What Size Wood Stove Do I Need?

Once you've made the decision to invest in a wood burning stove and picked out an appropriate space for it in your home, the next step is to determine the size wood burning stove you need. Northern Cookstoves is here to break down a variety of factors to take into consideration when selecting a small, medium, large, or extra large wood stove.

The Right Wood Stove Size to Heat Your Home

If you're calculating by square footage, as a benchmark:

• A small wood stove can generally heat up to 500 square feet
• A medium wood stove can heat between 500-1000 square feet
• A large stove can heat between 1000-2200 square feet
• An extra large stove can heat over 2200 square feet.

Keep in mind, you should always size your wood stove based on its heating capacity for a full load of wood, as using a full load can help reduce creosote buildup and allow your stove to run as efficiently as possible.

Another way to calculate which wood stove may be right for your space is to first measure the cubic dimensions of the room the wood stove will be installed in. You can do this by multiplying the width, length, and height of the room. Next, divide that number by 14.

This will give you the kilowatt output needed for the room.

• If you calculate that the room needs a wood burning stove between 4-6 KW, then you need a small wood-burning stove
• If it needs a stove between 7-9 KW, then you need a medium wood stove
• If the room needs a stove between 10-15 KW, then you'll need a large wood stove
• If it's above 15 KW, you may need an extra large wood stove

Wood Stove Size Calculator

If you like, you can use this handy calculator to help guide you to what size wood stove you may need. This particular wood stove size calculator not only takes into account the size of the room it will be placed in, but also considers how well-insulated your home is, whether the room has an open plan, and what temperature you prefer the room to be heated to.

Note that this calculator and the above calculations are just to get the ball rolling. For more accurate figures, you should always speak to an expert before making a final decision on which wood burning stove is right for your home.

Other Factors to Consider When Sizing Your Wood Stove

While the benchmarks above are general, you should also keep in mind other factors that may alter the size wood stove you need for your house. For one, the above calculations are based on a single-story home, with an open plan, located in a moderate climate. Insulation was taken into account with the wood stove size calculator, but do your research to see which category your home would fall under, bearing in mind a poorly insulated home will decrease the heating capacity of a wood stove. Another factor to consider while we're on the topic of insulation is how many windows your home has. A greater number of windows and larger window sizes can also lead to less heating capacity of a wood stove (even if the windows are double-glazed).

Another consideration would be the general layout of your home. An open-plan design vs. a design with many walls and nooks could spell the difference between needing to go up a size from what your calculations are telling you.

Finally, consider the type of wood you'll be burning in the wood stove, as some types of wood are more heat-efficient than others. To maximize efficiency, always use well-seasoned wood. as any moisture in the wood you use will have to burn off before they produce any heat! If you're looking for the best wood stoves in Canada, contact Northern Cookstoves to find the perfect stove for your home.

If you're looking for the best wood stoves in Canada, contact Northern Cookstoves to find the perfect stove for your home.