A wood stove adds instant warmth to any space. Create a cozy atmosphere in your living room, family room, or cabin, or heat water and cook sausages at the campsite.
If you’re not sure which wood stove is the best on the market, we’ve got you covered. Here are reviews of the best wood stove that you should consider buying.
The 8 Best Wood Stoves
- Winnerwell Nomad Medium Wood Burning Stove
- EcoZoom Dura Rocket Stove
- US Stove BK1000 Barrel Camp Stove Kit
- Ashley Hearth AW1120E-P Wood Stove
- TMS Portable Military Camping Wood Stove
- Fltom Camp Tent Stove
- Solo Stove Campfire Wood Burning Stove
- Ohuhu Camping Stove
Our Top Pick for the Best Wood Stove
Our top pick for the best wood stove is the Ashley Hearth AW1120E-P Wood Stove.
Forget expensive electrical heaters or messy gas heaters, this amazing well-designed wood stove will keep you and your family super snug during the winter months.
Built strong and delivering an efficient performance, the Ashley Hearth wood stove is a great investment and will keep the log fires burning so you will make any excuse to stay home to enjoy its comforting warmth.
Check the price on AmazonHow to Choose the Best Wood Stove
What do you look for when you go shopping for a wood stove? The size of the stove and its heating capacity will depend on what your needs are. However, there are other things to consider such as durability, combustion technology, and heat output. You might think you’re just getting a simple wood stove but there’s a lot more to it than that.
Durability
A wood stove will be made from one of two materials: either welded steel or cast iron. They both have the same heating performance but the difference can be seen in the price and appearance of the oven.
Cast iron creates beautiful curves and creative relief designs. This does increase the price of the stove as well as the need to rebuild the cast iron stove every couple of years. Doing this reseals joints that are in between the panels to keep air from leaking in and make the fire burn more than you want. Welded steel cost less and are plainer looking.
As far as durability, both materials seem to be about the same. The one area you need to keep an eye on is where they are welded. Cheaper stoves have key parts welded into them and are not created for years and years of use in the winter.
Combustion Technology
There are two types of combustion technology, catalytic and non-catalytic combustion. Both are effective but perform differently.
Catalytic combustion has a smoky exhaust that passes through a ceramic honeycomb that is catalyst-coated and placed deep inside which produces a long solid heat output. These types of stoves include a bypass damper that is level-operated for starting the fire and loading wood.
The operation of this stove is a little complicated when mixed with the stove needing to be hot for the catalyst to become engaged. The catalyst does become damaged over time and will need to be replaced. However, if you use the stove carefully, it can last for at least 6 seasons but if misused it will fall apart within 2 years.
Non-catalytic combustion creates combustion in the firebox itself. It uses 3 things to do this – an insulated firebox, diverted gas flow by a baffle, and air introduced around the top of the firebox through small holes. These ovens have more of a peak heat output but they create a beautiful fire that people enjoy. Parts will need to be replaced periodically from the high temperatures.
Emissions
All catalytic wood stoves must meet the EPA mandatory smoke emission limit which is 4.1 grams of smoke per hour and for non-catalytic stoves, it’s 7.5 g/h. You need to make sure the stove you purchase meets these standards as some cheaper wood stoves are not EPA certified.
Heat Output
Heat output is measured in British Thermal Units (BTUs) and the most popular stoves range from 25,000-80,000 BTUs. Your average house only requires 5,000-20,000 BTUs per hour so don’t think you need one with large output rates, the average stove should work fine.
Heating Capacity
Depending on the climate you live in, certain stoves will heat the same area differently, it’s contingent on where you live. To compensate, manufacturers will give large square footage ranges that the stove will heat. The reason for this is that a stove will heat the same size house better if you live in the US than if you live in Canada because of the climate difference.
Also, an older house may not be as well insulated as a newer home so there will be a lot of heat loss. Another consideration will be the type of wood you are using to heat your home, softer woods such as spruce put out less heat than harder woods such as maple. So, square footage is not necessarily a good indication of a stove’s heating capacity. Keep the other factors in mind when deciding if your stove will work in your home.
