Rustic-Chic Wood Stoves That Look at Home in Farmhouse and Contemporary Settings

Wood stoves used to be the primary source of warmth in the average American home. Today, they are enjoying a resurgence, thanks to their ability to efficiently and quickly warm up rooms, their cozy vibe, and their new stylish designs.

The first metal wood-burning stove is believed to have appeared in Europe in the 1500s but didn’t become mainstream until during the Industrial Revolution, two centuries later. By the early 1900s, an estimated 40 million American homes were heated with wood stoves. Their popularity waned over the course of the next century, but their practical assets and recent technological upgrades to their function and design are creating a new crop of wood stove aficionados.

Many modern homeowners are finding that wood stoves are a wonderful option for homes without fireplaces, and they’re also more efficient and cost-effective than open hearths, oil, natural gas, and electricity. Newer models — and all of the ones we feature here — meet standards set by the EPA, which means they can operate at up to 80% efficiency.

The Best Wood Stoves

What to Consider

The perfect wood stove for you is going to depend on your lifestyle, the size of your home, your design preferences, and your budget. Keep all of that and the following details in mind and you’ll land on a great stove that reflects your heating needs and matches your style and budget, too:

• Dimensions and Weight: Think carefully about where you want to put your wood stove, and if and how often you’ll need to move it. Our lightest stove is 28 pounds and several in this roundup are well over 300 pounds. Also, measure your space carefully to ensure that it will fit into — and not overwhelm — your space.

• BTUs: A stove’s heating capacity is measured in BTUs, or British Thermal Units. A higher BTU rating generally means it will heat a larger space, but pay attention to both the BTUs and the square footage for the best idea of a stove’s power.

• Area to Be Heated: Are you looking to heat one room, a mobile home, or a big, spacious house? We have several options that heat 1,000 to 1,400 square feet and one that heats up to 3,200 square feet. We also offer one specifically designed for staying warm in the great outdoors.

We feature the best wood stoves on the market in a range of designs and sizes, suitable for any style of home at any scale. Get ready to get cozy!