Comparison: Best Hardwood Pellets For Pellet Stove (Updated | Nov 24th)
We’ve burned through the top brands to bring you honest, real-world insights. Whether you’re heating a cozy cabin or a spacious home, this comparison will help you find the best hardwood pellets that deliver consistent warmth without the guesswork. Let’s find your perfect match.
- Best for versatile flavor blend: Camp Chef Competition Blend BBQ Pellets
- Best for apple sweet smoke: Bear Mountain All Natural Wood Pellets for Smoker
- Best for chemical-free heat: 10kg Premium Heating Fuel Biomass Stove Natural Wood Pellets Chemical
- Best for pure hickory power: Pit Boss (20 pound Hickory Blend) All Natural Hardwood BBQ Wood Pellets for Pellet Grills and Smokers
- Best for real charcoal heat: Royal Oak 100 Percent Charcoal Hardwood Pellets for Real BBQ Flavor
- Best for premium hickory: CookinPellets Premium Hardwood Smoker Pellets – 40 Pound Bag
- Best for creosote cleaner: Rutland Products Pellet Stove Creosote Remover
- Best for competition blend: Pit Boss 40-Pound Bag of 100% Natural Hardwood Competition Blend BBQ Grilling pellets
- Best for rosemary aroma: SMOKRITE Rosemary Wood Pellets for Smoker Grills
- Best for extended creosote guard: Rutland Products Pellet Stove Creosote Remover
Product Comparison: Best Hardwood Pellets For Pellet Stove
Camp Chef Competition Blend BBQ Pellets, Hardwood Pellets for Grill, Smoke, Bake, Roast, Braise and BBQ, 20 lb. Bag
- Maple, Hickory, and Cherry Blend: Competition blend is the Jack of All Trades. It’s great with poultry, pork, baking, veggies, beef, and seafood. HARDWOODS: Camp Chef Hardwood bbq pellets are not a byproduct. They are 100% pure virgin hardwoods.
- No Oils, Chemicals, or Binders Added: No oils, chemicals or binders added mean better flavor and a more efficient burn.
- Kiln-Dried: The kiln dried process creates low moisture content for a very dry, hot burning pellet. This means it burns less to maintain your desired temperature, giving you more pellets for your next barbecue and less ash to clean.
- Safe in All Pellet Grills, Smokers, and Barbecues: You never have to worry about what you’re putting in your grill. Camp Chef pellets are safe in all pellet grills, smokers, and barbecues.
- Made in the U.S.A: We’re proud to say our pellets are made in the U.S.A.
Bear Mountain All Natural Wood Pellets for Smoker, Grill & BBQ, 40 Lbs, Apple – Premium Hardwood Barbecue Pellets for Indoor and Outdoor Grilling
- Apple BBQ Pellets: Apple BBQ pellets infuse your favorite dishes with a distinctive, smoky-sweet flavor because of their unique applewood composition, making them ideal for poultry, fish, pork, or vegetables
- All-Natural: Crafted from 100 percent pressed sawdust hardwood with no added fillers or additives, guaranteeing a consistent burn and leaving your grill cleaner after every use
- Consistent Smoke: Low moisture content, the bag of pellets provides an ideal smoke for a sizzling hot grill, delivering a richer burn similar to other Bear Mountain BBQ flavors such as applewood and hickory
- Versatile Cooking: Pellets are designed to work with a wide range of outdoor cooking equipment, allowing you to enjoy the chef consistent and rich cherry flavor in your cooked or smoked dishes
- Ample Size: Wood pellets comes in a 40-pound bag, ensuring you have ample supply on hand
10kg Premium Heating Fuel Biomass Stove Natural Wood Pellets Chemical, Free and Odourless Wooden Pellets 6mm
- Derived from 100% virgin soft wood from the United Kingdom, Heat Fuel pellets are the number one pellets for biomass stoves. Completely chemical free, so absolutely no toxicity whatsoever, there are no chemicals or glue used in the manufacturing process, our pellets are compressed using only natural methods
- Heat Fuel pellets start burning quickly, providing a high temperature output which will heat your room up rapidly. Light easily, burn ultra-efficiently with very little ash and are clean burning producing reduced amounts of smoke. Produce so much energy, they will heat your room up quickly and safely unlike pellets produced using chemicals
- 10kg bags for easy storage and will last longer. Ethically sourced timber from responsible forestry and more effective than imported hardwood pellets which take longer to burn, produce far more smoke with less heat.
