Heating a home is a major expense in cold climates, and many households consider a wood stove as an alternative or supplement to electric heaters. Firewood offers independence from the grid and can be cheaper in areas where timber is plentiful, but it also requires labor and produces smoke. Electric heaters are clean and simple to operate yet can drive up utility bills. This calculator compares the seasonal costs of these two approaches by translating heat requirements into fuel expenses, allowing homeowners to make informed decisions.
The form accepts seven inputs. You begin by entering the total heat energy needed for a season, measured in British thermal units (BTU). Utility bills or energy audits often provide this figure. Next, you specify the price of a cord of firewood and the energy content of that wood, which varies by species and moisture level. The wood stove efficiency field accounts for losses from incomplete combustion and heat escaping up the chimney. On the electric side, the calculator asks for the local electricity price and the efficiency of the heaters, which for resistance units is typically close to 100 percent. Finally, you choose how many seasons to include so cumulative costs can be displayed.
The mathematical core converts energy demand into cost. The number of cords required is the ratio of seasonal BTU need to usable BTU per cord. In MathML form, , where is cords, the heat demand, the BTU content per cord, and the stove efficiency. Multiplying cords by the firewood price yields the seasonal wood cost. For electricity, the script divides heat demand by heater efficiency and the BTU-to-kWh conversion factor of 3,412, producing required kilowatt-hours. Multiplying by the electricity price gives the seasonal electric cost. These straightforward formulas provide clarity on how each variable influences the result.
To illustrate, imagine a home needing 60 million BTU over the winter. Firewood costs $250 per cord, each providing 20 million BTU, and the stove operates at 70 percent efficiency. Electricity costs $0.13 per kWh and heaters are essentially 100 percent efficient. The calculator shows that 4.29 cords are required, costing about $1,072 for the season. Electric heaters would consume roughly 17,600 kWh, totaling $2,288. The break-even wood price is about $533 per cord—well above market rates in many regions—suggesting that wood is significantly cheaper in this scenario.
The following table compares two usage patterns with the same prices: a modest home requiring 40 million BTU and a larger one needing 80 million. The data highlight how higher heat demand magnifies the savings from wood stoves when fuel is affordable.
| Heat Demand (BTU) | Wood Cost | Electric Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 40,000,000 | $715 | $1,525 |
| 80,000,000 | $1,429 | $3,051 |
Beyond dollars, the calculator encourages reflection on practical considerations. Wood stoves require storage space for logs, regular chimney sweeping, and the labor of splitting and stacking wood. They emit particulates that can affect air quality, although modern EPA-certified stoves are much cleaner than older models. Electric heaters, while easy to use, may strain electrical circuits and provide less radiant comfort. They also depend on grid reliability unless backed by a generator or battery system.
The tool is flexible for scenario testing. You can experiment with higher stove efficiencies if using catalytic models, or with heat pump efficiency values above 100 percent to represent modern mini-split systems. Adjusting electricity prices allows modeling time-of-use rates, and changing the number of seasons reveals long-term costs. Because all calculations occur in your browser, results update instantly as you tweak assumptions.
For related analyses, see the space heater vs central heating cost calculator and the patio heater electric vs propane cost calculator, both of which explore energy trade-offs in heating applications.
Limitations of this model include the assumption that wood and electricity prices remain constant and that the stove operates at a consistent efficiency. Real-world factors such as moisture content, wood species, and user technique can change performance. The calculator also omits the value of your time spent sourcing and handling firewood, which may be significant. Environmental impacts, such as carbon emissions or smoke, are not monetized but may influence your choice.
Despite these caveats, the wood stove versus electric heater seasonal cost calculator provides a solid starting point for evaluating heating options. By converting fuel properties and energy needs into comparable costs, it demystifies a decision that often relies on anecdote or habit. Whether you are planning to install a new stove, considering supplemental heaters for a cold room, or simply curious about your fuel budget, the tool offers clarity and encourages informed choices.