Wood Stove vs Pellet Stove: Cost per Million Btu
In Maine's state fuel survey of September 21, 2026, cordwood cost $16.14 per million Btu, bagged pellets $21.64 and heating oil $43.41. Those figures come from the Maine Governor's Energy Office's weekly heating-season report and compare the energy in the fuel before any appliance losses.
Maine's numbers
| Fuel | Price | Per million Btu |
|---|---|---|
| Cordwood | $355 per cord | $16.14 |
| Wood pellets | $357 per ton | $21.64 |
| Heating oil | $6.02 per gallon | $43.41 |
The cordwood price is for seasoned wood, a minimum two-cord purchase, delivered; pellets are Maine-produced pellets in 40 lb bags, local delivery. Both come from an informal survey of dealers.
A winter for the same house
Take the example house used across this site: 2,000 sq ft, built in the 1970s, in Maine's climate (7,758 heating degree days). Its estimated heat need is 86.1 million Btu a year. Through a 74% wood stove on generic cords that is 5.8 cords, about $2,065 at Maine's price. Maine's state page has the full breakdown: how much firewood in Maine.
For pellets, divide the same heat by the stove's efficiency and multiply by $21.64: the result depends on the pellet stove's rated efficiency, which this site does not list, so it is left to you. At equal efficiency, pellets cost 34% more than cordwood per unit of heat in this survey.
What the price does not include
- Labour and storage. Cordwood needs splitting (if bought log-length), stacking, carrying and a dry place for a year's supply; pellets come bagged and feed automatically.
- Electricity. Pellet stoves need power for the auger and fans; a wood stove does not.
- The stove. Both need an EPA-certified appliance; see EPA wood stove rules.
New Hampshire's Department of Energy also publishes a cord price ($436, July 1, 2024) but for green, log-length wood, so it is not comparable with Maine's seasoned, delivered figure.
Sources
- Maine Governor's Energy Office, weekly fuel prices, September 21, 2026.
- New Hampshire Department of Energy, NH Fuel Prices.
Questions
Is cordwood cheaper than pellets?
In Maine's September 21, 2026 survey, cordwood cost $16.14 per million Btu and bagged pellets $21.64, both before stove efficiency. Heating oil was $43.41.
Does Cord Calc have pellet prices for other states?
No. Only state-published, dated prices are used, and Maine's Governor's Energy Office is the one found that prices both cordwood and pellets.