- 100% renewable energy – Ultra-low CO2 output – Manufactured to ENPLUSA1 standards (same as food grade pellets used in Pizza Ovens)
- Odourless and natural with absolutely NO additives, NO chemicals and NO binding agents
Pit Boss (20 pound Hickory Blend) All Natural Hardwood BBQ Wood Pellets for Pellet Grills and Smokers
- 100% all natural hardwood pellets
Royal Oak 100 Percent Charcoal Hardwood Pellets for Real BBQ Flavor, Grilling and Smoking, High Heat, Resists Water, Easy to Clean, 30 Pound Bag
- REAL CHARCOAL: Royal Oak 100 Percent Real Hardwood Charcoal Pellets sear in authentic barbecue flavor when grilling or smoking
- NO ADDITIVES: Made from real hardwood without additives or coatings, giving you the tasty, smoky flavor of real barbecue
- FOR ANY PELLET GRILL: Safe for any pellet grill, letting you use your favorite brand while still getting that real barbecue flavor
- WATER RESISTANT: Pellets are resistant to water and do not clog augers, making for easy, hassle-free cleaning
- HIGH HEAT: Burns at temperatures high enough to grill in that authentic barbecue flavor you crave
CookinPellets Premium Hardwood Smoker Pellets – 40 Pound Bag, Hickory Flavor
- Top 4 hardwoods only
- 100% of what we say it is NO oak or alder filler
- 100% hardwoods
- Will not void any manufacturers warranty!
Rutland Products Pellet Stove Creosote Remover, Chimney & Flue Cleaning Wood Pellets, 4 Pound Bag
- Helps prevent dangerous creosote buildup in pellet stoves, wood stoves, and fireplaces
- Concentrated creosote removing formula combined with high quality wood pellets dried to 2-5% moisture content
- 4 pound bag = 8 treatments of 8 ounces each
- Recommended usage 2x/week
- Made in USA
Pit Boss 40-Pound Bag of 100% Natural Hardwood Competition Blend BBQ Grilling pellets
- 100% all natural hardwood pellets No added scents, sprays or glues Ideal for grilling and smoking beef, chicken, pork and vegetables Produces clean smoke No toxins Premium-grade, pure-hardwood sawdust Wood fibers hold pellets together 40 pound bag Assembled dimensions for 55455 are 26″ x 5″ x 18″
SMOKRITE Rosemary Wood Pellets for Smoker Grills, All Natural Hard Wood BBQ Pellets for Outdoor Grills, Smoke, Roast, Burns Up to 30 Hours of Smoking 0.5 kg
- Unlock Savory Smoke – Infuse your dishes with the aromatic essence of rosemary using our premium wood grill pellets, crafted to deliver a savory, herbaceous smoke flavor that elevates every meal.
- Fuel Your Creativity – Whether you’re smoking a brisket, grilling chicken, or roasting vegetables, these versatile smoke pellets deliver mouthwatering rosemary notes to everything they touch.
- Serve Nature’s Goodness – Our smoking pellets are crafted from 100% natural hardwood, free from artificial additives or fillers—just pure, clean rosemary-infused flavor.
- Burn Longer & Better – Designed for efficient burning with minimal ash, these rosemary pellets optimize your pellet grill or smoker’s performance, providing consistent and longer smoke output.
- Easy to Use – Our compressed smoker pellets provide easy storage and stay fresh for a long time when kept in a dry place. Just add to your grill or smoker like regular wood pellet stove.
