The Ultimate Guide to the Best Firewood to Burn in the UK

Whether you’re planning to light the occasional fire in your garden or want to regularly light a cosy fire in your home during chillier months, your choice of firewood is important.

In this article, we’ve made it so easy to work out which type of firewood is the best to burn for your specific needs.

 

The best firewood to burn in the UK chart

 

Tree Species Type Heat Output Burn Time Features Best Used For
Oak Hardwood High Long Dense wood, slow-burning, produces long-lasting coals
Home heating, long-lasting fires
Hickory Hardwood Very High Long Burns hot and slow, high density, great coals
Heating, cooking, smoking meats
Beech Hardwood High Long Burns cleanly, consistent heat, needs seasoning
Home heating, fireplaces
Ash Hardwood High Moderate Burns well even when slightly green, easy to split
Fireplaces, wood stoves
Maple (Sugar) Hardwood High Moderate Burns hot with good flame, easy to split
Indoor fireplaces, wood stoves
Birch Hardwood Moderate Short Burns quickly with high flame, fragrant
Quick fires, kindling, mixing with slower woods
Apple Hardwood High Long Fragrant, steady burn, produces coals
Indoor cooking, fireplaces
Cherry Hardwood Moderate Moderate Mild fragrance, good flame, moderate heat
Fireplaces, wood-fired ovens
Walnut Hardwood Moderate Moderate Slow-burning, good coals, slightly smoky aroma
Fireplaces, wood stoves
Alder Hardwood Low Short Burns quickly, light fragrance
Quick, low-heat fires, kindling
Pine Softwood Moderate Short Quick burn, high sap content, can spark
Outdoor fires, kindling
Spruce Softwood Low Very Short Burns very fast, low heat output
Kindling, short fires
Fir Softwood Low Very Short Quick-burning, lower heat output
Kindling, quick outdoor fires
Poplar Hardwood Low Short Burns quickly, low heat, easy to split
Short indoor fires, kindling
Willow Hardwood Low Very Short Burns very quickly, low heat
Not ideal for primary heating

 

fire burning

Kiln dried vs seasoned

Kiln drying is the process of drying out wood in a kiln (a special oven). Seasoned wood is left to air dry. When it comes to firewood, kiln dried wood is better than seasoned wood because:

  • It has consistently lower moisture levels (10-20% vs 20-30%) so burns more efficiently.
  • It produces less creosote (tar-like substance) so is safer for home heating.
  • Kiln-drying kills off insects and mould, so it’s safer for storing in your home.
  • It is far quicker to dry using a kiln versus air-drying, which takes several months to years.

 

Hardwood vs Softwood

Tree species are categorised into hardwood and softwood. Hardwood is better for firewood because:

  • It produces more heat.
  • It burns for longer so you get more for your money.
  • It doesn’t contain sap so it doesn’t produce as much harmful smoke as softwood.
  • It leaves very little ash behind.

 

Moisture content

Burning wet wood is a bad idea! It burns inefficiently, produces less heat, and produces more harmful smoke. Look for firewood with a moisture content of 20% or less. You can use a moisture metre yourself or check that the company you purchase from is Woodsure approved and Ready to Burn certified.

 

Conclusion

You’ll get the best fires when you burn kiln-dried hardwoods like oak, birch, and ash.

If you live across West and Central Scotland, Stewart Timber can supply you with first-class firewood. Our firewood is Woodsure and “Ready to Burn” certified so you can trust that it is high quality, sustainably sourced, and has low moisture content for the best possible burn.

We offer free delivery within 30 miles of our site, and by purchasing from us, you’ll be supporting a local business which helps boost the local economy, supporting jobs!

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