Wood or Pellets: Which Is Cheaper and Which Heats More?

Short answer: pellets give more heat per kilo. ENplus A1 pellets (≤10% moisture) give at least 4.6 kWh/kg, wood at 20% moisture about 4.1; EU minimum efficiency is 79% for pellet stoves, 65% for wood stoves. So 1 kg of pellets ≈ 1.36 kg of wood in useful heat: pellets win if they cost under 1.36 times wood per kilo.

Current prices and types: Pellet prices → · Firewood prices →

Do wood or pellets give more heat?

The pellet value is the ENplus standard's minimum; the wood value is Forest Research's figure for stacked, air-dry logs. Details: how many calories pine pellets have and how many calories firewood has.

Which is cheaper?

Compare cost per useful kWh, not price per kilo: cost per kWh = price per kg ÷ (kWh/kg × stove efficiency). If the bag gives kcal/kg, divide by 860 first. At minimum efficiencies pellets give 3.63 and wood 2.67 kWh/kg of useful heat; 3.63 ÷ 2.67 ≈ 1.36. So:

• If pellets cost less than 1.36 times wood per kilo, pellets are cheaper.
• If they cost more than 1.36 times, wood is cheaper.
• If your stoves' rated efficiencies differ, use your own values: with an 80% pellet stove and a 70% wood stove the ratio is (4.6 × 0.80) ÷ (4.1 × 0.70) ≈ 1.28.

Current per-kilo prices are on the cards below. Find the stove power you need with the pellet stove kW calculator and the seasonal quantity with the fuel calculator; for daily use see how many kilos a pellet stove burns per day.

Do pellets burn in a wood stove?

Not well in a wood or coal stove whose manual does not list pellets: the small pellets fall through the grate and smoulder in a heap without air. Details and pellet baskets: can you burn pellets in a coal stove. The reverse also holds: a pellet stove is built for pellets; according to the EPA some models accept only wood pellets, and many manufacturers recommend pellets from qualified producers only. Do not put wood in a pellet stove. To burn both: wood and pellet hybrid stoves.

Which is more practical?

• Feeding: Pellets go into a hopper and the stove feeds itself; most models need electricity for this, gravity-fed ones do not (EPA). Wood is loaded by hand.
• Preparation: Wood should be seasoned at least six months and burned below 20% moisture (EPA). Pellets arrive dry but must be kept away from moisture.
• Storage: A tonne of pellets takes 1.3–1.7 m³, a tonne of stacked wood 2.0–2.9 m³.
• Maintenance: Pellet stoves need regular cleaning and a professional service at least once a year (EPA); wood leaves more ash.

For pellet vs coal stoves see pellet stove or coal stove; for wood vs coal, wood or coal in a stove.

Which burns cleaner?

Ecodesign limits are stricter for pellet stoves: carbon monoxide 300 mg/m³ against 1,500 mg/m³, particulates 20 mg/m³ against 40 mg/m³ (at 13% O₂). But no fuel is smokeless: according to the CDC, carbon monoxide forms wherever fuel burns. Keep the chimney clean and install a carbon monoxide detector near sleeping areas (CDC). If anyone has a headache, dizziness or weakness, ventilate, get them into fresh air and call 112 (Turkish Ministry of Health). Details: stove gas symptoms and carbon monoxide detectors.

What does it depend on?

• Prices per kilo: the 1.36 ratio is fixed; the decision moves with prices.
• Real stove efficiency: old or poorly maintained stoves run below their label value.
• Wood moisture: green wood falls below 4.1 kWh/kg.
• Pellet quality: the ENplus logo guarantees the 4.6 kWh/kg minimum and 0.7% ash.
• Electricity and storage: automatic pellet stoves need power, pellets need dry storage.

Frequently asked questions

Are pellets or wood cheaper?

Look at useful heat, not price per kilo: at minimum efficiencies 1 kg of pellets ≈ 1.36 kg of wood. If pellets cost less than 1.36 times wood per kilo, pellets win; otherwise wood does.

How much wood equals 1 tonne of pellets?

By calorific value alone 4.6 ÷ 4.1 ≈ 1.12 tonnes of wood; including stove efficiencies (79% and 65%) about 1.36 tonnes.

Do pellets burn in a wood stove?

Not recommended unless the manual allows it; pellets fall through the grate and smoulder without air. Details: pellets in a coal stove.

Can you burn wood in a pellet stove?

No. A pellet stove is designed for pellets; burning both needs a hybrid stove.

Which produces less ash?

Pellets: at most 0.7% in ENplus A1; firewood with bark 1.0–1.2%.

Sources: pellet moisture, calorific value, ash and density ENplus ST 1001:2022, Annex A, Table 4; wood and pellet calorific value, density, energy per volume Forest Research, "Typical calorific values of fuels"; minimum efficiency and emission limits (EU) 2015/1185 Ecodesign, Annex II; pellet stove efficiency, electricity and maintenance EPA Burn Wise, "Pellet Stoves"; wood moisture and seasoning EPA Burn Wise, "Best Wood-Burning Practices"; wood ash COFORD, "Wood ash"; ster weight OGM, ster conversion; carbon monoxide CDC and Turkish Ministry of Health. Conversion: 1 kWh = 860 kcal.