From being a most cost effective option compared to central heating, to providing a traditional cosy aesthetic to a living room, wood burning stoves have become a top choice for winter home additions.
These cast iron or steel designs are more often than not beautiful additions to home environments, while efficiently heating up your room at a fraction of the cost of a heating bill.
The differences between indoor log burners is surprisingly vast, with different wattages, materials, airflow control and aesthetics. That’s why we’ve put together 5 top wood burning stove reviews plus a simple buying guide followed by FAQ’s.
Best Wood Burning Stoves
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| 1
Best For Low Budgets
1Lincsfire Harmston JA013S Wood Burner
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| 3
Best For Higher Budgets
3Hillandale Silverdale 7 Wood Burning Stove
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| 5
Best Overall
5Regents Point Flavel Arundel Wood Burning Stove
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1. Lincsfire Harmston JA013S Wood Burner
- Traditional cast iron design.
- Burns both logs and charcoal.
- Clean burn technology.
- Includes Robax high quality glass.
This beautiful Lincsfine wood burning stove has a grey-blue traditional design. It’s constructed from high quality cast iron for both calibre and longevity. This is an ideal addition to a more traditionally designed home, or equally those looking for a living room statement piece.
Secondly, it burns both logs and charcoal and includes dedicated clean burning technology, making it ideal for a family environment. It’s also easy to maintain and clean thanks to the removable ash pan at the base of the stove. This stove is CE certified.
Furthermore, the frontal glas viewing pane is created with German “Robax” glass that withstands very high temperatures as well as a high-standard Airwash system. This helps to prevent the glass becoming too hot to touch. The design also includes air vent control, helping the glass to stay fog-free and allowing overnight burning. Although the flue is not included it can be purchased and installed at the rear or on top.
Lastly, this model has advanced slow burning technology. The result of this is a 80% burning efficiency rating which is higher than several other models!
Specifications
Pros
- Long lifespan
- Airflow control.
- Efficient burning technology.
- Removable ashpan.
Cons
- Does not burn coal.
- Weighs over 50kg.
2. Lincsfire Saxilby JA013 Wood Burning Stove
- Complete cast iron construction.
- Attractive black design.
- Brass handles.
- 80% burning efficiency.
With a classy black design and brass handles, this model fits perfectly into any contemporary home decor. It has a complete cast iron construction,providing both durability and a lavish design. It’s an ideal purchase for those who want a long-lasting wood burning stove.
A top quality of this stove is its 80% burning efficiency thanks to the advanced slow burning technology that comes with Lincsfire stoves. This technology helps the stove to burn for longer, and generate more heat, plus it has a fairly high wattage of 6.5 kW. It’s also CE certified and burns both logs and charcoal.
The airwash system helps the front of the stove stay cool and prevents it becoming steamed-up. Therefore you’ll always have a clean view of the fire. The airflow control also allows safe overnight burning, excellent for colder months.
Lastly, this model comes with a removable ash pan on the base of the stove, allowing you to easily clean it after burning. It also includes the flue collar, and the flu itself can be placed on top or to the rear of the stove.
Specifications
Pros
- Both rear and top flue positions.
- Air vent control system.
- Burns logs and charcoal.
- Safe for overnight burning.
Cons
- Does not burn coal.
- Heavy.
3. Hillandale Silverdale 7 Wood Burning Stove
- High fuel output.
- Large viewing window.
- 76.6% efficiency.
- Suits both modern and traditional decor.
This classic, well-structured durable design fits perfectly with traditional and modern environments. It’s crafted from steel and has a fairly compact design. This is an ideal choice for those who want a stunning stove to fit a smaller space.
Furthermore, the small design has a surprisingly high wattage of 7kW, making it higher than some larger designs. Plus, it has a 76.6% burning efficiency, making it a suitable economical choice for longer term use. It is also DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) approved.
This stove is designed with a large viewing window on the front, providing an aesthetic addition to a room, as well as efficiently heating it. The large silver handle on the front of the door is removable, depending on your taste. The flue can also be placed on either the top or the rear of the stove, depending on the space available.
Last but not least, this model comes with Airwash technology, keeping the stove clean and preventing glass fogging.
Specifications
Pros
- Removable handle.
- Includes Airwash technology.
- Both top and rear flue.
- Fairly compact size.
Cons
- Weighs over 50 kg.
- Some may prefer a cast iron design.
4. Firefox 8 Twin Door Wood Burning Stove
- Attractive classic design.
- Adjustable air vents.
- High output.
