We Ship Anywhere USA & Canada
If you've got a 6 inch round pipe sticking out of your roof, you're in the right place. This is by far the most common chimney pipe size in American homes. Whether you need a 6 inch chimney cap for a wood stove, a gas fireplace, a furnace vent, or a B-vent appliance, it all comes down to the same pipe size. And if that pipe doesn't have a cap on it, you're basically leaving a hole in your roof wide open to rain, animals, and wind blowing smoke back inside.
We make our 6 inch round chimney caps from 304 stainless steel, the same grade you'll find in commercial kitchens and marine hardware. Every joint is welded (never crimped), everything is made here in the USA, and we stand behind it all with a lifetime warranty. Our standard cap comes with screen mesh that keeps animals and debris out while letting exhaust flow freely. We've got three styles in this size: standard, wind directional, and high wind. Each one comes in both air-cooled and single-wall versions.
The video above covers the whole process: figuring out your pipe type, measuring it right, and picking the cap that actually fixes your problem. We've also laid it all out below if you'd rather read through it.
Step 1 of 2
What kind of pipe
do you have?
Step 2 of 2
What problem are you
trying to solve?
Standard Air-Cooled Cap
Rain, animal, and debris protection for your Class A pipe. Our most popular cap.
View This Cap →Wind Directional Air-Cooled Cap
Rotating hood that turns with the wind to stop downdraft on your Class A pipe.
View This Cap →High Wind Air-Cooled Cap
Solid walls, no mesh. Built for hurricane-force wind on your Class A pipe.
View This Cap →Standard Single-Wall Cap
Rain, animal, and debris protection for your single-wall pipe.
View This Cap →Wind Directional Single-Wall Cap
Rotating hood that stops downdraft on your single-wall pipe.
View This Cap →High Wind Single-Wall Cap
Solid walls for hurricane-force wind on your single-wall pipe.
View This Cap →Let's Figure It Out Together
No worries. Call us and we'll help you identify your pipe type and pick the right cap.
Call 503-300-1926The Key Question
What Type of Pipe
Do You Have?
Two types. Not interchangeable. The right cap depends on your pipe.
Understanding 6 Inch Chimney Pipe Types
Here's where most people go wrong. They order a chimney cap that looks right in the photos, but it shows up and doesn't fit. That's because air-cooled caps and single-wall caps are built for totally different pipe systems. They look similar online, but they're not interchangeable. Get the wrong one and it either won't slide on at all, or it'll sit loose and rattle in the wind.
Air-Cooled (Class A) Chimney Pipe
Air-cooled pipe (also called Class A pipe) has two or three metal walls with an air gap between them. That gap is what insulates the pipe so it can safely pass through your roof and wood framing without catching fire. You'll typically see this on wood-burning stoves, fireplace inserts, and factory-built fireplaces. If you're looking for a 6 inch chimney cap for a wood stove, this is almost certainly the pipe type you have.
When you're ordering a 6 inch air-cooled cap, you need two measurements: the inside diameter (that's the opening you can see through) and the outside diameter (the full width including both walls). The cap sits on the outer wall and its inner ring drops into the opening, so both numbers have to be right.
Single-Wall Chimney Pipe
Single-wall pipe is exactly what it sounds like: one tube of metal, no insulation, no air gap. This is what most gas furnaces, water heaters, gas fireplaces, and B-vent appliances use. Look down into it from the top and you'll just see one wall.
For a single-wall cap, you only need one measurement: the inside diameter. The cap's collar slides right into the opening and friction holds it in place.
What About Solid-Pack Insulated Pipe?
This one trips people up. Solid-pack pipe has two walls with insulation packed between them (no air gap). Even though it looks like it has two walls, it actually takes a single-wall cap because the cap fits based on the inner opening only. If you're not sure which type you have, give us a call at 503-300-1926 and we'll help you sort it out.
Step-by-Step
How to Measure
Your Flue
Four steps. Five minutes. Get it right the first time.
Get on the roof
You need to be up on the roof for this. Don't try measuring from inside the house or at the appliance connection. The rooftop termination is where your cap actually sits, and pipe diameters can be slightly different between sections.
Identify your pipe type
Look straight down into the top of the pipe:
Measure the diameter
Stretch a tape measure across the widest point:
Inside diameter only. A true 6" pipe reads 6 inches across the opening. Ignore the outside.
Inside + outside diameter. A typical 6" air-cooled pipe is 6" inside x 8" outside, but this varies by brand.
Common Mistakes
The outside is slightly larger. You'll order a cap that's too big.
We need both diameters for the cap to seat correctly.
Pipe dimensions differ between sections. Always measure the rooftop termination.
Not sure about your numbers? Call 503-300-1926 and we'll walk you through it.
Three Styles
Choose Your Cap
Different problems, different designs.
Which Cap Fits Your Pipe?
Match your pipe type to the right cap before ordering.
| Your Pipe Type | Air-Cooled | Single-Wall |
|---|---|---|
| Round thin metal pipe | × | ✓ |
| Round insulated pipe (wall 1" or less) | × | ✓ |
| Round clay flue (wall 1" or less) | × | ✓ |
| Double-wall air-cooled (Class A) | ✓ | × |
| Triple-wall air-cooled (Class A) | ✓ | × |
| Rectangular / brick / oval flue | Different cap needed. see square/rectangular caps | |
Why Your Flue
Needs a Cap
An open pipe invites expensive problems.
