Chimney repair cost by problem
| Repair | Installed price | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Chimney cap replaced | $100–$850 | Keeps rain, animals and debris out of the flue |
| Flashing repaired or resealed | $200–$1,800 | The seal where the chimney meets the roof; the usual cause of leaks |
| Sealing or waterproofing the masonry | $150–$500 | A water-repellent coat on brick, or sealing a leak with mortar |
| Crown repaired | $150–$1,000 | The concrete slab on top; cracks let water into the brick |
| Repointing (tuckpointing) the mortar joints | $500–$2,500 | Grinding out and replacing crumbling mortar joints |
| Crown replaced | $1,000–$3,000 | Used when the crown is too cracked to patch |
| Partial rebuild of the chimney stack | $1,000–$5,000 | Taking down and relaying the stack above the roof |
These are national prices for one repair at a time. Many chimneys need two or three of them together, such as a new cap with flashing and sealing, and a mason can often do them in one visit for less than separate calls. The four guides we read agree on the order of the table and differ on the dollars, partly because they price a small repair on a one-story house and a tall brick stack in the same table.
Chimney liner and other related work
A cracked or missing flue liner is a different job from the repairs above and is priced on its own page, where a stainless steel liner costs about $900–$4,000. Roof-line flashing repair done by a roofer is priced on the roof repair cost page.
What changes the price
- Height and access. A tall chimney or a steep roof needs scaffolding or a lift and more time on the roof.
- How much needs doing. Repointing a few joints is a small job. Repointing a whole stack, or rebuilding the top, is a larger one.
- Material. Brick, stone and prefabricated metal chimneys use different repairs and different trades.
- Urgency. Storm damage and active leaks are often emergency calls.
- Where you live. The calculator adjusts the labor share for your state's brickmason wages.
Extras to expect
| Item | Typical cost | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Scaffolding or a lift | $50–$200 | Tall chimneys and steep roofs |
| Emergency call-out | $100–$300 | Urgent or storm-damage calls |
An annual chimney inspection costs much less than most repairs, and a mason can often catch a failing cap or mortar joint early. Minor repairs left alone let water into the brick, which turns a small job into a rebuild.
Questions to ask before you hire
- Is the leak coming from the flashing, the crown, the cap or the brick, and how do you know?
- Does the quote include scaffolding, cleanup and a warranty?
- Will a mason or a roofer do the work, and are they insured?
- Is the flue liner in good shape, or does it need its own repair?
- Can several repairs be done in one visit for a lower price?
Methodology and sources
We price each repair from four published guides, take the middle of their lows, midpoints and highs, and adjust the labor share for your state's brickmason wages. This Old House and Fixr publish nearly identical component tables, so they count as one view. Read how we estimate costs.
- HomeGuide: chimney repair cost — repairs by type, labor share for repointing
- Angi: chimney repair cost — caps, crowns, sealing, tuckpointing, rebuilds
- This Old House: chimney repair cost — repairs by method and component
- Fixr: chimney repair cost — scaffolding, emergency service, repairs by component
- BLS OEWS May 2025, State (SOC 47-2021, Brickmasons and Blockmasons) — state labor index; Alaska and Georgia use neighboring states
What each source reports
Our estimate does not rely on any single page. This table lists each page we used and the figures it reports, so you can see where the ranges come from.
| Source | What it reports |
|---|---|
| HomeGuide |
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| Angi |
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| This Old House |
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| Fixr |
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Common questions about chimney repair costs
How much does chimney repair cost?
A typical job (flashing) comes to about $500 nationally, within a range of $200 to $1,800. Use the calculator above to adjust for your state, the options you choose and any extras.
How much does each chimney repair cost?
Per repair, with labor and materials, a new cap costs about $100–$850, flashing $200–$1,800, sealing the masonry $150–$500, a crown repair $150–$1,000, repointing $500–$2,500 and a partial rebuild $1,000–$5,000.
How much does it cost to fix a leaking chimney?
Most chimney leaks come from flashing, the crown or the cap. Resealing or replacing flashing costs about $200–$1,800, sealing the brick $150–$500 and a new cap $100–$850. A roofer who repairs the chimney flashing as part of a roof repair charges about $400–$1,800.
How much does chimney crown repair cost?
Repairing a cracked crown costs about $150–$1,000. A crown that is too damaged to patch is replaced, about $1,000–$3,000.
How much does chimney repointing or tuckpointing cost?
About $500–$2,500, depending on how much mortar has to be replaced and how high the chimney is. Labor makes up most of it, and one guide puts it at about 90%.
How much does it cost to rebuild a chimney?
A partial rebuild of the stack above the roofline costs about $1,000–$5,000. A full rebuild costs much more and is quoted job by job.
How much does chimney flashing repair cost?
About $200–$1,800. The range is wide because a simple reseal is cheap and rebuilding the flashing around a large chimney is not.
Does the price include the chimney liner?
No. A new liner is separate work: a stainless steel liner costs about $900–$4,000. See the chimney liner cost page for aluminum, stainless, clay and cast-in-place options.
How much extra for scaffolding or emergency repair?
Scaffolding or a lift for a tall chimney adds about $50–$200, and an emergency call-out about $100–$300.
Where do these prices come from?
They come from 4 published cost pages from 4 publishers, last checked Oct 8, 2026. We report what those pages say and do not invent figures; the table above shows each source.
How does my state change the estimate?
The labor part of the price is scaled by the average wage for the relevant trade in your state, using Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Materials and equipment are not adjusted.
Why might a contractor's quote differ from this estimate?
A quote reflects your specific scope, access, local demand and what the contractor includes. Ask for line items rather than a single total so you can compare bids on the same basis.
All 4 sources behind these prices
Every figure in the calculator comes from one or more of these pages, with the number each one supports in the link text.