16,800 |
| Crown Royal | $6,500 – $11,200 |
| Heatmor | $6,600 – $10,000 |
| Woodmaster | $7,500 – $14,600 |
| Hawken Energy | $6,500 – $11,200 |
| Econoburn | $10,000 – $11,000 |
| Hyprotherm | $6,700 – $7,400 |
*Prices excluding installation fees.
Commercial outdoor wood furnaces or boilers cost $10,000 to $26,000 for units with 280,000 to 800,000 BTUs of heating capacity.
Industrial top-loading log boiler prices are $18,000 to $100,000 for models heating up 15,000 to 100,000 square feet of space.
Central Boiler prices
Central Boiler prices are $8,300 to $16,000 for Classic Edge and E-Classic models. A Central Boiler costs $10,300 to $20,000 installed on average.
Central Boiler outdoor wood furnace prices depend on the model and BTU output.
These units come with a 25-year warranty.
| Model | BTU | Unit price | Total cost installed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic Edge 360 | 150,000 | $8,300 – $11,300 | $10,300 – $15,300 |
| Classic Edge 560 | 200,000 | $10,200 – $13,300 | $12,200 – $17,300 |
| Classic Edge 760 | 245,000 | $12,600 – $16,000 | $14,600 – $20,000 |
| E-Classic 1450 | 200,000 | $10,000 – $10,800 | $12,000 – $14,800 |
| E-Classic 2400 | 250,000 | $12,000 – $12,500 | $14,000 – $16,500 |
HeatMaster wood boiler prices
HeatMaster wood boiler prices are $5,600 to $16,800 for the unit or $7,600 to $20,800 installed. Total costs depend on the model, BTU output, and whether it’s a dual-fuel model or not.
| Model | BTU | Unit price | Total cost installed |
|---|---|---|---|
| G-4000 (wood-burning) | 93,000 | $10,000 – $11,600 | $12,000 – $15,600 |
| G-7000 (wood-burning) | 165,000 | $12,000 – $13,800 | $14,000 – $17,800 |
| G-10000 (wood-burning) | 230,000 | $15,000 – $16,800 | $17,000 – $20,800 |
| MF-3000e (wood or coal) | 150,000 | $5,600 – $6,500 | $7,600 – $10,500 |
| MF-5000e (wood or coal) | 250,000 | $8,800 – $9,300 | $10,800 – $13,300 |
Crown Royal wood furnace prices
Crown Royal wood furnace prices are $6,500 to $11,200. Choose from multi-fuel models or boilers with wood-, coal-, or corn-burning options.
All Crown Royal stoves come with a 20-year limited warranty.
Their Pristine gasification models have up to 99% efficiency ratings.
Heatmor outdoor wood furnace prices
Heatmor wood furnace prices are $6,600 to $10,000 for units with 100,000 to 200,000 BTUs of heating output. EPA-certified Heatmor X Series wood boilers are standard-efficiency models. All units have a limited lifetime warranty on material defects, workmanship, and corrosion.
Woodmaster outdoor wood boiler prices
Woodmaster outdoor boiler prices are $7,500 to $14,600 on average for 75,000- to 245,000-BTU units. Their EPA-certified CleanFire series models come with a 15-year warranty on parts and up to 25 years for manufacturing defects. Woodmaster furnaces come as wood-, pellet-, or corn-burning models.
Outdoor wood boiler price factors
Outdoor wood boilers and furnaces cost $9,000 to $16,000 installed for home sizes of 2,000 to 3,000 square feet.
| Factor | Average cost |
|---|---|
| New outdoor boiler | $7,000 – $12,000 |
| Supplies and materials | $500 – $1,000 |
| Installation labor | $1,500 – $3,000 |
| Total cost to install | $9,000 – $16,000 |
Cost factors include:
Size – Firebox capacities range from 10 to 24 cubic feet on average. Residential units go up to 250,000 BTUs in heating-output capacity.
Heating needs – Wood furnaces for single-family homes only use units that produce less than 150,000 BTUs. Bigger units supply indoor hot water and heat a garage, pole barn, pool, hot tub, greenhouse, or driveway.
Distance to home – Piping costs vary depending on the distance from the outdoor wood boiler to the house. New boilers need an underground trench with an insulated water line supply.
Concrete-slab base – Pouring a concrete slab costs $5 to $8 per square foot. An outdoor wood boiler needs a slab base per installation safety requirements.
Labor – Installation fees range from $45 to $150 hourly for wood boilers and furnaces.
Piping – Installing new pipes costs $450 to $1,800 for a new boiler connection.
Old boiler removal – Disconnecting a boiler costs $200 to $500 with hauling and disposal fees.
Ductwork – Installing new ductwork costs $2,400 to $6,600 for a new forced-air heating system with a waterless wood furnace.
Radiators – Radiator replacement costs $2,800 to $15,000 for a whole house or $700 to $1,300 per unit connected to a wood-fired boiler.
Domestic hot water – Installing a new hot-water heater tank costs $1,200 to $4,000 when using the outdoor water boiler to generate indoor hot water.
Thermostat – A new thermostat installation costs $140 to $350 per unit.
Radiant floor heating – Installing radiant floor heating costs $10,000 to $34,000 for a whole-house system.
Rebates – State-based renewable energy programs offer $500 to $5,000+ in incentives or 30% to 45% of the total system cost for installing wood-fired heating.
Tax credit – Earn a 26% federal tax credit to offset the costs of installing wood furnaces or boilers with energy efficiency of 75% or more.
Emergency heating – Installing a heat pump costs $3,800 to $8,200 to use for a backup system.
