If you’re stocking up on fuel for your woodburner, fire pit or hot tub, you might be wondering — should I go for firewood or briquettes?
Both are excellent choices, and both are compatible with most stoves and outdoor setups. But they perform differently, and knowing the difference will help you choose the right fuel for your space, burn style and storage.
In this guide, we’ll break down how briquettes compare to traditional firewood — and where each one shines.
What are briquettes?
Briquettes are made from compressed wood by-products — typically sawdust, shavings and chips — with no glue or chemical additives. They’re formed under high pressure to create dense, compact blocks or cylinders of fuel.
Because of how they’re made, they contain very little moisture — usually under 10% — and are incredibly consistent in size, shape and burn behaviour.
How do briquettes compare to firewood?
The biggest difference is density. A single briquette contains more energy than a similarly sized log. That means they burn hotter and longer, with less topping up required.
Here’s how they compare:
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Moisture content: Firewood (under 15%), Briquettes (under 10%)
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Burn time: Briquettes last longer per piece
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Heat output: Briquettes burn hotter due to low moisture and high density
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Storage: Briquettes take up less space and stack more efficiently
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Lighting: Firewood is easier to start (especially with kindling and firelighters)
When should I use firewood?
Kiln dried logs are great for fast ignition and visible flame. If you enjoy the look, smell and feel of a real wood fire, firewood is hard to beat. It’s also better for cooking (pizza ovens, BBQs) where natural wood flavour matters.
Logs are ideal for:
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Woodburners
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Open fires
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Fire pits
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Pizza ovens
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BBQs
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Wood-fired hot tubs and saunas
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Homes where fire aesthetics are important
Our kiln dried hardwood logs (oak, ash and birch) are dried to under 15% moisture for clean burning and consistent performance. They’re delivered in recyclable, stackable boxes and are Ready to Burn certified.
When are briquettes the better choice?
If you’re heating a space and want a long, steady burn, briquettes are brilliant. They’re consistent, reliable, and perfect for maintaining temperature over time — ideal for overnight burns or for heating water in hot tubs.
Briquettes are also great for customers with limited storage space. They’re compact, clean to handle, and tightly packed — meaning you can store more heat in less room.
They’re best suited for:
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Efficient, high-heat home heating
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Hot tubs and saunas
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Off-grid cabins and glamping sites
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Commercial spaces that need low-maintenance fuel
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Customers wanting low smoke and long burn times
Can you mix them?
Yes. Many of our customers burn both together. Use firewood to get the fire going, then add a briquette or two to stretch out the burn. It’s an ideal combo if you want the beauty of a log fire with the long-lasting heat of briquettes.