Wood Burner Running Cost Calculator: How Much Does It Cost to Run?

A wood burner is only cheap to run if your firewood is genuinely cheap per unit of heat. This calculator turns what you pay for logs into a real cost per useful kilowatt-hour, then works out what a typical evening and a whole winter cost, so you can compare it like for like against gas, electric and oil. The trick most price-per-bag adverts hide is the energy you actually get out once moisture and stove losses are taken off.

The figure that matters is the cost per useful kWh: pence for each unit of heat that actually reaches the room. A bag of logs that looks cheap can work out dearer than gas once you strip out moisture and the heat that goes up the flue. Seasoned wood beats electricity comfortably and is usually close to mains gas; the gap swings on the log price you can find and how efficiently you burn.