Stovewood vs Hardwood: What Is the Difference, and Which Should You Burn?

TLDR - No time to read this article - here is our opinion in a nutshell!
 
Hardwood burns longer and hotter than Stovewood (softwood).
Stovewood is a good economical alternative to hardwood as it is much cheaper.
Using Larch logs (as supplied by Ravensby Firewood) will result in a longer and hotter burn-time than using any other softwoods.  

BACKGROUND
If you have spent any time looking for firewood or fire wood in Dundee, Arbroath, Forfar, Carnoustie, or Broughty Ferry, you have probably seen the word “Stovewood” (or “Stove Wood” splashed around various log suppliers websites.

Stovewood. It sounds premium. It sounds special. It sounds like something carved from the ruins of a Viking longhouse! But what is Stovewood and is it the best wood for your log burner or wood burning stove?  Let us dig a little deeper with our honest appraisal. 

The truth is, “Stove wood” is just softwood wearing a fancy hat.
Let us walk you through the real differences between Stovewood and Hardwood, so you can choose the best logs for your burner - whether you are heating your home in Dundee or keeping cosy in an Air B and B warm in Arbirlot.

What Even Is Stovewood? (And Why the Fancy Name?)

Some firewood suppliers invented the word “Stovewood” to make softwood sound more elite.
In reality:

👉 Stovewood = Softwood. Full stop.

Softwood most likely gets it's name as it is to be used in enclosed wood burning stoves & log burners only as it has a tendency to spark and spit.  Stovewood (softwood) is the most common wood grown across Scotland. It grows faster, is easier to source, and is cheaper,  especially when it is harvested from local forests in Carnoustie, Forfar, and Fife like the Stovewood Ravensby Firewood supply is.

But not all softwood is equal.

At Ravensby Firewood, when we talk about Stovewood, we are talking specifically about:

🔥 Larch - the heavyweight champion of Stove wood  (softwood!)

Not pine. Not spruce. Not the fluffy stuff that can disappear in ten minutes. Larch is dense, hot-burning, and found in abundance around Arbroath, Carnoustie, Forfar Dundee & Angus - meaning we can keep prices down without cutting corners.

How Does Stovewood Perform Compared to Hardwood?

Let’s address the big debate:
Is Stovewood (Larch) as good as Hardwood?

Short answer:
Hardwood wins on burn time and BTU. Every time.

Longer answer:
Larch Stovewood punches far above other Stovewoods - but Hardwood still sits at the top of the log throne.

Here are the researched, realistic BTU comparisons:

🔥 BTU Comparison (Per Species)

(BTUs = heat output. Higher = hotter.)

Larch (Stovewood)

• Approx. 21-22 million BTU per cord
  

• Among the hottest softwoods on the planet
  

• Burns 20–30% longer than pine/stemmy softwoods
  

• Stable flame, → great for log burners
  
  

Mixed Softwood (generic “Stove Wood”)

• Typically 15–17 million BTU per cord
  

• Burns quickly
  

• Often sourced from pine/spruce/fir
  

• Not as strong or hot as Larch
  
  

Hardwood (Ash / Beech / Alder mix)

• Approx. 24–27 million BTU per cord
  

• Slower burning
  

• Higher heat output
  

• Longer flame cycle, ideal for overnight heat
  
  

🔥 Burn Time Comparison (Rough Percentage Based Estimates)

Compared to generic mixed softwood:

• Larch Stovewood burns 20–30% longer than other Stovewood (Mixed Softwood)

• Hardwood burns around 40–50% longer than mixed softwood

• Hardwood burns around 20–25% longer than Larch
  
  

Softwood burns faster partly because it has lower density - but Larch is the exception. It is a “softwood” in species classification, but it acts more like a hybrid between the two.

So Which Is Best? (Honest Answer)

If your goal is maximum heat, longest burn, highest BTU, or heating a colder home in Dundee or rural Angus - you cannot beat Hardwood.

BUT…

Larch Stovewood is genuinely brilliant.

Why?

• It is significantly cheaper
   (Because it grows everywhere locally and is kinder on our machines.)
  

• It is hotter than any other softwood
  

• It works beautifully in most log burners
  

• It lights faster than hardwood
  

• It is a perfect “everyday burner” option
  

• And around 35% of our customers choose it, happily, year after year
  
  

Many customers in Dundee, Arbroath, Carnoustie, and Forfar mix their orders -  Larch stovewood to get the fire roaring quickly, followed by hardwood for that long smooth evening heat.

Think of Larch as the “bang for buck” log:
Loads of heat, lovely flame, cheaper price.

Real-World Use: Heating Dundee & Arbroath Homes

We see how people use their logs - because we deliver every day.

Whether we are:

• Lugging XL Bulk-Bags up steep drives on Dundee’s Law Hill
  

• Performing tight manoeuvres in Air b and b’s in Arbroath
  

• Navigating narrow lanes in Broughty Ferry
  

• Tipping loose loads at farms outside Forfar
  

• Dropping Grab Nets in Carnoustie after school pickups
  
  Plenty of households heat their entire homes with Larch Stovewood as their preferred choice.

What Should You Buy?

Here’s the easy decision-making guide:

👉 Choose Hardwood if:

• You want max heat
  

• You want long burns
  

• You want fewer reloads
  

• You have a hungry stove
  

• You want premium performance
  
  

👉 Choose Larch Stovewood if:

• You want great heat at a lower price
  

• You burn the stove all day long & want to save fuel costs
  

• You want quick lighting
  

• You have an enclosed stove or log burner
  
  
  

Try Before You Commit (Our Honest Advice)

If you have never tried Stovewood / Stove wood before, do not gamble on guesswork.

👉 Buy a Grab Net, or

👉 Get an XL Bulk-Bag of logs (ours are the LARGEST in the region), or

👉 Order a small loose tipped log load,

and see how your burner handles it.

If you love it - brilliant.
If you prefer hardwood… also brilliant!

We supply both.

And we deliver everywhere:

Dundee | Angus | Arbroath | Carnoustie | Forfar | Broughty Ferry | Fife | Perth | Alyth | Blairgowrie

Plus surrounding villages, farms, and hard-to-reach corners where Google Maps gets confused.

Whatever you burn - we make sure it is kiln dried, ready to burn, and delivered with proper customer service.

 

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Final Word

Stovewood (Larch) is not the villain some make it out to be. It is not “fake hardwood,” and it is not low quality. It is simply softwood with a PR problem - and when it comes from Ravensby Firewood, it is genuinely fantastic fuel.

Hardwood is the king.
Larch is a very solid prince.

And whichever one you choose, we deliver it fast, friendly, and ready for the fire.