7 Best Small Pellet Stoves of 2023 | Reviews + Guide

Wood pellet stoves are a brilliant alternative to them, thanks to the hardwood pellets used to produce heat as opposed to wood. They are cleaner and generate more heat as opposed to a regular wood stove or a fireplace. 

So, all in all, there is absolutely no downside to getting one. You will not only be paying less, but you’ll also breathe cleaner air since pellet stoves cause minimal pollution. 

However, we understand that it can get challenging to select a good wood pellet stove out of the plethora of options available in the market. This is why we’ve reviewed 7 of the best small pellet stoves to help you make up your mind. 

Without further ado, let’s get started! 

Listed below are the 5 best small pellet stoves from our list:

• Comfortbilt HP-22 Pellet Stove: Boasts wide coverage due to its impressive heating range of 50,000 BTU, easily accommodating large spaces, but initially had control panel issues.
• Castle Serenity Pellet Stove: Uniquely features a timer and calendar for efficient heating and is optimal for smaller spaces yet efficient due to its thermal efficiency rate of 69.8%, despite its noise level.
• U.S. Stove Company GW1949 Pellet Stove: Showcases an attractive design with a zigzag front vent and an efficient heat output of 40,000 BTU, suitable for bigger areas, though it requires more frequent cleaning.
• Comfortbilt HP-22N Pellet Stove: This small yet powerful stove can comfortably heat larger rooms thanks to its 50,000 BTU capacity and has a large hopper, notwithstanding its longer-than-expected shipping time.
• Cleveland Iron Works PS20W-CIW Pellet Stove: Ideal for heating small areas, this stove includes a fresh air supply kit and Wi-Fi connectivity for wireless regulation, though its instruction manual is found to be complicated.

Here is the list of the 7 best small pellet stoves that will fit your small space and provide you with the most efficient heating:

1. Comfortbilt HP-22 Pellet Stove- Best for Wide Coverage

The Comfortbilt HP22 isn’t just great to look at, but it’s also an energy-efficient and compact pellet stove. It is made of alloy steel and makes for an excellent purchase, thanks to its roster of features and Comfortbilt’s market reputation. The brand also offers a 1-year manufacturer warranty. 

For starters, the stove has a gigantic heating range of 50,000 BTU, which is one of the best in its class. It can easily heat up around 2800 sq. feet, which means that you can use it to heat up the average apartment or workshop. 

Fret not, though, if your apartment is on the lower end of the size spectrum since you can always lower the heater to a lesser value using the thermostat. 

Moving on, we liked how despite its power-packed heating capacity, it comes in a portable size that can fit inside any cramped area. The unit also comes with a large hopper that can be used to store a decent quantity of pellets. 

We also really liked how the glass door is transparent enough to allow one to check on the functioning of the stove. Plus, it can stay cloudless for a whopping 12 hours.  

The control panel wasn’t working when we received the product. However, we got in touch with Comfortbilt, and they swiftly rectified the issue. They sent us another model, and that one worked like a charm. 

2. Castle Serenity Pellet Stove- Best for Timer and Calendar Features

If you’re searching for something that will efficiently heat up a small place in your house, look no further than the Castle Serenity 12327. It can heat an area up to 1500 sq ft yet is portable and easy to move around. What’s more, it has a thermal efficiency rate of 69.8%. 

To begin with, this stove’s controller is admirable. You can manually manipulate the temperature as well as set it to a regular value and let the stove run. In addition to this, the stove has a timer and a calendar, which help to run the stove efficiently. 

Using the stove is a breeze from start to finish because it is easy to set up and clean. 

The installation process will last for a bunch of hours at the most, and there’s no need to install any additional chimney since the unit can be vented straightaway. And while cleaning the stove, you only need to clean out the firepot and the ashpan, apart from sweeping the exhaust pipe. 

Lastly, if you’re a mobile homeowner, be assured that this product is safe for use due to its ETL and EPL certifications.  

We can’t find any fault with the effectiveness of this stove. It was functional, easy to use, and affordable. However, it was a little too noisy, and we could hear it from an adjacent room too. 

3. U.S. Stove Company GW1949 Pellet Stove- Best for Attractive Design

The US GW1949 is a quality product by US Stove Pellet and is small yet efficient. It measures 15 x 52 x 24 inches and can heat spaces up to 2000 sq. feet at once. It works silently and will heat up your living space to give it just the right level of warmth. 

We liked the design and make of this stove, which was both beautiful and functional. The stove features a zigzag vent right at the front, which significantly enhances the working of the heater. It helps maintain a balanced distribution of heat and also amplifies its output. 

