Best Wood Heaters
Mr Stoves Vogue Sierra
- Price (RRP) $1,595
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We are very happy with our new wood heater. We were also very happy with the way the staff assisted us in our selection and then installation of the new heater. Show details
Pacific Energy Neo 2.5 LE
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Amazing heat and looks awesome – Excellent coverage. Always used seasoned redgum and get clean, long burning fire. Fan is very useful in distributing heat on both low and high settings. Easily burns overnight 10+ hours. Show details
Nectre Mk2 Series
The best woodheater we have ever had – We have had our Nectre Mk 2 for over 12 months now. 2 winter seasons. It is still brilliant. Burns all night, holds the heat, zero emissions in… Read more
the house, easy to load up, we can cook on top. We have a very large house and we can feel the effect in every room. It's so good our friends are buying one too!
Buschbeck Outdoor Fireplace & BBQ Rondo
- Price (RRP) $2,299
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Been great looks great , this year been first time really enjoying , but notice today while burning there are large cracks , has been raining but would expect it to last better than this Show details
Mr Stoves Vogue Navara
Good other than build quality of baffle plate which I have had to replace twice now
Mr Stoves Vogue Pintel Deluxe
Great communication and customer service will definitely recommend an come back to this place as we are happy with the fireplace and service Show details
Regency Bellerive
It’s perfect for the winter months, kept our home nice and warm. And being able to just close the door and know it’s safe to burn out while we go to bed is great for peace of mind.
Nectre Big Bakers Oven
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Very disappointed with our Nectre Big Bakers Oven. Only 5 months old and already dealing with paint peeling, bricks and baffles falling out, and… Read more
ongoing faults on a fireplace that cost over $6,000 plus installation. Customer service has been terrible — 6 weeks of being sent around in circles with excuses and no real resolution. Would not recommend based on our experience
After writing this review nectre Australia jumped in to help sort this situation out much appreciated - and are fully replacing the fireplace with new one at their expense- What a shame the retail shop I brought from made it so difficult -
Scandia Heat and Cook SCX501
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Heats up the house/oven works awesome/very happy with our heater oven we purchased through Bunnings. Show details
Jindara Woodheating Tilga / Grange Range
Fantastic wood heater have had other brands Before this is the best burns less wood and heats our 4 bedroom house no problems Show details
Eureka Freestanding Discovery Series
Adequate, but – We have a Diamond. When it is up to temp it is adequate as a heater and very welcoming to look at, but: * it is slow to heat up, * the air has… Read more
difficulty getting to the back of the fire box, * it rarely burns through the night, * the fan is quite noisy, * when the fan is on High (or Boost) it doesn't blow a lot of air, * the top plate vibrates against the body, * I have yet to suss out why a lot of corrosion falls onto the top plate from the flue shield.
Nectre Bakers Oven
g,day nectre , i have had my second bakers oven for 2+ years . they are a very good heater and i use mine to cook on all winter . BUT , i have… Read more
trouble with the door opening lever . it is stiff all the time but during the off season , it seizes up and at the moment i am trying to free it up with wd40 and gas . mine is the one with damper on top . 2 other folks with B.O do not have this problem . i bought both heaters from bairnsdale stoves and heaters and last year they got the leaver working . why is my heater like this . i notice you have the damper on the side on your later models . any suggestions . john smith , 85 tarbucks road , cabbage tree crk 3889 . 0427149158
Nectre N15 Series
Best stove ever – Fantastic stove,gives out a great heat,has changed our lives! Extremely easy to light, lasts all night if stoked before bed.Virtually no emptying. We… Read more
own 2 Morso stoves (we live in Tasmania )but the Nectre is by far the easiest and most efficient to run.
Scandia Warmbrite
- Price (RRP) $849 to $1,799
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We bought the inbuilt Scandia for our new home, had it professionally installed in an existing open fireplace as it was designed for that! Now we… Read more
can't have anymore than one peice of wood burning at any time as the firebox keeps banging and scaring the crap out of our dog! We need to have the fan running all the time (which is noisey) to try to stop the firebox from expanding too much. I regret buying this product very much. We had a Scandia free standing fire in our last house with no issues, what a pity this one is so rubbish!