Stoves come in 3 different sizes: small, medium, and large – and keep in mind the firebox’s shape does affect its volume so this can alter the following parameters some.
- Small – firebox volume is less than 2-cubic-feet and should be fine to heat one large room or a small cabin
- Medium – firebox volume is between 2-3-cubic-feet and can heat a small or medium-sized house
- Large – firebox volume is larger than 3-cubic-feet and should be able to heat a large house with an open floor plan or houses that leak heat.
8 Best Wood Stoves – Reviews
1. Winnerwell Nomad Medium Wood Burning Stove
Perfect for wilderness wanderers, the Winnerwell Nomad Medium Wood Burning Stove can be used for cooking and heating. It is precision-crafted from durable 304 stainless steel that heats quickly, never rusts, and the 4 legs make it very sturdy.
The top of the 800-cubic-inch firebox is just right for cooking and boiling water. Transporting the Nomad is easy as it weighs just 20lbs, and the side wire shelves double as a handle.
It has a unique 4-leg folding design and the chimney pipe sections stow away inside the stove body. This stove also comes with a glass viewing window, a wire grate, a pipe damper, a decorative twisted metal handle, a spark arrestor, and an ash scraper.
Features
- Precision crafted from durable stainless steel
- Sturdy legs
- Flat top can be used for cooking and boiling water
- Easy to transport
- Side wire handles double as a handle
- Unique 4-leg folding design
- Chimney pipe sections are included
- Glass viewing window
- Pipe damper for easy-start-ups
- Wire grate, decorative twisted metal handle, spark arrestor, and ash scraper
For easy transportation, the nesting 4-leg design folds flat under the stove and the chimney pipe sections fit inside the stove’s body.
Pros
- Great value for money
- Good heating for small to medium tents
- Easy to carry
Cons
- Chimney pipe and the sides of the firebox get very hot easily
2. EcoZoom Dura Rocket Stove
The EcoZoom Dura Rocket Stove not only burns wood but other dry solid biomass as well. The Dura is great for either camping or living off the grid and it’s even durable enough for developing countries where a wood stove would be needed daily.
It has an insulated combustion chamber that is abrasion-resistant and pushes gases in to mix with the flames when it is in use. This reduces dangerous emissions by utilizing great burn efficiency. It has a metal liner that boosts the stove’s life by improving its combustion efficiency.
The stove also has a metal door frame that is reinforced for added durability plus it includes sockets in the door frame that holds the support system together.
The Dura camping stove boasts a newly created 3-pronged cast iron top that gives it better durability and provides good stability for your round or flat-bottomed pots and pans. The durable stainless steel handles are covered in stay-cool silicone which helps you to move the camping stove in complete safety while the stove is on.
Features
- Very efficient portable cookstove
- Not too heavy
- Perfect for camping and emergency preparedness
- Insulated combustion chamber is abrasion-resistant
- Metal liner boosts the stove’s life
- Reinforced metal door frame
- Strong 3-pronged cast iron top
- Durable silicone gripped handles provide safety when the stove is hot
- Burns wood and biomass – no gas or propane is required
Pros
- Great burn efficiency
- Silicone covered handles stay cool while the stove is in use
Cons
- Cannot be used indoors
3. US Stove BK1000 Barrel Camp Stove Kit
The US Stove BK1000 Barrel Camp Stove Kit has an all-inclusive kit that contains everything you would need to convert a 36 or 55-gallon steel drum into a working stove.
This kit contains a door, legs, a flue collar plus a damper, and all the mounting hardware you will need. The BSK1000 Barrel Stove kit is great for a rustic cabin, workshop, or pole barn. If you are looking for the most basic stove you can get, this is the perfect stove for you.
You can double the size of your stove by using a second barrel stove and creating a double-barrel stove. The kit is made with heavy-duty cast iron for sturdiness.
