OBJECTIVES: A major problem of burns is the high cost of management, the discrimination and disability it can cause to the patients. Maximising resource utilisation is of key importance for a lower-middle income country like Nigeria. There is need to know if Nigerian burn patients get the best value for money. There is need to also know if the cost of managing burns exceeds the average per capita income of Nigeria. This study aimed to evaluate the average cost of managing burns in Nigeria and determine if the treatment approach is cost-effective. METHODS: The study was a cost-utility analysis from the payer perspective in Nigeria, a case study of National Orthopaedic Hospital Enugu (NOHE) using 2013 Microsoft excel for analysis. Data for cost of burns management were obtained from a retrospective study conducted in NOHE in 2012 for 285 patients. Cost were adjusted to reflect the future (2015) value using a real interest rate of 3%. Cost were presented in 2015 US dollar and a discount rate of 3% was used for both cost and outcome. Health outcome was presented in disability adjusted life years (DALYs). DALY lost was obtained for 285 patients and averaged to obtain the lost DALY per patient. DALY averted was calculated as the difference between the ‘no treatment’ DALYs and the DALYs for management. RESULTS: The result showed that cost of managing burns in Nigeria is $6,746 per patient which is above average per capita income. However, based on cost-effectiveness threshold of $2,758.4 (i.e. representing Nigerian GDP/capita), the management of burns is cost-effective in Nigeria ($516.97/DALY averted). CONCLUSIONS: Management of burns in Nigeria is cost-effective although expensive for most Nigerians to afford. Nigerian government and health organisations should consider the support of burns patient as this will speed up their recovery, minimize disability and improve quality of life.