Wood burners are a popular way to heat homes in the UK, combining renewable fuel with a cosy ambience. If you run a 5kW wood burner, understanding how much firewood you need across a winter season — and the likely cost — helps you budget, buy early and avoid running short.

Factors influencing firewood consumption

1. Burner efficiency: Many modern stoves sit around 70%–85% efficiency. Therefore, higher efficiency usually means less wood to produce the same heat.

2. Home insulation: Better insulation reduces heat-loss; as a result, you typically burn less wood. Double glazing, loft insulation and draught-proofing all help.

3. Usage pattern: The number of hours you burn each day matters most. For example, 6 hours daily will consume roughly double a 3-hour routine.

4. Wood type & dryness: Hardwood (oak, beech, ash) generally provides more energy per kilogram than softwood. In addition, burning wood with moisture content below 20% improves efficiency and reduces smoke.

Estimating firewood requirements

A 5kW wood burner can use around 1.5 to 2.0 kg of seasoned hardwood per hour at full output. If you burn for an average of 6 hours per day, over 6 months (roughly 180 days), your estimate looks like this:

Daily consumption

• 1.5 kg/hour × 6 hours = 9 kg/day (low estimate)

• 2.0 kg/hour × 6 hours = 12 kg/day (high estimate)

Total consumption for 6 months

• Low estimate: 9 kg/day × 180 days = 1,620 kg

• High estimate: 12 kg/day × 180 days = 2,160 kg

So, on average, you’ll need approximately 1.8 to 2.2 tonnes of seasoned hardwood for six months of evening use.

The all-important question — certainly in Yorkshire, How Much? 

Cost of firewood in the UK

Costs vary by supplier, location, species and dryness. Nevertheless, typical ranges (2025-2026) look like this:

Loose logs

• Price: £120 to £150 per cubic metre
• 1 tonne of hardwood ≈ 1.6 cubic metres (loosely stacked)
• Cost per tonne: £160 to £192

Kiln-dried logs

• Price: £160 to £190 per cubic metre
• Cost per tonne: £260 to £280

Total cost for 6 months

• Low estimate (seasoned hardwood): £298 to £356
• High estimate (seasoned hardwood): £356 to £426
• Low estimate (kiln-dried hardwood): £442 to £506
• High estimate (kiln-dried hardwood): £506 to £574

Additional considerations

1. Storage space: Keep logs dry and ventilated. Otherwise, moisture rises and efficiency falls.

2. Local guidance: Ensure your fuel and appliance align with local requirements and best practice for cleaner burning.

3. Buying strategy: Buying early, in bulk, often reduces cost; additionally, it gives you time to store correctly.

4. Supplementary vs primary heating: If the stove is your main heat source, expect significantly higher usage.