- 79% efficient.
A stove that’s unique in its design with two doors, this is a perfect piece for medium sized rooms that need a high heat output.
This stove has a higher wattage than a number of others, with it’s 8.4 kW output. The high output makes it ideal for larger rooms, but the design is still compact and won’t take up excessive amounts of space.
Furthermore, it comes with adjustable air vents, meaning you can open and close them when need be. This is ideal for overnight use, where you may want to crank the heat up higher than during the daytime. Plus, it has a 79% efficiency rating!
The stove is created from high-quality cast iron, giving it a long lifetime and a beautiful appearance. The double doors allow opening and adjusting coal or logs easier, without releasing too much heat. The flue can also be moved between the top and rear of the stove, helping it to fit into any space.
Specifications
Pros
- Cast iron design.
- Two flu positions.
- Double doors.
- Sturdy build.
Cons
- Takes a while to start burning.
- It’s heavy.
5. Regents Point Flavel Arundel Wood Burning Stove
- Modern design.
- Large viewing window,
- Tertiary air system.
- Externally controllable riddling grate.
With a beautifully modern design and a large viewing window, this is an ideal statement piece for any room. The viewing window measured 285mm x 270mm, making it far more generous than many other wood burning stoves!
This design has a number of exceptional features. Firstly, it has an advanced Airwash system allowing the glass to stay clean and prevent a buildup of soot from the fire. The well-placed vents allow air to enter the stove from the outside to flow over the glass. This is an excellent way to prevent lengthy and regular cleaning times.
Furthermore, it is designed with a Tertiary Air System. This functions by allowing pre-heated air to enter through the rear part of the stove. Drawing in more air improved the stove’s efficiency to 78.4%.
The model is created from steel, with a matte black finish. The front of the stove holds a silver handle, plus two riddle adjusters. The flue can be placed at the top or rear of the stove. Another bonus of this design is that it’s CE certified and safe for use in Smoke Control Areas.
Specifications
Pros
- 76.3% efficiency.
- Includes an airwash system.
- Two flue positions.
- Attractive metallic finish.
Cons
- Ashpan is on the smaller side.
- Some may want a larger design.
Log Burner Buying Guide
Type
Additional keywords to cover:
Log burners are generally home-sized pieces that burn logs or charcoal in order to produce heat and, therefore, warm up a room.
Although they sound fairly simple, there are a few different types of log burners that you can choose between.
Let’s look in some more detail.
Double Sided Log Burner
Double sided log burners are explained fairly well in their name: they are double sided! These types of designs have either dual doors with separate burners on the left and the right. Alternatively, you will find some with one log burner on the front and one on the rear, each with its own doors.
They are an ideal choice for large rooms in which they will be a centerpiece and would benefit from two viewing windows Double sided models are also commonly used in two different rooms by knocking through a wall, therefore heating two rooms with a single log burner. This is far more cost efficient than buying two separate stoves!
Another use of a double sided log burner is that one of the sides can be in an indoor room, and the other side can be installed into the garden or outdoor space. This is ideal for those who want a multifunctional model indoors and outdoors.
Free Standing Log Burner
A free standing log burner is defined as one with legs or a stand below the main frame. These are ideal options for carpeted floors, or particularly delicate wooden surfaces.
Some freestanding stove models have more intrical stands, with luxury designs, such as those that include wood-holding storage or unique spherical designs. These non-traditional designs can tend to be a little bit more expensive than more basic versions.
Portable Wood Burning Stove
You may be surprised to hear that there are a number of portable wood burning stoves on the market. These are ideal for camping trips and for outside use in your garden.
They are fairly inexpensive and can be a more efficient way to heat up the outdoors. These models work in the same way to traditional log burners with a flue pipe and air vents.
Design
The first log burners date back to the 1500’s, so it’s easy to see why they have fairly traditional designs that never go out of style.
However, the traditional log burner has been enhanced further with more modern manufacturers. You’ll find more contemporary versions to have sleeker cut lines rather than the traditional slightly bulkier design. Furthermore, newer designs come in more colours and with different materials such as steel, brass and other metals.
Modern versions also tend to include technologies such as Airflow systems and specially placed air vents for well-functioning log burners. However, the design of log burning hasn’t changed too significantly in terms of functionality!
Size
Log burners can vary in size, with some of the smallest versions being portable and some of the largest versions weighing over 100 kilograms.
If you have a large sized room, you will generally need a larger log burner. Likewise, if you have a smaller or medium sized room you can go for a smaller version. Although a small version would be sufficient for any room, the heating effects won’t be as great.
