Stove Buying Guide: How to Choose the Right Wood Burner for Your Home

With gas and electricity prices still high, energy costs remain a concern for many households as the colder months set in. To avoid exorbitant heating bills, it’s worth considering alternative options to keep warm this winter.

When used and maintained correctly, a wood burner that meets government regulations is a completely viable option for homeowners looking to upgrade an old stove, replace an open fireplace, better heat a living space, or even switch to wood as the main energy source.

Since 2022, wood burning stoves must be Ecodesign compliant, so all new stoves now meet strict UK and EU standards for cleaner burning and lower emissions.

Delivering a dependable heat source and unparallelled comfort when the cold becomes too much, modern stoves save both resources and money when compared to open fireplaces. They offer around 80% efficiency compared to just 20% in the case of traditional open fires - convecting and radiating heat into the living space and halving the deemed air loss from a room - whilst less wood is needed to produce more heat - two logs of similar characteristics will burn for up to one hour in a wood burning stove compared to only 15 minutes on an open fire.

A compliant wood burning stove will also significantly reduce particulate emissions compared to an older model or an open fireplace.

After making the up-front investment, a wood burning stove will help save money on energy bills in the longer-term and allows you to take back some control of your fuel supply.

A stove can also act as a design statement, offering both practicality and style through the colder months.

Read on for key considerations when choosing a wood burning stove...

1. Size & Heat Output

When it comes to a wood burning stove, bigger is not always better. A stove that’s too powerful for your space will have you opening windows in midwinter, while one that’s too small won’t provide enough warmth.

As a general rule of thumb, a 5kW stove will heat an average living room of around 20m², while 6-7kW models are better suited to larger or open-plan spaces. If in doubt, speak to your local stove dealership or using an online calculator to work out the correct output for your home.

2. Style & positioning

A stove should suit both your space and your personal taste. If you have a fireplace, an inset stove can sit neatly upon a hearth for a more traditional look, whilst a cassette stove can be built into a closed or purpose-built chimney breast for a more modern statement piece. If your home doesn’t have an existing chimney, a freestanding model can be installed almost anywhere, creating a flexible design feature.

Taller stoves lift the fire into view, giving the flames more presence and creating a focal point in a room. Wood burning stoves also come in a range of finishes. From classic black cast iron to contemporary sleek white enamel, or even natural soapstone for a traditional Scandi aesthetic with added heat retention qualities.

3. Features Designed to Enhance Enjoyment, Convenience and Efficiency

Stove design today goes far beyond delivering a simple black-box style chamber to burn wood, incorporating innovative features and advanced technology to enhance your enjoyment of the flames, improve efficiency, minimise emissions, and make life easier for stove owners.

For optimal flame viewing, look for models that include large or wraparound glass panels that make the fire the centrepiece of any room. Silent sliding ash drawers or cool-touch handles ensure cleaner and safer use. Some models benefit from automatic air regulation that adjusts airflow to maintain a more even and efficient burn, whilst smart stoves with app connectivity will even notify you of weather changes and when it’s time to refuel.

Be sure to compare features before purchasing to make day-to-day use easier and enhance the overall experience of stove ownership.

4. Considering Different Spaces

For smaller rooms, compact inset or cassette stoves are ideal. They fit neatly into an existing fireplace or chimney breast, delivering warmth without overwhelming a room.

For open plan living, a freestanding stove works perfectly as it can be placed virtually anywhere, so long as the flue can be connected to the outdoors.

Tall glass panels or wraparound viewing panes allow the flames to be enjoyed from different angles, making a great choice for sociable spaces.

A cubic cassette design stove built into the chimney breast or a purpose-built wall opposite the seating area will create a mesmerising centrepiece and allow you to enjoy the stress-relieving power of flames in place of a TV.

For an underused corner, an elegant, tall cylindrical stove can create a welcoming, cosy zone, and will complement both modern and period interiors.

A low model providing floor level flames will be ideal for rooms with low ceilings or for those who love lounging around on the rug – including any furry companions!

5. Budget & Installation

The purchase of a wood burning stove can be a significant investment. While some stoves start from around £500, lower-cost options can lack in quality, efficiency and eco-credentials. Investing in a high-quality stove, installed by a professional, ensures maximum performance, safety, and better long-term value.

A good benchmark to guarantee quality would be upwards of around £1,000, depending of course on size & output, brand name and features. While the upfront cost may feel high, the longer-term savings in heating bills will outweigh the initial outlay.

Remember to factor in the cost of installation - which can sometimes be as much as or more than the price of the appliance depending on any necessary build work. And always make sure installation is carried out by a HETAS-registered professional in the UK to meet safety regulations.