Features
- Converts a steel drum into a wood stove
- Made from cast iron that is heavy duty for increased safety and sturdiness
- Can be used with fastening to attach a second barrel to double the size of the wood stove
- Great for cabins, workshops, and barns
- Kit includes door, legs, flue collar, and mounting hardware
- Easy to assemble
- Easily heats an area of 800-square-feet
- Great for cheap heat
Some customers were not happy with the flue and pipe design as the pipe goes into the flue but hits the damper so it doesn’t sit very tightly and should be attached on the outside to make it stronger. Customers also commented on the handle assembly as it connects with the stove badly and loosens over time which can be a fire hazard.
Pros
- Great for those interested in a simple design
- Great value for inexpensive heat
Cons
- Assembly is not well designed and some parts do not fit together easily
4. Ashley Hearth AW1120E-P Wood Stove
Elegant and powerful, the Ashley Hearth AW1120E-P Wood Stove is an excellent heating unit for any home.
The Ashley Hearth wood stove delivers a maximum heat output of 68,000 BTUs which is perfect for heating a medium 1,200-square-feet area.
You will love sitting in front of this beautiful wood stove that has a charcoal black finish and a stylish nickel-pewter trim. It has a sturdy pedestal base, a heavy cast iron door with a brushed nickel handle, and you can watch the magnificent fire through the air-washed ceramic glass window.
The deep firebox is lined with bricks to ensure better heat retention and burning efficiency. A cozy fire will start quickly as this wood stove has 2 air inlets. You can burn cordwood logs up to 18-inches and the stove gives you hours of burn time.
As this wood stove has a freestanding design, it is easy to install anywhere in your home. You will enjoy cozy warmth during the chilly fall season or bitter winter weather, and you can also use the top plate to heat water for a steaming cup of coffee or cocoa.
The stove also has a large integrated ash pan that makes cleanup very easy. As this UL-listed wood stove meets all 2020 EPA guidelines it is environmentally friendly and safe to use indoors and even in a mobile home.
Ashley Hearth offers a 90-day return policy, a limited lifetime warranty on the firebox, a 1-year warranty on all other parts.
Pros
- Great quality
- Excellent value for money
- Easy to install freestanding pedestal unit
- Elegant design
- Beautiful charcoal black finish and stylish nickel-pewter trim
- Powerful
- Sturdy pedestal base
- Heavy cast iron door has a brushed nickel handle
- Air washed ceramic glass window offers a magnificent view of the fire
- Top plate can be used to heat water
- Hours of burn time
- Firebox is lined with bricks and ensures better heat retention and burning efficiency
- Accepts cordwood up to 18-inches long
- Dual air inlets provide good airflow
- Large integrated ash pan
- Ul-listed and meets all 2020 EPA guidelines
- 90-day return policy
- Limited lifetime warranty on the firebox
Cons
- Expensive
- Cooking is not recommended with this stove
- Heavy
- Blower is sold separately
- Not ideal for larger spaces and the firebox only fits a small amount of wood
5. TMS Portable Military Camping Wood Stove
If it is blowing a bitter gale or snowing outside, you will be snug inside your tent or cabin with the TMS Portable Military Camping Wood Stove.
This rugged wood stove is made from super strong rolled steel which ensures long-term durability. So you can even use it outside for ice fishing.
Stylish as well as functional, the wood stove has an attractive charcoal black finish. There is plenty of room inside the stove for small logs or pellets and the front and rear airflow regulators help to keep the fire burning. An easy-access bottom ash clean-out makes it easier to remove any left-over ash and the spark arrestor allows for added safety.
The ample cooktop space gives you room to cook up your favorite tasty dishes and the removable dual side cooking grates can be used for baking potatoes. You can rotate the cooking grates outward to dry wet socks and gloves.
The wood stove is very easy to assemble and TMS supplies all the parts including the flue pipe that can be extended to suit an outfitter’s tent with a stovepipe vent.
