Can You Burn Pellets in a Coal Stove? Grates, Pellet Baskets and the Right Stove

Short answer: generally not recommended. A coal or wood stove is designed for the fuels its manufacturer lists, and pellets are usually not among them; for the cast-iron Natural 20h, for example, the manufacturer lists only "wood, coal". In the ENplus classes pellets are 6 or 8 mm in diameter (±1 mm); these small cylinders can fall through the grate into the ash pan, and piled on the grate they let too little air through and smoulder instead of burning with a flame. The U.S. EPA also says that for most appliances a smouldering fire is neither safe nor efficient.

If you want to burn pellets, the sound way is a stove whose data sheet lists pellets.

Stoves that burn pellets and current prices: Pellet stove prices →

Why don't pellets burn well in a coal stove?

Does a pellet basket work?

Devices sold as "pellet baskets" are made to hold the pellets together inside the stove and let air in from below and the sides. But a basket does not change the stove manufacturer's fuel list: if the manufacturer does not approve pellets, it is still outside the manual. A basket is filled by hand, feeding and air are not automatic, and that stove's efficiency and emissions have not been measured with a basket. So we do not recommend a basket as a permanent solution; if your stove's manual mentions pellets or a pellet basket, follow it.

Stoves that burn both pellets and wood

If you want to switch between pellets and wood, there are hybrid stoves designed for it: the manufacturer describes the Natural Gonca and Natural Diamond as "hybrid (pellet/wood)", and the Baba's Stove manual series carries "pellet and wood stove" in its name. Details: hybrid stoves that burn wood and pellets. For hand lighting see how to light a manual pellet stove.

The right fuel if you have a coal stove

Light coal from the top: the Turkish Coal Enterprises (TKİ) guide says to fill the stove two-thirds with coal, light it with pieces of wood placed on top, close the upper air flap once it has caught and adjust from below, and never add coal later to a top-lit stove (how to light a coal stove). Coal options are on the coal page, wood on the firewood page; for a pellet stove, pine pellets.

What does it depend on?

• The stove's fuel list: Do not burn a fuel that the manual and data sheet do not list.
• Grate and air inlet: If the grate gaps are wider than a pellet, pellets drop into the ash pan; if air comes only from below, the pile is choked.
• Flue draught: A smouldering fire with weak draught puts smoke into the room: chimney cleaning and stove maintenance.
• Heat demand: If you are thinking of a new stove, see the output you need in the stove sizing calculator; for a comparison, pellet stove or coal stove.

Safety note

No stove is "smokeless"; pellets, wood and coal all produce smoke and carbon monoxide when they burn. A flue of the right diameter that draws properly and sealed pipe joints are essential. Use a carbon monoxide detector at home; with headache, dizziness or nausea, ventilate, get outside and call 112: stove gas symptoms and carbon monoxide detectors.

Frequently asked questions

Do pellets burn in a wood stove?

The same limit applies: in a wood stove with a grate pellets can fall through and smoulder. Hybrid models whose data sheet lists pellets and wood are the exception.

Can you mix coal and pellets?

Unless your stove's manufacturer lists the mix as a fuel, we do not recommend it; the two fuels light, take air and leave ash differently.

Can you burn coal in a pellet stove?

No. A pellet stove burns only the fuel in its data sheet; for models such as the Natural Atlas and Gold E 12 that is pellets only.

Can you burn pellets in a range cooker?

The same limit applies to a classic range cooker built for wood and coal. Pellet-burning models with an oven are a separate type: choosing a pellet stove with oven.

Is a pellet basket safe?

If it is not in the stove's manual, its safety and efficiency have not been measured for that stove; check your manual.

Sources: pellet diameter and ash, ENplus ST 1001:2022, Annex A, Table 4; U.S. EPA Burn Wise, "Best Wood-Burning Practices" (smouldering fires) and "Pellet Stoves" (feeding); top-down lighting, Turkish Coal Enterprises (TKİ), “Guide to Using Coal in Stoves”; manufacturer pages Natural 20h, Natural Gonca, Natural Diamond, Eco 8.