Cheap wood burners for sheds

Do you have a shed in your garden? A shed can be a fantastic extension of your home. It can be a home office, a hideaway, a man cave, a workshop, a place to plan and prepare gardening and a host of other things. It can also be very chilly.

Whatever the many benefits of having a shed, cosiness is not usually one of them. Sheds are seldom insulated at all, let alone as well insulated as our homes, so they can feel draughty and chilly when we spend time in them.

That's why many people choose to install a wood burner in their shed. Installing a wood burner in a shed adds warmth and value — they make it easier, more appealing and more comfortable to spend time in these spaces we've created. 

Can you install wood burners in sheds?

Yes, it's perfectly safe to install a wood burner in your shed, as long as you follow all the correct safety and legal precautions. Some of the main considerations when installing wood burners in sheds include:

Twin wall flue

Given that most sheds are made of wood, the most important consideration is the distance to combustible materials. You can easily sidestep this issue by using insulated twin wall flue.

In most cases, you will want to run the flue from the top outlet of the wood burner and straight up through the shed roof directly above. Given that the flue length will be shorter than in a home, it's best to avoid adding unnecessary bends to the flue system because this could impact the draw and your stove's performance.

Heat shield

Again, assuming the walls of your shed are made of wooden panels, you will need to protect them from the heat generated by your stove.

This is typically achieved by fitting a heat shield. This is a panel that is fitted on the wall behind your stove that runs down to the ground to meet the hearth. 

Heat shields are usually made of heat-resistant boards, which are sometimes clad with metal, heat-resistant glass or suitable tiles.

Flashing

When cutting through your shed roof another important factor is making sure it remains completely watertight. Just like around a chimney on a house roof, you will need flashing around the flue to prevent any rainwater from getting into the shed.

Air supply

You will need adequate ventilation in your shed to make sure your wood burner operates cleanly and efficiently. In some older sheds, ventilation is definitely not a problem!

But for newer cabins, summerhouses, shepherd's huts and other outbuildings that have been built and insulated to a higher standard, you might have to consider adding an air vent to ensure there is a safe supply of air. Alternatively, you could choose an external air stove to provide a steady supply of air without creating a draught in your shed.

What makes the best wood burners for sheds?

Precisely what makes the best wood burner for your shed will depend on your circumstances and your shed. But, generally speaking, there are a few things that you should be looking for in a shed wood burner:

Small sizing

Sheds are typically not the biggest spaces, which means you usually need a small wood burner for a shed. There are two main reasons for this.

Firstly, you don't want to lose too much floor space to a stove when space is at a premium. A smaller stove takes up less space and is more convenient.

Secondly, you don't want a large stove with a heat output that will be overpowering in the confines of a shed. A wood burner that makes you want to open the door to let some fresh air in defeats the purpose.

Affordability

Generally, a shed isn't a room that you'll be showing off to friends and family. It might not even be somewhere that you spend an enormous amount of time. With that in mind, you probably don't want to stretch your budget too far on a wood burner for your shed. 

That's why we are focusing on some of our more affordable options in this article. We will help you find cheap wood burners for sheds that do the job just as effectively as more expensive options.

Direct air supply

Wood burners that offer the option to supply air to your stove using a duct that goes through the wall of your shed might be good options for you. This will ensure a flow of air to keep your stove burning safely without needing to add more ventilation to the shed itself.

Direct air or external air stoves provide all the air your stove needs without the extra draught of a new air vent.

Quick to heat

In most sheds, there will be no heat at all until the wood burner is lit. That means it's important that your stove gets up to temperature as quickly as possible so that you start to feel the benefits of the warmth.

For that reason, high-quality steel woodburners are often a good choice for sheds. They start generating warmth much more quickly than their cast iron counterparts (which have the advantage of better retention). For a stove that heats up quickly, steel is the way to go.

What is the best size of wood burner for sheds?

As we mentioned above, generally you will want a wood burner in a shed to be as small as possible. This will ensure it doesn't take up too much space or make your shed uncomfortably warm.

For those reasons, you will probably want a wood burner with a 4kW or 5kW heat output.

If you want to double-check this or you have a particularly large shed, use our stove size calculator to work out the recommended heat output for your shed.

Recommended cheap wood burners for sheds

Here is a selection of the best cheap wood burners for sheds. We've picked these stoves because they will add plenty of cosiness to your shed without breaking the bank.

Mazona Warwick 4kW

The Mazona Warwick is the absolute picture of a classic wood-burning stove. Those timeless wood burner looks make it the ideal candidate for the rustic surrounds of sheds and cabins. The 4kW heat output is great for snug spaces, while it also comes with an external air supply option. Take a closer look.

Mazona Ripley 4kW

If you’re looking for a stove for a smaller shed, the Mazona Ripley 4kW multi-fuel stove could be the right option. Its 4kW heat output gives off plenty of warmth without becoming overwhelming. This hugely efficient stove meets Ecodesign standards). It also includes a stylish, contemporary design that is befitting a stove much more expensive. Take a closer look.

Arada Hamlet Solution 4

Made in Britain and boasting a very sleek design, the Arada Hamlet Solution 4 will instantly elevate any shed. Built to Ecodesign standards, it delivers a high level of efficiency while being a perfectly sized wood burner for sheds. It is also available with a matching heat shield — perfect for protecting the walls of your shed from the intense heat from this high-quality appliance. Take a closer look.

Mazona Cheshire 5kW

If you're looking for a more traditional stove look, the cast iron Mazona Cheshire is the ideal wood burner for a shed. The stove body is suited to heat retention, which is great if you want to retain a long-lasting source of warmth in your shed. Take a closer look.

Arizona A05 5 kW

Efficient, modern, well constructed… there’s not much about the Arizona A05 that screams: “There’s a cheap woodburner for my shed!” And yet with a very reasonable price tag, it’s too good an option to overlook. Take a closer look.

Mazona Heatwave 5kW

If you're creating a little Nordic-inspired cabin in the form of your shed, look no further than the Mazona Heatwave. With its Scandi and midcentury design features, this stove will have you pining to spend more time in your hygge haven — and all for a price that you can af-fjord. Take a closer look. 

See more small stoves for sheds.