Extremely portable, all the parts, including the legs and the flue, can be stored inside the stove, and the top-hinged grate doubles as a handle for easy carrying.
Pros
- High quality
- Great value for money
- Perfect for a tent, cabin, and for use outdoors
- Can be used for heating and cooking
- Super strong rolled steel
- Front and rear air flow regulators
- Comes with a flue
- Easy access bottom ash clean-out
- Spark arrestor for added safety
- Ample cooktop
- Removable dual side cooking grates
- Extremely portable and easy to transport
- All the parts can be stored inside
- Top grate doubles as a handle
Cons
- Needs to be placed on a flat surface or it can wobble
- Cannot be used inside until the paint has been burnt off
- Door latch is not very sturdy
6. Fltom Camp Tent Stove
If you are a camping enthusiast, the Fltom Camp Tent Stove is the fastest way to warm up your tent, heat water, or cook up tasty sausages.
Featuring a robust design, the 11.14 x 7.95 x 8.66-inches wood stove has heavy-duty steel construction and a double-walled firebox which is specially designed for the rough outdoors.
You can use the large flat top surface for cooking a lot of food for your base camping mates or fishing buddies and the full-length hinged lid provides easy access to your wood. Or you can use the stove for efficient heating in a tent, cabin, or a tiny house.
If you need to have more control over the fire’s intensity, you can easily control the airflow inside the stove with the sliding air intake control that is located on the door.
One of the major highlights of the Fltom wood stove is that it comes with everything you need for a quick setup. A 6-piece flue pipe, 2 side shelf brackets/handles, 2 side shelves that can be used for your morning coffee or other accessories, collapsible legs, an ash catch tray, and fire poker.
The flue pipe can be vertically vented by running the pipe out of the top of a tent and as the pipe has a maximum height of 4.69-feet, it can be adjusted to suit your living space. For environmentally safe operation, the wood stove can be used with natural fuel sources such as firewood, twigs, or wood chips.
As the Fltom wood stove weighs 23.1lbs it is a bit heavy to move around the campsite, but the sturdy legs keep the unit stable on uneven ground.
Although it is one of the heavier stoves, the Fltom wood stove has a detachable portable design. You can easily remove the 4 collapsible legs and the flue pipe, which makes the stove easier to transport and store.
Pros
- High quality
- Great value for money
- Good price
- Easy to use
- Ideal for base camping, fishing, or hunting expeditions
- Can be used in a cabin or tiny house
- Heavy-duty and sturdy solid steel construction
- Double-walled firebox
- Large flat cooktop surface
- Full-length hinged lid
- Sliding air intake control
- Four collapsible legs
- Two side shelf brackets/handles
- Two side shelves
- Ash catch tray
- Sturdy
- Six-piece height-adjustable flue pipe is included
- Can be used with natural fuel sources such as firewood, twigs, or wood chips
- Detachable, portable design makes the stove easier to transport and store
Cons
- Not suitable for home use
- Bit heavy
- Steel gets very hot
- You will need to repaint the exposed metal so it won’t rust
7. Solo Stove Campfire Wood Burning Stove
At just the strike of a match, the Solo Stove Campfire Wood Burning Stove will be having you cooking up a hearty breakfast or a hot cup of tea at the campsite.
As the Solo Stove campfire stove is the #1 wood-burning camp stove recommended by Backpacker Magazine, serious survivalists, and Discovery Channel’s Matt Graham, it is an essential camping tool for any outdoor enthusiast.
The wood-burning stove is made from premium-grade double-wall ¾ stainless steel and nichrome wire for long-term durability. Its double-wall construction and unique nature-friendly airflow hole design make the stove extremely efficient by allowing the fire to burn hotter with less smoke than an open campfire.
A fantastic choice for backpackers who do not want to carry heavy, polluting, and expensive fuel canisters, the wood stove uses twigs, leaves, pine cones, and wood as fuel. For optimum heating and cooking efficiency Solo Stove recommends that you only use dry hardwoods.
