Quick Answers

Does Hardwood Burn Longer?

Generally, yes. Hardwood is denser and usually burns for longer. However, we use Larch Stovewood exclusively because it is more dense and should give a stronger, longer-lasting burn than many other softwoods.

Can You Burn Stovewood In An Open Fire?

No. Stovewood needs stronger airflow than Hardwood and can spit or throw sparks as it burns. It is not suitable for open fires and should only be used in enclosed log burners or wood-burning stoves.

Should I Choose Stovewood or Hardwood For My Log Burner?

Choose Hardwood for longer, steadier burns and fewer refills. Choose Stovewood if you have an enclosed log burner and want a more economical alternative to Hardwood.

Stovewood vs Hardwood Comparison

Firewood Type Kiln-Dried Hardwood Logs Kiln-Dried Stovewood Logs
Wood species Seasonal hardwood mix from ash, alder, birch, beech, oak and sycamore. Species vary by batch. Kiln-dried larch stovewood - a dense softwood selected for it's strong heat, bright flame & value.
Best for Customers looking for great-burning firewood with strong, steady heat and fewer top-ups of the fire. Customers with enclosed stoves or log burners looking for an economical firewood option.
Burn style Longer-lasting burn with a strong flame & longer heat retention. Burns faster than hardwood, but hotter and longer than many common pine or spruce stovewoods.
Suitable for Wood burners, log burners, multi-fuel stoves, fire pits, pizza ovens, saunas, open fires, chimineas and more. Enclosed wood-burning stoves and log burners only. Not suitable for open fires.
Price / Value Competitively priced in the local area offering great value. Economically priced, should burn hotter & longer than mixed Stovewood.
Kiln-Dried Hardwood Logs

Wood species: Seasonal hardwood mix from ash, alder, birch, beech, oak and sycamore. Species vary by batch.

Best for: Customers looking for competitively priced, great-burning firewood with strong, steady heat and fewer top-ups.

Burn style: Longer-lasting burn with strong flame, steady heat and fewer top-ups.

Suitable for: Wood burners, log burners, multi-fuel stoves, fire pits, pizza ovens, saunas, open fires, chimineas and more.

Price / Value: Competitively priced in the local area offering great value.

Kiln-Dried Stovewood Logs

Wood species: Kiln-dried larch stovewood - a dense softwood selected for strong heat, bright flame and good value.

Best for: Customers with enclosed stoves or log burners who want an economical firewood option.

Burn style: Larch burns faster than hardwood, but hotter and longer than many common pine or spruce stovewoods.

Suitable for: Enclosed wood-burning stoves and log burners only. Not suitable for open fires.

Price / Value: Economically priced, best value firewood that should burn hotter & longer than Pine or Spruce.

An informational graphic about hardwood firewood, featuring a stack of cut logs and two axes in a rustic outdoor setting, with text listing benefits such as more energy per log, longer-lasting heat, versatility, and kiln-dried readiness.

What Is Hardwood Firewood

Hardwood comes from broadleaved trees. In North East Scotland we are blessed with some great burning hardwood such as Birch, Ash, Beech, Oak and Alder and it is from these species that we fill your bulk-bags and loose tipped loads.

Hardwood logs are generally denser than common softwoods, meaning a similarly sized log contains more wood and more stored energy. As a result, Hardwood usually burns longer than stovewood, produces a longer-lasting bed of embers and needs fewer top-ups.

Properly kiln-dried Hardwood is suitable for enclosed wood-burning stoves and also open fires as it is less likely to spark. We do advise using a fireguard if burning hardwood on an open fire.
An information graphic answering what "Stovewood logs" is in firewood terms

What is Stovewood Logs

Stovewood is the name commonly used by firewood suppliers throughout the UK to describe the softwood they have for sale. Softwood is derived from coniferous trees such as Pines, Spruces & Larch.

Because softwood is generally less dense, it tends to light more quickly and burn with a faster flame than Hardwood.

Due to it's branding name, there is a misconception that stovewood is the best firewood for log burners. Whilst it is a great firewood, there are limitations in that it generally needs more airflow, burns faster and needs topped up more than hardwood - but its lower price makes it an economical alternative, and the go-to choice for thousands of stove users throughout Scotland.

NOTE: Stovewood must only be used in an enclosed appliance because it can spit and throw sparks.
Stovewood logs in a forest environment with information relating to the burn time and quality of the firewood

Why Do Ravensby Firewood Use Larch Logs Instead Of Pine, Spruce or Fir?

