Prices per bag, per tonne, per stacked cubic metre, per litre – fuels are hard to compare as long as everyone calculates in their own unit. The only currency that counts is the kilowatt hour of heat. Here is the conversion for all common energy sources, with an example calculation for a family home.
Prices: guide values autumn 2026 for end customers in Germany, excluding system and maintenance costs. Regional differences of 20 percent and more are normal.
The calorific value – the basis
| Energy source | Calorific value | Typical price | Cost per kWh (fuel) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood pellets ENplus® A1 | 4.9 kWh/kg | €300–360/t (bulk or pallet) | 6–7.5 ct |
| Wood briquettes | 5.0 kWh/kg | pallet approx. €350–450/t | 7–9 ct |
| Beech firewood, kiln-dried | approx. 4.0 kWh/kg (≈ 1,900 kWh/stacked m³) | €110–160/stacked m³ | 6–8.5 ct |
| Natural gas | 10 kWh/m³ | 10–13 ct/kWh | 10–13 ct |
| Heating oil | 10 kWh/l | €0.95–1.15/l | 9.5–11.5 ct |
| Electricity (heat pump, SPF 3.5) | – | 25–30 ct/kWh electricity | 7–8.5 ct heat |
| Electricity (direct heating) | – | 25–35 ct/kWh | 25–35 ct |
Efficiency – what actually reaches the room
No stove converts 100 percent of the fuel into room heat. Modern pellet boilers reach 90 to 95 percent, wood stoves 75 to 85 percent, old stoves considerably less. This results in real heat costs of around 7 to 8 cents per kWh for pellets in a boiler, 8 to 11 cents for briquettes and logs in a wood stove, 11 to 14 cents for gas and oil (condensing boiler) and 25 cents upwards for direct electric heating.
Example: family home with 20,000 kWh heat demand
- Pellet boiler: approx. 4.3 t pellets, around €1,400–1,600 per year.
- Gas condensing boiler: around €2,200–2,800 per year (including the CO₂ price, which keeps rising).
- Heating oil: approx. 2,100 l, around €2,000–2,500 per year.
- Heat pump: around €1,500–1,800 electricity, heavily dependent on insulation and tariff.
- Wood stove as a supplement: covering 5,000 kWh via the stove takes about 1 t of briquettes or 2.5 stacked m³ of beech – €350 to €450 – and saves €550 to €700 on gas in return.
What the pure calculation does not show
Price stability: pellets and wood have fluctuated far less than oil and gas since 2010 – with the exception of 2022, when all energy sources exploded. CO₂ price: it hits gas, oil and coal, not wood. Own labour: anyone who splits and stores logs themselves gets down to 4 cents, but pays with time. System: a pellet boiler costs more than a gas boiler but is subsidised at up to 80 percent (see subsidies 2026).
How to save when buying
The pallet is almost always 20 to 30 percent cheaper than the single bag, and May to August are the cheapest months (When to buy?). When comparing, look at the certificate – a cheap bag without ENplus® can end up more expensive due to fines and low calorific value. Where to find HEIZFUXX® is shown on our retailers page.
Conclusion
Per kilowatt hour of heat, pellets, wood briquettes, firewood and the heat pump are close together today – and all well below gas, oil and direct electric heating. The difference lies in comfort, investment and subsidies. Anyone who buys wood cleverly heats not only cosily but also cheaply.
HEIZFUXX® · SIMPLE. CLEVER. HEATING.
Wood pellets, wood briquettes, firewood, kindling, peat briquettes and hard coal – by the bag at DIY stores, by the pallet online. Where to get HEIZFUXX®.