If you need a hot cup of coffee fast after a long day of hiking, the Solo stove boils 34-Fl-ounces of water in 2-4 mins, and you can use a frying pan on the top to cook eggs and bacon for 2-4 people.
The stove is ultra-lightweight at 2.2lbs and compact with a height of 6.7 x 7-inches and an assembled size of 9.25 x 7-inches, making it very easy to set up anywhere and pack away in your backpack.
Solo Stove also includes an ash pan and a nylon stuff sack to keep your wood stove safely stored.
Solo Stove offers a lifetime guarantee on the woodstove.
Pros
- High quality
- Great value for money
- Good price
- Recommended by Backpacker Magazine, survivalists, and Discovery Channel’s Matt Graham
- Number #1 wood-burning camp stove for backpackers
- Durable premium 304 stainless steel and nichrome wire
- Can be used with sticks, twigs, pine cones, and wood as fuel
- Fasting boiling time of 2-4 mins (32-Fl-ounces of water)
- Ideal for 2-4 people
- Double-wall construction and unique nature-friendly airflow hole design
- Efficient stove burns hotter and with less smoke
- Lightweight and compact
- Easy to setup
- Ashpan
- Nylon stuff sack included
- Lifetime guarantee
Cons
- Little pricey
- Steel can rust if you do not look after it
- Surface can get scratched easily
- Ash can be hard to remove
8. Ohuhu Camping Stove
If you love exploring the untamed wilderness but do not want to work with messy gas to get a fire burning fast, the Ohuhu Camping Stove is the perfect outdoor cooking set-up for any adventure.
The wood stove is made from sturdy and durable stainless steel that is both stylish and functional.
Ohuhu has designed the stove with an innovative 3-arm base support system, so the stove provides a stable, safe, and even heating counter-top surface for you to cook up your favorite camping foods in a grassy field in windy conditions.
Fueled by nature, the environmentally-friendly wood stove will burn bright with dried twigs, leaves, pine cones, and wood which are free for you to source anywhere. Alternatively, you can also use solidified alcohol tablets as fuel.
Lightweight at only 14.2-ounces and compact at 5.3 x 3-inches when it is collapsed and packed down, the small portable stove fits easily into your camping gear. It also comes with a mesh carry bag so you can sling it over your shoulder while hiking down the trail.
Once you and your camping buddies have chosen your new campsite, set-up is super fast and your reliable wood stove will be ready to cook up a hot meal in just a few minutes.
The wood camping stove also comes with a bonus grill grid so you can start using the wood stove straight away.
Ohuhu offers a 12 months replacement or a full refund on the woodstove.
Pros
- High quality
- Excellent value for money
- Fantastic price
- Perfect for backpackers
- Sturdy and stylish stainless steel
- Stable and safe 3-arm base support system
- Even heating performance
- Burns bright with dried twigs, leaves, pine cones and wood
- Environmentally friendly
- Clean burning stove
- Requires no fuel canisters or alcohol, will be leaving no chemical emissions behind
- Can be used with solidified alcohol tablets for fuel
- Compact and lightweight
- Collapsible, foldable design
- Mesh carrying bag is included for portability
- Bonus grill grid
- 12-month free replacement or refund policy
Cons
- Hard to see the fire and can’t add wood unless you lift a pot or pan
- Can rust if you do not maintain it
- Very small design
- Wood needs to be kept lower than the secondary combustion holes to avoid unwanted smoke
Our Top Pick for the Best Wood Stove
Our top pick for the best wood stove is the Ashley Hearth AW1120E-P Wood Stove.
Forget expensive electrical heaters or messy gas heaters, this amazing well-designed wood stove will keep you and your family super snug during the winter months.
Built strong and delivering an efficient performance, the Ashley Hearth wood stove is a great investment and will keep the log fires burning so you will make any excuse to stay home to enjoy its comforting warmth.
Check the price on Amazon
