What is The Best Small Wood Burning Stove?

This is a question we hear all the time! In this post, we’ll help you find the best small wood burning stove for your needs. There are several important factors to consider, from price and heat output to efficiency and design. We’ll walk you through how these features compare across a range of popular models.

Ultimately, the best small wood burning stove depends on your individual preferences and heating requirements. A great place to start is by figuring out what kW your space needs, and deciding whether you’d prefer a cast iron stove or one made from steel.

What kW do you need?

Choosing the right size wood burner is all about matching it to the space you want to heat. A stove that’s too small will leave your room chilly, while one that’s too powerful can make it uncomfortably hot.

A simple way to estimate the heat output you need is to multiply the length, width, and height of your space and then divide by 14. For example, our Salamander office is heated solely by a Hobbit Stove. The garden office has three walls made of large windows and doors and measures 7 m long, 3.5 m wide, and 2.5 m high — giving a volume of 61 m³. Using the calculation, the rough guide suggests a 4.3 kW stove, which is very close to what the Hobbit Stove provides. It heats the space perfectly!

Of course, this calculation is only a rough guide. Several factors can affect the stove’s actual heat output. The type of fuel you use makes a difference; coal and eco-briquettes burn hotter than wood. How you operate the stove also matters, keeping the air controls open will make the fire burn hotter and faster, while closing them will slow the burn and reduce output.

Other important considerations include insulation, the number of windows and doors, whether the room is open-plan, and whether you want the heat to reach adjoining areas. The stove should fit the space, not overwhelm it. A stove that’s too powerful can cause ventilation problems and make your room uncomfortably hot.

All of our stoves have 3 adjustable air controls, meaning that you have a lot of control over the heat output of your small stove.

Cast Iron vs Steel – Which Material Makes the Best Small Wood Burning Stove?

Cast iron or steel — which is better for a small stove? Both materials have their pros and cons, and it’s not always easy to know which to pick. That’s why we’ve created this guide to help you weigh up the options and find the best fit for your home.

The Benefits of a Small Cast Iron Stove

We firmly believe that the best small wood burning stoves are made of cast iron. That’s why our Hobbit Stove and The Little Range Cookstove are built from a solid cast iron construction. A small cast iron stove offers several advantages over steel, making it an excellent choice for lasting performance and efficiency.

Cast iron has a long tradition in stove making; in fact, the first cast iron wood burner dates back to around 1642. It’s a highly durable material that retains and radiates heat exceptionally well, keeping your space warmer for longer. Simply put, a small cast iron stove provides benefits that steel stoves just can’t match.

Heat is Released Over a Longer Period of Time

While a cast iron stove might take a little longer to heat up, it makes up for it by holding onto that warmth for hours after the fire has gone out. Thanks to its dense structure, cast iron acts as a powerful heat store, keeping your home warm and cosy long into the night.

This makes it a great choice if you’re looking for a small wood burning stove you can safely shut down overnight, and it also means you’ll spend less time refuelling and more time relaxing by the fire.

Cast Iron is Durable, Withstanding Higher Temperatures

A small cast iron stove is built to last, making it far more durable than a similar stove made from steel. Cast iron is well known for its incredible strength and resistance to heat. Unlike some lower quality steel stoves, it won’t warp, bend, or lose shape over time. It’s a material that truly stands the test of time.

While a cast iron stove might cost a little more upfront, its durability more than makes up for it. You can enjoy years of reliable use without worrying about dents, damage, or wear from daily use — making it a smart, long-term investment for your home.

Cast Iron Stoves Are Available in a Wide Range of Different Styles

Cast iron isn’t just durable, it’s also a fantastic material for design. Because molten iron can be poured into moulds before it’s cast, it can be shaped into everything from classic, traditional styles to sleek, modern designs, complete with intricate details and motifs.

Our cast iron stoves strike the perfect balance between timeless tradition and contemporary style, offering a look that suits any home.

What is The Best Small Wood Burning Stove Made of Steel?

While we still strongly recommend a cast iron stove for your log burner, we understand that some people prefer steel, and there are some excellent options out there.

One stove we highly recommend is The Griffin by Glastonbury Burners. Run by Dave, who has over 30 years of experience in airflow engineering, welding, and small wood burners, every stove is hand-built in his workshop. The Griffin is a compact yet powerful wood stove, perfect for heating a variety of small spaces, from bell tents and canal boats to RVs and campervans.

The Benefits of Our Small Cast Iron Wood Burning Stoves

Our collection of small cast iron log burners are made to fit a wide range of small spaces — from Victorian fireplaces and shepherds’ huts to canal boats, yurts, and campervans. The Hobbit Stove has a 4.1kW output, and The Little Range Cookstove has a 4.3kW output. Both are made from high quality cast iron and with the addition of a variety of extras to choose from to make the stove perfectly suit your needs, these really are the best small wood burning stoves in our opinion!

Striking the perfect balance between traditional charm and contemporary style, our stoves blend seamlessly into a variety of interiors and spaces. You can precisely control the burn rate using the bottom door, airflow wheel, and secondary and tertiary levers.

All of our stoves are Eco Design 2022 with the clearSkies mark for the Little Range Cookstove and Hobbit SE, and they are both also part of the Cleaner Choice scheme. All of our stoves are certified to be installed in a house.

Customise Your Dream Stove

We have vareity of extras avaiable to add onto your small wood burning stove to make it suit your space and exactly what you want to use it for.

• Direct Air Intake – for improving the draw of your stove, if it’s going to be installed in a small airtight space.
• Side Boiler – enables your stove to heat a hot water supply for your taps, a radiator or even a non-pressurised shower.
• Heatshields – halves the distances that your stove will need to be positioned away from combustible materials, allowing you to fit your stove into almost any small space! You can read this article to learn more about this option and how much space you’ll need to have around your wood burner. View our Hobbit Stove clearances here, and The Little Range Cookstove clearances here.
• Stand/Log Store – an option just for The Hobbit Stove, raising it up by 158mm
• Stainless Steel Cooktop – for The Hobbit Stove. The Little Range Cookstove comes with a built in stainless steel cooktop.
• Gallery Rail – an extra for The Hobbit Stove, the perfect addition if you are on a boat.
• Coal Bars – safely retain more coal inside your firebox.
• Coloured doors for The Hobbit Stove.
• We also offer a range of in-house designed and customisable flue kits for installing your small wood burning stove into your chosen space.