For most stoves, kiln-dried mixed hardwoods are a sound all-rounder. Choose silver birch if you want a fire that lights easily and burns bright, ash for hot, steady heat, and oak for long evenings when you want the logs to last. Whichever you pick, how dry the wood is matters far more than which tree it came from.
Dry beats species.
The Forestry Commission's Wood as Fuel guide says moisture content has the biggest effect on how much heat you get from a log. The type of tree makes some difference to the heat in a tonne of wood, but usually an extremely small one. A fresh green log has only around half the energy of a well-seasoned one.
What does vary between woods is density. Hardwoods tend to be denser than softwoods, so a cubic metre of hardwood gives more heat than a cubic metre of softwood at the same moisture, and dense logs burn for longer, so you top up the stove less often. We sell logs by the bag, by volume, so density is worth knowing about.
All our logs are hardwood and all are kiln dried to 20% moisture or less at our yard in Gargrave (here's how kiln-dried compares with seasoned). So you're choosing between good, dry options. The real question is what you want from your fire.
Ash: hot, clean and steady.
Ash is a stove favourite. It burns hot, clean and steady, which makes it a good choice for everyday burning in a wood burner or multi-fuel stove. The Forestry Commission notes that ash has a particularly low moisture content even when freshly cut, which goes some way to explaining its long-standing good name as firewood. Kiln dried, it's simply ready to go.
Oak: dense and slow burning.
Oak is dense and burns slowly, so it's good for long evenings when you want the fire to keep going without constant feeding. Because it's so dense, we'd put oak on once the fire is going well rather than use it to start one. Let birch or kindling do the lighting, then add the oak.
Silver birch: lights easily, burns bright.
Birch lights easily and burns bright, and its papery bark helps it catch. That makes it handy for getting a fire going, and it looks lovely in a log basket too. Our silver birch also comes smaller in diameter for compact stoves, and in 40 litre nets if you're short of space or want to carry logs in easily.
Mixed hardwoods: the all-rounder.
Our best seller. Each bag holds a mix of two or more hardwoods from beech, sycamore, ash, oak, alder and silver birch, depending on what we're processing at the time. It's a good all-rounder for any stove, and the one we'd suggest if you're not sure where to start.
The four at a glance.
| Wood | What it's like | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Ash | Hot, clean and steady | Everyday burning |
| Oak | Dense and slow burning | Long evenings, once the fire is going |
| Silver birch | Lights easily, burns bright | Getting a fire going, a cheerful blaze |
| Mixed hardwoods | Two or more hardwoods in each bag | Any stove, and anyone who isn't sure |
Log size matters as much as the wood.
Our standard logs are cut to about 25cm long (give or take 2cm), which suits most stoves, open fires and wood-fired outdoor cookers. If your stove is small, our smaller silver birch logs will fit more easily. Our larger mixed hardwood logs are bigger in diameter than standard and only suit bigger wood burners, so call the office on 01756 748342 if you're not sure.
Whatever size you buy, don't cram the firebox. HETAS warns that overloading a stove smothers the fire, and that fuel shouldn't touch the sides or the glass. Your stove's manual will tell you how big a log it's designed to take.
What about softwood?
Defra's guide to buying and seasoning wood says hardwoods such as oak, ash and birch are generally better as firewood because they tend to be denser and burn for longer. Softwoods such as spruce light more easily and can be good for kindling, but they burn faster and give less heat than a similar-sized hardwood log. HETAS adds that energy per kilo is very similar across the two, and the real difference is density. There's more in our guide to hardwood vs softwood logs.
Mixing and matching.
You don't have to stick to one. A bag of birch for lighting and a bag of ash or oak for the evening is a combination that works well on most stoves. If you're buying more than one wood, have a look at our Ash and Oak offer.
How many bags will you need?
It depends on your stove or fire and how often you light it, so we'd rather not guess. Call us on 01756 748342, tell us what you burn and how often, and we'll talk it through with you.
Questions people ask.
Which firewood burns the longest?
Dense woods burn for longer than less dense ones, according to the Forestry Commission, and hardwoods tend to be denser than softwoods. Of our logs, oak is the one to choose for slow, long burning, as long as it's dry.
Is silver birch good firewood?
Yes. It lights easily, burns bright and the bark helps it catch, so it's a good wood for getting a fire going. Ours is kiln dried to 20% moisture or less, like all our logs.
Can I choose which woods go in a bag of mixed hardwoods?
No. Each bag holds two or more hardwoods from beech, sycamore, ash, oak, alder and silver birch, depending on what we're processing at the time. If you want one particular wood, choose our ash, oak or silver birch.
Will your logs fit my stove?
Our standard logs are about 25cm long (give or take 2cm) and suit most stoves and open fires. We also do smaller silver birch logs for compact stoves, and larger mixed hardwood logs for bigger wood burners only. If you're not sure, call the office on 01756 748342.
Can I burn your logs in a smoke control area?
Only on a Defra exempt appliance. Our guide to what you can burn in a smoke control area explains how to check, and your council can tell you if you live in one.
What we'd suggest.
Not sure? Start with a bag of mixed hardwoods. If you already know your stove, pick birch for easy lighting, ash for steady heat or oak for slow evenings, or combine two. Delivery is free on orders of £80 or more, Monday to Friday, and we text or call you when your day is booked. See how delivery works.
Kiln Dried Mixed Hardwoods
Our best seller. A good all-rounder for any stove.
Kiln Dried Silver Birch
Lights easily, burns bright. Lovely bark.
Sources.
- Forestry Commission: Wood as Fuel, a guide to choosing and drying logsChecked 19 October 2026
- Defra: How to get the most from your stove or open fire. A guide to buying, storing and seasoning woodChecked 19 October 2026
- HETAS: Wood, coal, and smokeless fuel: which is right for your stove?Checked 19 October 2026
- HETAS: 11 bad habits to avoid as a stove ownerChecked 19 October 2026