Think about it this way: a 6 inch pipe without a cap is basically a 28-square-inch hole in your roof. Every time it rains, water goes straight down into the flue. It corrodes metal pipes from the inside, soaks clay tiles until they crack, and the damage stays hidden until it hits your ceiling. By that point, you're looking at thousands in repairs that could have been avoided with a $220 cap.
Animals are just as bad. Birds, squirrels, and raccoons love the warmth of a chimney flue. And here's something most people don't know: chimney swifts are federally protected. Once they nest in your flue, you legally cannot remove them until they leave on their own. A 6 inch chimney cap with screen keeps them out in the first place.
Then there's downdraft, which is the one that can actually be dangerous. When wind catches an uncapped pipe at the right angle, it pushes exhaust gases (including carbon monoxide) back down into your living space. For homes that deal with this regularly, a wind directional cap (air-cooled | single-wall) or high wind cap (air-cooled | single-wall) makes a real difference.
Built to Last
We use 304 stainless steel on every cap we make. It's the same alloy you'll find in commercial kitchens and on boats, and there's a reason for that: it doesn't rust. Galvanized caps from the hardware store start corroding in 3 to 5 years. Ours hold up against rain, snow, salt air, and temperature swings for decades. Every joint is welded, never crimped. That's why we can put a lifetime warranty on every one.
How to Install
One person, under 15 minutes. Measure, select size, slide cap in. Done.
Our caps use a friction-fit design. The collar slides into or over your pipe and contact pressure holds it in place. No screws, no glue, no special tools. All you need is safe roof access and a tape measure. If your measurement is right, the cap drops in and stays put.
Everything You Need to Know
6 Inch Round Chimney Cap Buying Guide
We get it. Shopping for chimney caps online is confusing. There are a bunch of sizes, two completely different pipe types, and three cap styles. Order the wrong combo and you're dealing with a return. Here's how to avoid that.
Step 1: Identify Your Pipe Type
Get up on the roof and look at the pipe. Two walls with a gap between them? That's air-cooled (Class A) pipe. One metal tube? That's single-wall. This matters because an air-cooled cap won't fit a single-wall pipe, and a single-wall cap won't fit air-cooled. They're completely different products.
Step 2: Measure at the Rooftop
Grab a tape measure and get the inside diameter at the rooftop. For single-wall, that's all you need. For air-cooled, measure the outside diameter too. Write both numbers down before you order.
Step 3: Choose Your Cap Style
Nine times out of ten, you need the standard round cap. If smoke comes back into the house when it's windy, get the wind directional. If you live somewhere the wind is relentless (coast, mountaintop, open hilltop), go with the high wind cap.
Consider Your Climate
If you're in the Pacific Northwest, the Northeast, or anywhere that gets a lot of rain and snow, a chimney cap isn't a nice-to-have. A 6 inch opening catches roughly 3 gallons of water for every inch of rain. Over a year, that adds up fast. Stainless steel holds up in wet climates way longer than galvanized.
Galvanized vs. Stainless Steel
Galvanized caps are cheaper upfront, but they rust in 3 to 5 years. Once that zinc coating wears off, the steel underneath corrodes fast. Rust flakes fall into the flue and pile up on the damper. 304 stainless doesn't have that problem. You'll spend a little more now, but you won't be buying a second cap in five years.
Can I Install It Myself?
Absolutely. Our caps friction-fit into the pipe. No screws, no glue, no special tools. Just safe roof access and a tape measure. Takes about 15 minutes. If you don't want to get on the roof yourself, any chimney sweep or handyman can knock it out in one visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I have air-cooled or single-wall pipe?
Look down from the top. Two walls with a gap = air-cooled. One solid wall = single-wall. Wood stove = likely air-cooled. Gas furnace = likely single-wall.
Will a 6 inch cap fit my gas fireplace?
Most gas fireplaces use 6" pipe. Measure the inside diameter at the rooftop to confirm, then check if it's single-wall or air-cooled.
What if my measurement is between sizes?
Call 503-300-1926. We build custom caps to any dimension.
Can I use a round cap on a masonry chimney?
No. Round caps fit round metal pipes only. Masonry chimneys need square/rectangular caps.
Wind directional vs. high wind: what's the difference?
Wind directional has a rotating hood for mild downdraft. High wind has solid enclosed walls for hurricane-force conditions. Different problems, different caps.
How long does a stainless steel chimney cap last?
304 stainless steel lasts indefinitely under normal conditions. It does not rust, corrode, or degrade from rain, snow, or UV exposure. Every Chimcare cap comes with a lifetime warranty.
Do I need a chimney cap for a gas fireplace?
Yes. Gas fireplaces still vent through the roof. Without a cap, rain corrodes the pipe, animals nest inside, and wind pushes exhaust back into your home.
Will a chimney cap reduce my draft?
No. A properly sized cap allows exhaust to flow freely. It can actually improve draft by preventing wind-induced downdrafts.
Do you ship to Canada?
Yes. Chimcare ships to all 50 US states and across Canada. See our Canada shipping page for details.
What pipe brands are compatible with your 6 inch caps?
Our 6 inch round caps fit pipes from all major manufacturers including DuraTech, DuraVent, All-Fuel, Ventis, Selkirk, HeatFab, Imperial, AmeriVent, Superior, and Metalbest. As long as your inside diameter measures 6 inches, our cap will fit. If you have an unusual brand or aren't sure, call 503-300-1926 and we'll confirm compatibility.
Not sure which cap you need?
Call 503-300-1926. Tell us your pipe type, measurements, and problem. We'll recommend the right cap and build a custom one if standard sizes don't fit.