Most standard sized log burners, as featured above, are designed for medium-sized rooms.
Output Power
As with most heat-generating appliances, output power can vary.
Wood burning stoves usually range between 2 kilowatts or power, all the way up to 8kW. However, most tend to graze in between at 4kW and 5kW.
For a larger room, you will want to go for a higher output, and a lower output will be sufficient for smaller rooms.
Log Burner Installation Regulations & Cost
Often, you will be able to install a log burner yourself following the manufacturer’s provided instructions, as long as it complies with local building codes. More complicated log burners may require installation by professionals and many manufacturers will deliver and install them for you in one go for an additional fee.
One important thing to remember is that some locations won’t allow specific log burners to be installed if you aren’t based in a “Smoke Controlled Area”.
Although it can be costly to install some log burners, you will quickly gain this money back due to the lack of central heating you’ll need from now on!
Log Burner Accessories
Some accessories you may want to consider for your log burner are:
- Match holders.
- Fire screens – particularly useful for homes with children and pets.
- Log holders.
- Coal buckets.
- Fire tools.
- A stand (if your log burner doesn’t include one already).
- Flue gas thermometers.
- Hearth fenders (to line the outside of the stove).
Efficiency
The efficiency of a wood burning stove can be assessed by its efficiency percentage. A higher percentage means that it loses a lower amount of heat, burns wood slower and thus heats larger spaces faster.
The general efficiency range for wood burning stoves ranges from 60% efficiency up to over 80% efficiency for many we have included above. While the difference isn’t huge, if you are spending a higher amount of money on a log burner you should make sure it has a higher efficiency too!
Pricing Range
Pricing range for log burgers is, on average, between £300 and £600 as with those we have features in our reviews section.
The reasons that a log burner is more expensive may be:
- A higher efficiency percentage.
- More expensive materials, such as cast iron.
- Larger sizing.
- Higher quality glass.
- A larger viewing window.
- Higher wattage output.
- More air vents.
- Better airflow.
Although price ranges aren’t that huge, if you do go for a more expensive model, make sure it’s justified with the points above. On the other hand, if you want a simpler model then a cheap log burner is perfect.
Frequently Asked Questions
Some models may be installed by the manufacturer for free. If not, you can expect to pay as high as £700 to £1000 for installation, due to flue locations and possibly needing to adjust walls. However simpler models can be much cheaper to install, around the £300 mark.
Use the following steps to light your fire:
- Place larger logs in a large triangle pattern on the base.
- Follow with smaller logs in the middle, and much smaller wooden kindling on the top.
- Place some newspaper, cardboard etc. above the wooden section.
- Use a match of lighter to light the paper section and you’re all set!
Dedicated fire retardant drywall is commonly used behind a wood burning stove – usually something called Type X drywall, Type c drywall or Gypsum. It’s important to choose a heat and fire retardant material.
Unless you are skilled and certified to install a wood burning stove yourself, you will have to hire someone knowledgeable in this area to do this for you. It will usually involve installing a flue out of the wall or ceiling, which can be costly and must be done professionally. Attempting to install it yourself without necessary experience can be both dangerous and possibly unsuccessful!
Luckily, many manufacturers will recommend someone, or send someone, to install your new log burner for you.
Most wood burning stoves come with an ashtray at the base of the stove, which can be easily slid out and emptied after each use.
It’s best to clean your stove every two weeks or at the least every month in order to keep it in good condition. Clean the interior with a small brush, removing any ashes and extra wood inside.
Secondly, a smart way to clean the glass is with a cold and wet piece of charcoal. Wipe this on the interior glass, and then remove the water residue with a tissue or cloth.
Thirdly, to clean the outside casing of the stove, you can simply use a duster cloth. Make sure to avoid any liquids as this can cause the materials to deteriorate.
Lastly, to clean the flue you will need to hire a chimney sweep, or learn how to sweep it yourself! Alongside this, you can also keep it clean by using the burner daily to push out any extra soot.
Our Verdict
Hopefully you have now warmed up to the idea of purchasing your wood burning stove and the process seems a little less confusing!
All in all, they are gorgeous additions to any home, whether your decor is modern or traditional. Thankfully, we have included a number of different styles, sizing and features to find the best log burner for your needs. You will also now understand what features can affect the price, and how different models of wood burners differ.
Once you have purchased your stove, it’s important to let a professional install it.
If you still can not choose which wood burning stove to buy, then you can go straight for our “Best Overall” rated model!