Moreover, the stove is able to generate up to 40,000 BTUs of heat, which though ideal for bigger areas, can be tweaked to fit smaller spaces as well. Its hopper has a capacity of about 60 lbs., which means that you won’t need to keep refilling it since it will burn for almost 30 hours. 

We were also impressed by the natural gravity feed system of this model because it was very low maintenance. Lastly, we must mention that the unit is EPL and ETL-certified, making it absolutely safe to use in indoor spaces.  

We were a little disappointed at the amount of work it took us to clean this unit. When the ash gets collected, it travels right up to the vent, and there’s a risk of it contaminating the surroundings in such a case. 

Thus, it needs to be regularly vacuumed, which is an absolute pain to do since the different parts of this product aren’t easy to access. 

4. Comfortbilt HP-22N Pellet Stove

Another fantastic Comfortbilt stove is the HP-22N, which is a great fit for medium-sized or smaller rooms. However, despite its diminutiveness, the stove can warm up bigger rooms, too, thanks to the capacity of its hopper and its appealing bay design. 

Getting a unit that is both compact and powerful can be challenging. But the Comfortbilt HP-22N incorporates the best of both worlds, and its 50,000 BTU of energy can heat up spaces up to 2800 sq feet effectively. So, don’t let its diminutive size throw you off, because irrespective of that, it is perfect for use in larger places and rooms. 

Another feature that we liked about this model was its hefty copper capacity. The copper can store a weight of up to 80 lbs., which means that the fuel in there can last you for days. The powerful engineering of this unit means that a great quantity of heat is released by it. 

The stove also comes with a bay window that allows you to watch the wood pellets and monitor their performance. Lastly, the unit is backed by a 1-year manufacturer warranty, which is further embellished by Comfortbilt’s responsive customer service.  

The package took ages to arrive. And when we say ages, we mean more than a month! We were slightly disappointed by the excessive shipping time taken by Comfortbilt; however, the product lived up to our expectations and performed well. 

5. Cleveland Iron Works PS20W-CIW Pellet Stove

Are you on the lookout for an excellent pellet stove that can heat up small areas effectively? Look no further than the PS20W, which measures 20.27 x 34.25 x 22.04 inches. One of the coolest things about this product is that a fresh air supply kit is included with the package! 

This stove from Cleveland Iron Works is medium-sized and comes with a hopper that has a storage capacity of 60 lbs. Since it is a small pellet stove, it can effectively heat up the average-sized room, as well as any other kind of space up to 800 sq. feet. 

One thing we really appreciated about this model was its electronic control panel, which makes operating the machine as easy as pie. By pressing a single button, you can power up the machine! What’s more, you’ll barely register its presence as it functions, thanks to its ultra-quiet blower. 

We were also pretty awed by the fact that the stove has Wi-Fi connectivity and can be regulated wirelessly using an app that is compatible with Android and iOS. And finally, the manufacturers offer an extended 1-year warranty and helpfully send replacement parts along with the stove as well.  

We found two major issues with this stove. Firstly, the instruction manual that comes with it is extremely complicated and beyond our capacity. Secondly, there’s a small manufacturing error with this device that forces you to unplug and replug the unit before starting it up since it won’t start without it. 

6. Cleveland Iron Works PS60W-CIW Pellet Stove

The penultimate entry on our list is this small pellet stove from Cleveland Iron Works, which measures 25.59 x 23.62 x 38.98 inches and can heat up to 1200 sq ft. It has been made using solid steel and cast iron construction and will last you for years on end, thanks to its tough exterior. 

Since smart home technology has joined forces with pellet stoves, they’ve become a force to reckon with. This is partly why the PS60W is so well-reviewed and well-received. It is compatible with the Amazon Echo, and you can also control the device via your phone. 

Coming to its performance, it is able to produce 34,000 BTUs worth of heat, which is just enough to heat up a large room or a mid-sized apartment. It can also be used to supplement any already-existing heat producer in a big house. And you get a remote control with it, which makes the unit easy to operate. 

The device also comes along with a fresh air intake kit. This is useful because it lets one install the stove in places that have minimal airflow, for instance, basements. Lastly, despite the advanced features offered by this model, its price tag is affordable.  

Though the stove has a host of advanced features, there is one major drawback with respect to them. They are too complicated to use, and the instruction manual is also not clear on how to go about setting up voice commands via home devices. 

7. US Stove Company 5040 Pellet Stove

The final entry on our list is yet another product by the US Stove Company, the 5040, which measures 24.5 x 21.5 x 28.5 inches and can burn up to 40 hours. It has a classic, pedestal-style design and is infused with US Stove Company’s industry experience, as well as innovation. 

