In this guide
All properly dried wood will burn, but species behave differently. Some light quickly, some burn for hours, some are cheaper. This guide describes how the common firewood species compare, so you can choose what suits your stove and your evenings.
The comparisons below are general characteristics. On each of our product pages the ratings for heat, burn time and ease of lighting are our own guide, based on the product described, and they sit alongside the stated density and moisture where we have them.
Ash
Ash is the classic all-rounder. It lights readily, burns steadily with a calm flame and leaves little mess. If you want one wood for everyday use, ash is a safe choice. Like every wood, it only burns well when it is properly dry.
Good for: everyday fires, lighting a stove from cold, mixing with denser woods.
Birch
Birch catches quickly and burns with a bright, lively flame, which makes it excellent for getting a fire going and for open fires on mild evenings. It burns faster than the denser hardwoods, so you will go through it more quickly.
Good for: quick warmth, kindling a fire, open fires and fire pits.
Oak
Oak is dense and heavy. It is slow to light and slow to burn, which makes it the choice for long, steady heat, including keeping a stove going through the evening. Because it is harder to light, most people use a lighter wood or kindling to get the fire established and then add oak.
Good for: long burns, overnight heat in a well-controlled stove, banking up a fire.
Mixed hardwood
A blend of dense hardwood species, typically what a supplier has available. Species vary from load to load, but the logs are all hardwood and behave broadly like the species above. It is often the best-value option and works well in most stoves.
Good for: general use, getting good value, a mix of lighting and staying power.
Softwood
Softwoods such as pine and spruce light very easily and burn fast and hot, but they burn through quickly and can leave more resin in the flue. They are best for kindling or occasional use rather than as your main fuel.
Quick comparison
| Wood | Lights easily | Burns for a long time | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ash | Yes | Medium to long | Everyday |
| Birch | Very | Shorter | Quick warmth |
| Oak | Slowly | Long | Long burns |
| Mixed hardwood | Medium | Medium | Good value |
Mixing woods
You do not have to choose just one. A common routine is to light the fire with birch or kindling, build it with ash, and add a piece of oak when the stove is hot to keep it going. That gets the speed of the light woods and the staying power of the dense ones.
Does the species change the heat?
Dense woods hold more energy per log than light ones, so you need fewer of them for the same heat. But per cubic metre of wood the differences are smaller than most people expect; moisture matters far more than species. Wet oak burns worse than dry birch. See Ready to Burn explained for how to check.
Check your stove
Whatever you choose, follow your stove maker's guidance on fuel. Some appliances have limits on the fuels they are designed for.