Hi Rip, thanks for taking the time to write your review,… Read more (+1 reply)
Nectre Mega
Have been using a new Nectre Mega for over 3 weeks now. It does an outstanding job of heating a large space. It lights easily and once going takes… Read more
big logs easily and still haven't had to empty ash, so much less work than any smaller fire I've had. One question: it does seem to smoke up the room whenever I'm starting it up or adding wood though I follow the vent suggestions in the manual. I'm using very well seasoned hardwood and avoiding using ceiling fans at start up to avoid creating draughts into the room. Any suggestions are welcome, thank you.
Good purchase – So far the unit has met expectations.No problems in lighting...easy & quick . Looks good & provides the warmth required. Only improvement at this… Read more
date would be a better & more efficient closing/opening control ...a little stiff which results in difficult precise setting.
Quadra-Fire 4300 Millennium
Brilliant performer – Originally we had a woodsman Tarras fire which over a period of a few years burnt out air tube and baffle. The fire was hard to light and unreliable.… Read more
We purchased the quadra millennium 2100 to replace it and though being much smaller is superb it lights in minutes to a roar if you leave door ajar for 5 minutes and continues for about 3 hours per charge using timer. Unit is well built with a great cooking surface. A quantum leap over the woodsman
Saxon Mahogany SXMH09K
Stupid design – This heater does not burn seasoned wood it chokes itself out Show details
Pivot Stove & Heating Yunca Monte
Yunca Monte eco - this is our second year with our Yunca and we are very impressed with the heater , easy to light and easily heats our 200m2 house… Read more
and uses a lot less wood compared to the wood heater we had in our old house, can get 10+ hours overnight burn, looks great and the cooktop is handy also. Mostly burning redgum and yellow box . Purchased in June 2024 from North east homemaker centre in Wangaratta.
True North TN10
Really good LITTLE fire. Disregard the previous reviews indicating that this is a poor unit. Has been installed since June 2025 in the Adelaide… Read more
Hills - it is fit for purpose.
If you are transitioning from an old radiant heater and are expecting this to behave the same (i.e. basically an incinerator) then please educate yourself on how modern clean convection heaters work. They need a little bit of love, patience and a new skillset to get burning well.
If you burn DRY + QUALITY wood, this thing will warm 100-120 square easily to the point where you will be opening doors or losing the jumper.
Previous negative reviews are frankly laughable and should be ignored as they have been penned by people who do not know what they are doing.
4/5 -1 star as the fan unit is a bit average for the $250 upcharge (I wouldnt bother again)
It would be 5 if I didnt splurge on the fan.....
Saxon Walnut SXWN07K
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Biggest hunk of junk – Saxon wood heater is the biggest hunk of junk I have ever bought fill it up with wood glows bright orange, open door you get smoke coming out and… Read more
filling the room and ashes fall out everytime you open the door. Complaint made to Kalaire referred to Barbeque Galore they are all as useless as a Saxon wood heater. Stay clear...
Heatilator WS22
A brutal heating beast – This thing heats my entire uninsulated 160sqm brick veneer house in Canberra. I use it in conjunction with a heat transfer system. I get 12 hour… Read more
burns when it's stacked full of yellow box or ironbark or red gum. I cook on the top. I previously had an insert of a similar size which struggled. It's 10 degrees outside now and 26 degrees inside. A bit hot for me but the wife is happy.
Stovax Studio 3 Freestanding
Bad design – I bought a house which had this model installed and I had problems from the start. Never, ever put firewood or any other objects on the ledge (if… Read more
you have one) in front of the door. When you open the door, which opens downwards, the glass will hit the object and crack, as I found out the hard way. The hinges on the door are not adjustable so the door doesn't close tight, resulting in smoke leakage and high fuel use. I worked out a simple way to fix this, which may help others. Drill a hole through the top outside frame, wherever the seal is the worst, and another one to correspond through the door frame. Push an L-shaped metal rod, similar to an Allen key, through both holes to seal the door. It can easily be taken in and out to access the firebox and is a very simple, unobtrusive way to fix the problem.
