Stove Pipe vs Chimney Pipe: Which One Should You Buy?

Stove pipe vs chimney pipe: side by side

Ranges are typical of the listings we reviewed; example figures are manufacturer rated, collected 21 October 2026. A figure from one listing describes that listing only.

Stove pipe: the connector

Stove pipe is the connector between the stove collar and the wall or ceiling where the chimney takes over. The two Imperial examples here are single-wall 24 GA steel: a 6 in corrugated elbow with a fixed 90-degree angle and male ends that join two lengths of flue pipe, and an 8 in diameter by 12 in long straight section. Both are matte black to match the stove. Single-wall connector pipe gives off heat into the room, which is part of why it belongs inside, in the same room as the stove, and not inside walls or past the ceiling.

The Imperial listings are thin on detail: three short bullets each, no warranty term stated, no certification stated. The elbow’s spec table even lists a 0.27 g item weight against the bullets’ 1.95 lb; go by the bullets. What the listings do state clearly is the job these pieces do: connecting lengths of flue pipe in the connector run.

Chimney pipe: the Class-A run

Chimney pipe, the Class-A kind, is the insulated run that goes from the ceiling or wall support up through the roof. The AllFuel HST example shows what that means in practice: 6 in by 48 in, 304 stainless steel inner and outer walls with laser-welded seams, a ceramic fiber blanket insulation, and a stated 2 in clearance to combustibles. It is certified to UL103HT, the listing names wood stoves, fireplaces, furnaces, boilers and other residential heating appliances as uses, and it carries a limited lifetime manufacturer’s warranty. Twist-lock connections plus a locking band join the sections.

The DuraVent example is also a Class-A chimney pipe, 6 in by 36 in from the DuraPlus series with a listed 17.2 lb weight, but its listing states far less: no certification, no insulation detail, no warranty term. That gap is the lesson of this comparison: two products can share the Class-A label while their listings tell you very different amounts.

Where one ends and the other begins

The connector run ends where the chimney run begins, at the wall or ceiling support. Do not run single-wall stove pipe inside a wall, through a ceiling, or up the outside of the house; that span belongs to Class-A chimney pipe with its stated clearances, like the AllFuel example’s 2 in clearance to combustibles. The AllFuel listing also warns its Class-A pipe cannot be connected to other brands of Class-A chimney, so plan the whole chimney run in one brand. For the actual installation, follow the stove and pipe makers’ instructions and local code, and have the chimney inspected by a certified sweep; see the best chimney sweep kit for a stone chimney for what the cleaning side looks like.

Four examples

How we scored them

Each example is scored on performance, build, value, safety and warranty, using only what the listing publishes.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each product’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a stove pipe?

Stove pipe is the connector pipe between a wood stove and the wall or ceiling where the chimney begins. The Imperial examples here are single-wall 24 GA steel pieces for that connector run: a 6 in elbow and an 8 in by 12 in straight section.

Can you use black stove pipe outside?

Not as the chimney. The black Imperial pieces here are listed as stove pipe for the connector run; the run past the wall or ceiling calls for Class-A chimney pipe like the AllFuel and DuraVent examples. Follow the stove maker’s venting instructions and local code for the exterior run.

How do I clean a stove pipe and chimney?

With a chimney brush sized to the flue, from the top down or the bottom up depending on the setup, and with the stove cold. Creosote buildup is a chimney fire risk, so have the chimney inspected by a certified sweep at least once a year and swept when the inspection calls for it; see the best chimney brush for a wood stove and the best creosote remover for a wood stove.

How do you put stove pipe together?

Follow the pipe maker’s instructions for your exact pieces. The AllFuel example uses twist-lock connections with a locking band for extra security; the Imperial connector pieces join male-end to flue pipe. If any joint does not seat firmly, stop and get the right adapter rather than forcing it.

How do you cut stove pipe to length?

Plan each run from the fixed lengths the listings sell. The connector run uses pieces like the Imperial 12 in straight section and the 6 in elbow for turns. The chimney run uses fixed Class-A lengths: 36 in for the DuraVent, 48 in for the AllFuel. Cutting insulated Class-A chimney pipe is not a field modification; order the lengths the run needs.

Related guides

See the best stove pipe for a wood stove, the stainless vs galvanized stove pipe comparison and the best chimney cap for stainless steel chimney. For the wood side, see the best kindling for a wood stove and the wood stove vs fire pit comparison.