For people who heat with wood
Choose and run a wood stove by the numbers
Firebox volume, heat output, efficiency, clearances and firewood heat values, taken from manufacturer spec sheets, installation manuals, the EPA and university extension services, with every figure linked to its source.
Installing a stove? Clearances on the stove’s certification label and in its manual always come first. Check your local permit rules and have the installation inspected.
Start here
Shopping for a stove, comparing two models, or getting your wood ready: pick your starting point.
Choosing a StoveWood Stove Buyer's Guide 2026How to choose a wood stove in 2026: sizing by firebox and heat output, catalytic vs non-catalytic, reading spec sheets, installation, and…
Choosing a StoveWhat Size Wood Stove Do I Need?How to size a wood stove using firebox volume, heat output and burn time, and why the manufacturer's square-footage range is only…
Choosing a StoveCatalytic vs Non-Catalytic vs Hybrid Wood StovesHow catalytic, non-catalytic and hybrid wood stoves work, typical efficiency, maintenance, and which suits the way you burn, sourced to EPA.
ComparisonsDrolet Escape 1500 vs Escape 1800Drolet Escape 1500 vs 1800 compared from Drolet's own spec sheets: firebox and loading volume, output, efficiency, emissions, clearances and size.
Chimney & InstallWood Stove Clearances to CombustiblesHow wood stove clearances to combustibles work: listed stoves follow the label and manual, unlisted stoves fall back on NFPA 211, and…
FirewoodFirewood BTU by Species Chart (and Cost per Million BTU)Heat per cord for common firewood species from university extension tables, plus how to work out what you pay per million BTU.The short version
- Size to your house, not the boxCompare EPA loading volume and heat output range, not just the square-footage claim. How to size a stove
- Read the clearances before you buyThe label and manual decide how close the stove can sit to walls. Reading clearances
- Burn dry woodThe EPA’s target is under 20% moisture, checked with a meter. Seasoning and testing wood
Choosing a Stove
All choosing a stoveSizing, stove types, inserts, costs and rebates.
Comparisons
All comparisonsModel-vs-model specs from manufacturer documents.
Chimney & Install
All chimney & installClearances, hearths, stovepipe and chimneys, read from the manual.
Firewood
All firewoodSpecies heat values, seasoning and moisture.
Sourced, not guessed
Specs come from manufacturer documents; burning and efficiency guidance from the EPA and extension services. Every page links its sources.
Research, not test claims
We compile published specs and manuals. We don’t run our own stove tests, and we never claim we did.
Independent
Where we may earn a commission, we say so. Commissions never decide a recommendation.