Scotland has an abundance of productive softwood forests, including plantations in and around Angus. In our opinion, European larch, referred to simply as larch throughout this article, is the best choice of Stovewood available in our local area.

When logs of the same dimensions and moisture content are compared, larch will usually outperform lighter softwoods such as spruce. Forest Research records typical larch densities of approximately 480–530 kg/mΒ³ at 12% moisture, compared with approximately 390 Β± 40 kg/mΒ³ for Sitka spruce.

This means an equally sized larch log will normally contain more dry wood fibre and, therefore, more stored energy than an equally sized spruce log. In practical terms, this can provide a substantial, steady and potentially longer-lasting burn. Scots pine has a density range that broadly overlaps with larch and may perform similarly.

We believe larch offers an excellent combination of dependable heat, enjoyable burning characteristics and local availability. That is why our Stovewood bulk bags and loose-tipped loads are filled solely with larch, rather than a mixture of different softwood species.

If hardwood is the king of firewood, we believe larch has earned its place as the prince.

Actual performance will vary according to moisture content, log dimensions, stove efficiency, fuel loading and airflow.
Graphic from Ravensby Firewood depicting the choice between kiln-dried hardwood and stovewood

Should I Choose Hardwood or Stovewood?

If you have an open fire, fire pit, chiminea or any appliance where the flames are not enclosed behind a door, our recommendation is simple: choose Hardwood. Properly dried Hardwood generally burns more steadily and is less likely to spit or throw sparks than softwood. A suitable fireguard should always be used with an open fire.

If you have an enclosed log burner or wood-burning stove, you can choose between Hardwood and Larch Stovewood. Hardwood remains our best all-round recommendation: its greater density normally provides a longer-lasting burn, a more substantial bed of embers and fewer trips to refill the stove. It is also the safest choice if you are unsure how well your appliance will perform with Stovewood.

Our kiln-dried Larch Stovewood offers lively, responsive heat and excellent value, but every stove and flue behaves differently. Larch generally burns best with a healthy supply of air. Some modern stovesβ€”or stoves operated with the airflow reduced too quicklyβ€”may not allow it to reach its full potential. Other appliances burn it brilliantly, and many customers find it an economical alternative to Hardwood.

If you live in Dundee, Angus or Fife and would like to try it, begin with a Builder’s Bag of Larch Stovewood before committing to a larger delivery. This is the easiest way to discover how it performs in your particular stove.

Still unsure? Choose Hardwood.
Ravensby Firewood delivery truck with kiln-dried hardwood on a forest road near Dundee Van carrying kiln-dried hardwood logs with Ravensley Firewood branding in a forest setting near Dundee

Buy Hardwood & Stovewood Logs Dundee & Angus

Builders Bags, XL Bulk Bags, Loose Tipped Loads & Grab Nets

Shop Kiln-Dried Firewood Dundee & Angus
Ravensby Firewood delivery van loaded with kiln-dried bulk bags of hardwood logs in Fife against a sunset sky. Buy Hardwood & Stovewood Logs | Fife

Buy Hardwood & Stovewood Logs Fife

Builders Bags, XL Bulk Bags & Loose Tipped Loads

Shop Kiln-Dried Firewood Fife
Buy Hardwood & Stovewood Logs |Perthshire Buy Hardwood & Stovewood Logs |Perthshire

Buy Hardwood & Stovewood Logs Perthshire

Loose Tipped Loads in 10" or 8" size available

Shop Kiln-Dried Firewood Perthshire
Van carrying kiln-dried firewood logs for burning in Aberdeenshire Van carrying kiln-dried firewood across the rolling Aberdeenshire hills

Buy Hardwood & Stovewood Logs South Aberdeenshire

Loose Tipped Loads available in 10" or 8" sizes.

Shop Kiln-Dried Firewood South Aberdeenshire

Stovewood vs Hardwood - Quick Comparison Table

Feature Kiln-Dried Hardwood Logs Kiln-Dried Stovewood Logs
Heat Output πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯ 5/5 πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯ 4/5
Burn Time πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯ 5/5 πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯ 3.5/5
Lighting ease πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯ 4/5 πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯ 5/5
Usage Daily heating, Visual Flame & Long Burntime, Log Burners, Fire Pits, Wood Burning Stoves, Open Fires Fast Starting Fire, Visual Flames, Moderate Burntime, Daily Heating, Pizza Ovens, Fire Pits, Wood Burning Stoves, Open Fires
Price Higher Price Point More Economical

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