Multi-fuel wood furnace with propane prices
Multi-fuel outdoor furnace prices are $5,600 to $11,000 on average. These dual-fuel units switch to backup heating with natural gas, liquid propane, or fuel oil when the wood supply runs out.
Outdoor wood furnace sizing
Most Northern U.S. homes need 40 to 60 BTUs per square foot, depending on the heating needs, climate zone, and the unit’s efficiency rating. Average homes of 1,500 to 2,500 square feet need 60,000- to 150,000-BTU furnaces.
| Home size in square feet | BTUs needed |
|---|---|
| 1,500 – 2,000 | 60,000 – 120,000 |
| 2,000 – 2,500 | 80,000 – 150,000 |
| 2,500 – 3,000 | 100,000 – 180,000 |
| 3,000 – 3,500 | 120,000 – 210,000 |
| 3,500 – 4,000 | 140,000 – 240,000 |
*Based on 40 to 60 BTUs of heating per square foot.
Ask for a Manual J calculation to choose the best furnace size that accounts for the home’s wall types, insulation, roofing, windows, climate, and more.
Cost to run an outdoor wood furnace
Running an outdoor wood furnace costs $800 to $3,200 per year for wood, depending on the climate and heating needs. A cord of wood costs $200 to $400 on average.
| Number of wood cords | Average cost |
|---|---|
| 4 | $800 – $1,600 |
| 6 | $1,200 – $2,400 |
| 8 | $1,600 – $3,200 |
*Total cost depends on the wood type and local availability.
Delivery costs $25 to $75 per cord.
Firewood stacking costs $25 to $60 per cord.
One cord is 4’ x 4’ x 8’ in size or 128 cubic feet.
Outdoor wood furnace alternatives & prices
Other off-grid heating alternatives to outdoor wood furnaces include:
| Fuel type | Price range |
|---|---|
| Biomass fuels (wood pellets, corn, & grains) | $8,000 – $10,700 |
| Coal | $4,300 – $11,000 |
*Unit price only, excluding installation.
Pellets burn more efficiently than wood with less smoke due to lower moisture content.
Corn also burns efficiently without much smoke but requires frequent ash removal from the firebox.
Coal produces higher amounts of heat for large homes or multiple properties. Some wood-burning models also burn coal.
Indoor boiler alternatives
Installing an indoor boiler costs $3,200 to $9,000.
A new furnace costs $2,000 to $5,400 installed.
Indoor stoves like a small wood stove installation costs $1,200 to $4,500.
An indoor pellet stove costs $1,500 to $3,000 installed.
Pros and cons of outdoor wood furnaces and boilers
The following table shows the advantages and disadvantages of wood furnaces and boilers:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
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Outdoor wood furnace FAQs
How does an outdoor wood furnace or boiler work?
An outdoor wood furnace or boiler works by burning wood inside a firebox and transferring the heat into the home. The difference is how it distributes the heated water or air:
An outdoor wood furnace transfers heated air from the firebox to the home for indoor heating. The firebox is the primary heat exchanger.
An outdoor hydronic boiler heats a “water jacket” tank around the firebox and pumps the hot water through underground tubing into the indoor heating system.
How long does an outdoor wood furnace or boiler last?
An outdoor wood furnace or boiler lasts 15 to 25 years on average, depending on the unit’s quality, usage frequency, climate, and level of maintenance.
Are outside wood boilers or furnaces worth the money?
Outside wood furnaces and boilers are worth the money when:
Discounted wood or wood scraps are readily available as a cheaper fuel source.
Remote homes need independent heating sources in extreme weather.
Homeowners want to replace both their home-water heating system and indoor-heating units with one wood boiler instead.
People have space to stockpile lots of stable-priced wood instead of paying fluctuating costs to utility companies for home heating.
How efficient is an outdoor wood boiler?
Most standard outdoor wood boilers 80% to 85% efficient, while high-efficiency, dual-stage wood furnaces are 90% to 95% efficient.
Search the EPA-Certified wood stove database to verify the unit before buying.
Check with your homeowners association for any additional laws about smoke control and other restrictions.
All wood boilers sold after 2020 must be more than 70% to 80% energy efficient to be legal and qualify for EPA certification.
Finding and hiring an outdoor wood furnace installer
Before hiring an outdoor boiler installer or furnace installer near you, be sure to:
Compare at least three different quotes from experienced HVAC technicians.
Choose HVAC professionals with certifications from:
North American Technician Excellence (NATE)
American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)
Avoid the lowest bids that signal low-quality work.
Select licensed, insured, and bonded HVAC contractors.
Review their ratings on HomeGuide and Google.
Request copies of estimates, plan diagrams, heating-load calculations, equipment orders, permits, warranties, and contracts.
Verify the estimates include materials, labor, equipment costs, and the installation schedule.
Set up a payment plan. Don’t pay in full upfront.
Questions to ask
Does this furnace come with remote-monitoring to send phone alerts when the unit needs additional wood?
What size units do you recommend for my home to minimize refilling the firebox?
Will you do a Manual J heat-load calculation to size my wood furnace?
Can you connect this unit to my existing indoor heating system?
Will I need a concrete slab under this model?
How much wood will I need on average in the winter?
Can you recommend a local firewood dealer who sells scrap wood in bulk?
How often will I need to clean out the firebox?
Does this estimate include all materials, installation, and cleanup fees?
How far away from my home does this boiler need to be, and will there be extra fees for underground piping?
What’s in your warranty?
How long will this installation take?
Will I need to make space on my property before the crew arrives?