Osburn 1000
Awesome heater, heats our house easily, burns really well and is well made to suit the cold Canadian weather. Wife loves the direct cooktop. Show details
Nectre N60 Series
Beautiful and sublime, a very efficient burner. Stylish and elegant, space saving design. Gives out a lot of heat. Absolute gem, cannot fault it.
Regency Renmark
Does what is says on the packet – We replaced an older combustion fire place that had started to deteriorate with the Regency Renmark. Easy to install, feels solid and we love the… Read more
large window. The fan is a nice extra although we rarely use it as it pumps enough heat without it. We bought it as it came with good reviews both online and in-store and the fact that it was designed and manufactured in Canada was a big plus.
True North TN20 Wood Stove
Perfect – We've done a winter and a half now with this heater and I absolutely LOVE it ... I didn't think it was possible to buy a heater that compared to the… Read more
old Kent Turbo 10 heaters of the 70s and 80s that you could turn right down and they would burn all night, but this one does. It's big enough for decent size logs and easily heats our five bedroom house. Just make sure you have really well-seasoned wood (which is obviously true for any heater). The first couple of loads we had last year weren't that great and I thought it was the fire; the glass kept getting filthy and it was hard to light, but now we have properly seasoned hardwood all is good. I almost look forward to our cold Toowoombian winters because of this heater!!
Norseman Nevada Wood Heater GHNV19K
Not heating – It looks good, it works fine but the glass insulate all the heat.. atm I’m keeping the door opened because it is not warming the house. I don’t know if I would recommended it sorry Show details
Nectre Mk1 Series
Great but not perfect! – This is my second M1 and 4th nectre overall. I love the simplicity and value for money. I recently replaced my 12 year old M1 with a new version as… Read more
part of a minor renovation. Nothing wrong with the old unit, just wanted a fresh start. Original unit was relocated to inlaws and still works flawlessly. However, the newer version has received some tweaks and modifications when compared with my earlier model, including an additional baffle plate located above the main baffle, close to the flue outlet. Having recently discovered (and now removed) this secondary baffle, far less smoke is coming out the door when opened. Prior to this discovery I was seriously contemplating removing and upgrading to a different brand. Fortunately I no longer need to do this. I guess a case of tinkering with an already great product that hasn't led to a better outcome.
Kent Calisto
Lousy – I bought a large Kent Calisto - after installation, over $3,500. Perhaps the worst buy ever? The fan sets up vibrations throughout the heater that… Read more
make it unuseable, unless I want to choose noise over cold. I went back to the shop, Central West Heaters, who told me the motor might need to be tightened - 'a common problem'. The motor is inaccessible though, partly because the whole steel casing is held together with cheap wood screws. The heads of the screws shear off. It's got 'made in China' written all over it. The fire bricks inside started breaking in the first week. They're just not up to the task. The ones that broke first were those at the back, underneath the 'brick retainer', a cheaply-made bracket of angle-steel that sits along the top of the bricks. This whole retainer bowed upward in the first decent fire, placing all the weight on the bricks under the point of the bow. The shop wasn't interested. It seems a shame that a company with a decent reputation should be going under. But they deserve it, if they're going to charge people so much money for such an inferior product.
Types of wood heaters
Convection wood heaters • See all
Convection wood heaters have air cavities around the exterior of the firebox and a decorative outer casing. Heat is drawn in from the floor and pumped back into the room, with hot air rising and colder air being pushed into the heater.
Radiant wood heaters • See all
Radiant wood heaters work by releasing heat directly from their outer surface onto their surrounds, resulting in a more intense and localised heat. This means that the closer you are to the heater, the more warmth you’ll feel, because heat is transferred directly to the people and things in the room without raising the whole room’s temperature.
Wood pellet heaters • See all
Wood pellet heaters use pellets instead of firewood, with pellets being made from dense. recycled sawdust. They generate a constant heat output.
Should I get a freestanding wood heater or an in-built wood heater?
One choice you’ll have to make is whether to get a freestanding or in-built heater.
Freestanding wood heaters are great options for those who don’t have a regular fireplace, or who want a central heating source in an open plan area.
You have a bit of freedom with where to place it: you could place it against a wall, to resemble a conventional fireplace, in a corner, or in a purpose-built area. They’re a great option for those looking to retro-fit their heater into an established room.