If you don’t have a lot of room, then the US Stove Company 5040 is ideal for you. Despite being manufactured for smaller spaces, the stove comes equipped with a gigantic hopper, which ensures that it runs for at least 40 hours. What’s more, the stove has all the necessary approvals required for use in mobile homes. 

Moving on, the manufacturers give the buyer an option to include a fresh air kit along with the main product. A fresh air kit is good for people who have poorly ventilated spaces, such as a basement or an attic with no windows. However, getting the kit is entirely optional. 

We also liked how the exterior of the stove is pretty appealing and fits in well with all kinds of interior décor. It also comes with a digitized control board that is super easy to operate and allows one to adjust heat settings with just one button press.  

We liked the performance of this product, and it worked pretty well in our basement. However, installation materials such as a chimney connector, a floor protector, and a radiation shield weren’t included. We had to spend a fair amount of additional money on buying these supplies 

What is the Best Small Pellet Stoves?

In this section, we present a table featuring the best small pellet stoves. This comprehensive comparison outlines essential attributes, including heat output, heating area, hopper capacity, and dimensions.

Buying Guide for the Best Small Pellet Stove

BTU Rating

The amount of heat given out by a pellet stove is quantified by a unit known as BTU or British Thermal Unit. Standard pellet stoves dispense anything between 20,000 BTUs to 48,000 BTUs, which is ample for heating up to 2400 sq. feet.

Pellet Type and Hopper Capacity

Pellet stoves work by burning hardwood pellets that one feeds into the firebox of the stove with the help of a hopper. The capacity of the hopper is what determines how long the stove works before requiring it to be restocked. 

From our experience, most hoppers hold between 30 to 50 pounds worth of pellets, and these usually last for a good 30 hours at least. If you get a stove with a gigantic hopper capacity, then it may be days before you run out of fuel. This is because such hoppers can hold up to 100 pounds of pellets. 

Moving on, pellets are of two grades. The first kind is the premium grade, which has ash content below 1%. The other is standard grade, which has an ash content between 1 and 3%. Premium-grade pellets are of better quality and burn longer without producing more ash. 

Energy Efficiency

If a pellet stove has been certified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), then it usually has an energy efficiency of 70-83%. This percentage indicates the amount of heat produced by the stove for warming the room up versus the heat it loses through the stovepipe. For instance, if a stove has an energy efficiency of 70%, it loses 30% of heat as it works.

Easy to Clean

Even though pellet stoves don’t produce half as much ash as wooden fireplace does, they still need cleaning. A pellet stove is easy to clean if its ash pans and firepots can be extracted to dump the waste out. In addition to this, some premium-grade pellet stoves come with air wash systems that help keep the glass free of gas and smoke.

Why do people use pellet stoves?

As compared to fuel heating, using a pellet stove is cheaper and safer. You get more heat at the same price! Apart from this, wood pellets can be stored for a really long period of time, and if you get premium-grade ones, then they’ll burn longer too.

Since the heat produced by a pellet stove circulates, its fumes aren’t as harmful as those produced by regular fireplaces.

How does a pellet stove work?

Think of pellet stoves as a cross between a heater and a fireplace. They use both circulations of air and fire to heat up a room. Once you put the pellets into the hopper, they begin to burn and produce heat. This heat is then circulated using powered fans.

Pellet stoves with manual ignition will require you to start up the fire, whereas those with auto ignition can kickstart the heating process with a single button.

Are pellet stoves safe?

Pellet stoves are way safer than a fireplace, and the reason is quite evident. The fire produced by a fireplace can easily catch on to something flammable, but this problem does not crop up with a small pellet stove.

Additionally, pellet fumes produce fewer noxious gasses than fireplaces do since the air gets circulated due to their powerful fans. This is why in recent times, people have increasingly begun preferring pellet stoves since they are not only safer but also more environmentally friendly.

Are pellet stoves safe to use around children?

Yes, because many pellet models come with lockable viewing doors. Parents can seal the viewing area after lighting a fire, and children and pets won’t come in contact with it.

Plus, due to the construction of a pellet stove, there is no contact between people and the fire, and the fire poses no risk to safety. However, for added security, ensure that children aren’t around the stove when it is being cleaned, filled, or lit up.

Do pellet stoves produce noise?

Pellet stoves produce some noise, but it’s usually not a lot. Good quality pellet stoves are fitted with features that make them ultra-quiet, and as such, you shouldn’t be able to hear the whirring of the motor in the next room.

However, buy pellet stoves judiciously since cheap/imitation brands make faulty products, that make a very distinguishable sound when turned on. Don’t worry, though, since all the stoves on our list are quiet and make a minimal sound!