The short answer
It depends on fuel prices and how you use it, but as a rough guide a wood burning stove can have the lowest fuel cost per unit of heat if you buy logs well — especially seasoned wood bought in bulk — while an electric fire has the lowest upfront install cost but usually the highest running cost per kWh. A gas fire sits in between on running cost and is convenient. The catch with a stove is the higher upfront installation cost and the work of storing, loading and lighting wood. The right choice depends on your fuel access, how often you'll use it and how much upfront you want to spend.
The honest comparison isn't 'which is best' but 'which fits how you live'. A stove rewards people who can buy and store wood cheaply; electric rewards people who want zero install and occasional use. Here's how they stack up.
Side by side
- Lowest install costelectric fire
- Lowest fuel cost / heatwood (if logs bought well)
- Most convenientgas or electric
- Highest run cost / kWhusually electric
- Biggest upfrontwood stove install
Upfront vs running cost
An electric fire has the lowest install cost — often just a plug and a fitting — but electricity is typically the priciest fuel per unit of heat, so it costs more to run for serious heating. A gas fire needs a gas supply and a flue or balanced flue, sits in the middle on running cost, and is convenient at the flick of a switch. A wood burning stove costs the most to install (£1,000–£4,000+), but if you can buy seasoned logs in bulk the fuel cost per unit of heat can be the lowest of the three. The trade-off is the effort of storing, loading and lighting wood, and sweeping the chimney annually.
| Factor | Wood stove | Gas fire | Electric fire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront install | highest | medium | lowest |
| Fuel cost per unit heat | can be lowest | medium | usually highest |
| Convenience | manual | high | high |
| Flue / chimney needed | yes | usually | no |
General comparison for guidance. Your actual running cost depends on fuel prices, how often you use it and how well you buy logs.
Which suits which household
- Choose a wood stove if you can source and store logs affordably, want a primary heat source for a main room, and don't mind the upkeep.
- Choose a gas fire if you have a gas supply and want convenient, controllable heat with moderate running costs.
- Choose electric if you want the lowest upfront cost, occasional or supplementary heat, and no flue or chimney.
Fuel prices move, so treat any single running-cost figure as a snapshot, not a fixed saving.
Frequently asked questions
Is a log burner cheaper to run than gas or electric?
It can be, because well-bought seasoned logs often have the lowest fuel cost per unit of heat. But it depends on log prices and how you use it. Electric is usually the most expensive to run per kWh; gas sits in between.
Which has the lowest install cost — wood, gas or electric?
An electric fire has the lowest install cost, often just a fitting and a plug. A gas fire costs more and needs a flue. A wood burning stove has the highest upfront cost at £1,000–£4,000 or more.
Is a wood burner more work than a gas fire?
Yes. A stove means buying and storing logs, lighting and tending the fire, clearing ash and having the chimney swept each year. Gas and electric are more convenient but their fuel can cost more per unit of heat.
Sources & further reading
Figures on this page are typical UK ranges drawn from published sources and depend on your specific home. They are guidance, not a quotation or guaranteed saving.