Is It Cheaper to Burn Wood or Gas? Wood Burner vs Gas Heating
Sep 21, 2026
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Quick answer: It depends on what you pay for fuel. If you buy kiln-dried logs at retail prices, mains gas is usually cheaper per kWh; in the UK in spring 2026, gas cost about 6p per kWh of useful heat against roughly 9–15p for logs. A wood burner works out cheaper when you have low-cost or free seasoned wood, or when you heat only the room you use and turn the central heating down.
Wood burner vs gas heating: cost per kWh
The fair way to compare fuels is the cost of each kWh of heat that actually reaches the room:
Cost per useful kWh = fuel price per kWh ÷ appliance efficiency
The table uses UK reference prices from spring 2026. Your local prices will differ, so replace the numbers with your own.
| Heating option | Fuel price per kWh | Typical efficiency | Cost per kWh of useful heat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mains gas (central heating boiler) | about 5.7p | about 90% (modern condensing boiler) | about 6.4p |
| Kiln-dried logs (wood stove) | about 8–11p | about 75–85% | about 9–15p |
| Electricity (resistance heating) | about 24.7p | about 100% | about 24.7p |
Logs are sold by volume, not energy. A cubic meter of well-dried logs holds roughly 2,100 kWh of heat, so divide the price per cubic meter by 2,100. For example, logs at £180 per cubic meter cost about 8.6p per kWh before efficiency losses.
Prices move. Several UK comparisons in 2022–2024 found wood cheaper than gas, so always check current prices before you decide.
When a wood burner is cheaper to run
- You heat one room. A stove lets you turn the central heating down while you stay warm in the room you use. An older Energy Saving Trust estimate puts the saving at up to about 10% of heating bills.
- You have cheap or free wood. Your own trees or a local supplier can bring the cost well below retail prices.
- Gas is expensive or unavailable where you live. Wood is often the cheaper fuel where there is no gas network.
- You want protection from price spikes. A stove also keeps working in a power cut.
When gas heating is cheaper
- You heat the whole home. A stove heats mainly one room and cannot supply hot water like a boiler.
- You buy kiln-dried logs at retail prices. At 8–11p per kWh, they cost more than mains gas.
- You want convenience. Gas heating is automatic; a wood stove needs fuel storage, loading and ash removal.
log burner stove
Wood stove vs gas heating: other costs and factors
| Factor | Wood stove | Gas heating |
|---|---|---|
| Up-front cost | Stove, flue or chimney and installation | Boiler or gas fire and gas connection |
| Heat | Warms one room quickly | Heats the whole home and hot water |
| Effort | Buying, storing and seasoning logs, loading, ash | Automatic |
| Maintenance | Annual chimney sweep; seals, glass and liners | Annual boiler service |
| Rules | May be restricted in smoke control areas; certified stoves may be required | Fewer restrictions |
| Power cuts | Keeps working | Most gas central heating needs electricity |
How to lower your wood burner running costs
- Burn dry, seasoned wood with a moisture content below 20%. Wet wood gives less heat and more smoke.
- Choose an efficient modern stove. Modern stoves typically reach about 70–85% efficiency, while an open fire can be far lower. See [are new wood stoves more efficient].
- Size the stove to the room. An oversized stove burns inefficiently and an undersized one cannot heat the space. See [is a wood burning stove worth buying] for cost and value.
- Buy logs in bulk and store them off the ground under cover so they stay dry.
Choosing a wood burner: what buyers should check
Most room stoves produce about 4–10 kW, so match the output to the room and its insulation. Cast iron stoves absorb heat and release it slowly, which keeps a room warm after the fire dies down. If you import or resell wood burners, also check:
- Certification for your market, such as EU Ecodesign, US EPA or UK Defra exemption, and ask for test reports before ordering.
- Flue outlet size and heat output (kW), to match your customers' chimneys and rooms.
- Cast iron quality, glass and door seals, which decide durability and heat retention.
- Spare parts such as seals, glass and firebricks for after-sales support.
Cast iron wood burners from Gnee Garden
Since 2016, Gnee Garden has manufactured metal products for homes and gardens for contractors, retailers and distributors around the world. Our [double door cast iron wood stove] and [cast iron wood burner] are made in our own factories, with 26 quality inspectors checking each stage.
Send your target market, quantity and required certification to [request a quote].