In-built wood heaters are a bit more involved, but the finished look is sleek, seamless, and completely worth it. The finished look is an indoor wood heater that sits flush with the wall.
You’ll need to construct a made-to-measure stone or non-combustible cavity and a hearth, keeping in mind that they have to meet Australian standards. Because of the work involved in creating an in-built heater, it’s easiest to do as part of a whole renovation.
What to consider when choosing a wood heater
Size
You should ensure you buy the correct sized heater for your home. A heater with a firebox that’s too small may mean you have to constantly add wood to it, or need another heating source to heat your entire home. Get a heater that’s too big, and you may have excessive heat, cause a build-up of creosote (which is hard to clean) and overuse your logs. Plus, it may possibly be dangerous to use.
As a rough guide:
- A small wood heater can heat up to around 15m².
- A medium-sized wood heater can heat up to around 20m².
- A large wood heater can heat up to around 30m².
However, you should consult the manufacturer to check whether the size of a wood heater is suitable for your home.
Your home
Make sure you correctly measure the area of the rooms you want heated, as well as the height of the ceilings. The level of insulation your house has will also affect your heating requirements.
You also want to think about the space and layout of your home. Usually, the more central the heater can be located, the better. If your home has multiple storeys, it’s recommended to install the wood heater on the bottom floor so that the hot air moves around your home.
Construction materials
Popular materials used to construct wood heaters include steel and cast iron.
- Highly durable.
- Heats up and cools down faster.
- Cheaper to make.
- Lightweight, which makes it easy to transport, install, and handle.
- Suitable for placement closer to walls.
- Don’t require much maintenance.
- Offered in a range of colours.
- Offers even, long lasting heat with less change in temperature.
- Takes longer to heat up.
- Typically more expensive to purchase because it’s more complicated to build.
- May need more maintenance than steel.
- Offers a more traditional aesthetic.
Design
Are you looking for a sleek, modern aesthetic, or are you after a more traditional look? The style of your heater will probably play a role in deciding which model is right for you. As mentioned above, steel wood heaters are offered in a range of colours and can be made to be more sleek, while cast iron heaters usually suit those with more of a traditional home.
Features
Some wood heaters have features that can make them easier to use, easier to clean, or more energy efficient. Here are a few you might come across.
- Cooking stove: Some wood heaters double as a wood burning stove, with some even having accessories like a grill or a pizza insert.
- Ash disposal system: This makes it easier to get rid of ash from the firebox.
- Hot water boiler: A few models provide the option to have a domestic hot water boiler fitted to the wood heater.
- Wood storage: This is usually a built-in nook below, behind, or to the side of the firebox that lets you store your firewood.
- Fan: A fan helps move hot air around, with different heaters offering different levels of fan speeds.
Price
The cost of wood heaters varies greatly depending on the type of heater, its construction, and its features. They usually start at around $900 and can cost over $5000, however on average are priced between $1500 to $3000.
What are the Australian standards for installing wood heaters?
Not all wood burning heaters are the same. When shopping, either online or in person, check that the heater you want to buy complies with the Australian standards AS/NZS 4012, 4013 and 2918.
Heaters that adhere to these standards are designed for Australian conditions and firewood. These standards outline things like the minimum flue height, which must be 4.6m above the floor that the wood heater is on, as well as efficiency and safety guidelines.
It’s recommended to use the services of a professional to install your wood heater.
Maintenance tips for wood heaters
This isn’t a complete maintenance guide, but it’s important to know the basics before deciding whether or not to buy a wood heater.
Before wood-burning season:
- Ensure the heater and flue are clean.
- Organise a chimney sweep if needed.
During wood-burning season:
- Ensure the wood you burn is dry.
- Clean soot off glass with newspaper, or if needed, a scrubbing brush and warm soapy water.
- Remove ash from the firebox and around the heater when it has cooled down.
The bottom line
Choosing an efficient heater for your home means more effective heating, less cash spent on wood, less time sourcing and hauling wood, and better air quality in your home. Consider your options and your home’s heating needs so that you can find a wood fire heater that’s right for you.
Good morning Jacinda Thank you for reaching out regarding… Read more (+2 replies)