- Suitable For All Grills And Smokers: Our Rosemary spice pellets provide the perfect fit for a wide range of grills including gas grills, charcoal grills, smoker boxes, wood fired pizza ovens, indoor smokers,Ninja Grill and more to infuse a delicate smoky flavor to your recipes.
Rutland Products Pellet Stove Creosote Remover, Chimney & Flue Cleaning Wood Pellets, 8 Pound Bag
- Helps prevent dangerous creosote buildup in pellet stoves, wood stoves, and fireplaces
- Concentrated creosote removing formula combined with high quality wood pellets dried to 2-5% moisture content
- 8 pound bag = 16 treatments of 8 ounces each
- Recommended usage 2x/week
- Made in USA
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Buying Guide
FAQs
What should I look for when choosing hardwood pellets for a pellet stove?
Focus on moisture content, wood type, and any added binders; low‑moisture pellets burn hotter and produce less ash. Pure hardwoods such as maple, hickory, or apple give clean, consistent heat, while blends can add flavor but may vary in burn efficiency. Also verify that the pellets meet ENPLUS A1 or similar standards for stove safety.
How do premium hardwood pellets compare to blended or flavored options?
Premium 100% hardwood pellets, like the Camp Chef Competition Blend or Pit Boss natural hardwoods, burn hotter and leave minimal ash, making them ideal for heating. Flavored blends (apple, rosemary, or charcoal‑infused) add taste for grilling but can have slightly higher ash and lower heat output. Choose based on whether you prioritize pure heat efficiency or added smoke flavor.
Is there a noticeable performance difference between 10 kg bags and larger 40 lb bags?
Larger bags, such as the 40‑lb CookinPellets or Bear Mountain packs, usually offer better value per pound and reduce the frequency of reordering. Smaller 10 kg bags like Heat Fuel’s premium pellets are convenient for limited storage and allow you to test a brand before buying in bulk. Performance is consistent across sizes as long as the pellets meet the same quality standards.
Do pellets with added chemicals or binders affect stove safety or efficiency?
Yes, pellets that contain oils, binders, or additives can produce more smoke, residue, and potentially clog the auger, shortening stove life. Products that explicitly state “no additives” or “chemical‑free,” such as Heat Fuel and Royal Oak, provide cleaner burns and are safer for long‑term use. Always check the label for claims of 100% natural hardwood and low moisture.
How important is the wood species (e.g., maple vs. hickory) for heating performance?
Harder woods like hickory and oak tend to produce higher BTU output and longer burn times, which is beneficial for heating large spaces. Softer woods such as apple or cherry burn slightly cooler and are favored for flavor when grilling. For pure heat, prioritize hardwood blends with a higher proportion of dense species.
Can I use the same pellets for both a pellet stove and a grill or smoker?
Most all‑natural hardwood pellets are safe for both heating and cooking, as they contain no chemicals that could affect food taste. However, flavored or charcoal‑infused pellets (e.g., Royal Oak Charcoal Pellets) are designed for grilling and may not provide optimal heat efficiency in a stove. If you need versatility, choose a neutral hardwood blend like Camp Chef or Pit Boss.
What value‑added features should I consider, such as creosote removers or moisture‑controlled packaging?
Products like Rutland’s Creosote Remover include dried wood pellets that help keep stove flues clean, extending appliance life. Moisture‑controlled packaging (kiln‑dried or 2‑5% moisture pellets) reduces ash and improves burn consistency. These extras can be worthwhile if you run your stove frequently or live in humid climates.
Is there a price‑performance sweet spot among the listed pellet brands?
Generally, bulk 40‑lb bags from reputable brands (Camp Chef, Pit Boss, Bear Mountain) deliver the best cost per pound while maintaining high quality. Premium specialty bags like Heat Fuel’s 10 kg chemical‑free pellets may cost more but offer superior low‑ash performance for sensitive stoves. Compare the price per pound against features such as moisture level, wood species, and additive‑free claims to find the best overall value.