How Much Are Wood Pellets Per Bag?
Typical Range:
$5 - $9
Cost data is based on research by HomeAdvisor.
Updated October 11, 2022
Written by HomeAdvisor.Wood pellet prices range between $5 and $9 for a 40-pound bag, or an average of $7 per bag. A single bag lasts about 24 hours with constant burning in a pellet stove. If you’re buying in bulk, the cost of wood pellets is roughly $250 per ton.
Average Wood Pellet Prices
| Average Cost | High Cost | Low Cost |
|---|---|---|
| $7 | $9 | $5 |
Wood Pellet Price Factors
How much are pellets for pellet stoves? Wood pellet prices can vary based on several factors, including:
Supply: Pellets are a waste product, made from materials such as sawdust or even food waste. Price varies based on waste supply and availability.
Type: Corn pellets are cheaper than wood; hardwood pellets are more expensive than softwood or biomass pellets.
Delivery: Your pellet fuel costs will rise if you have them delivered.
Brand: You can buy from big-box home improvement stores, but you can also order brands like Lignetics or Packsaddle, which may be slightly more expensive.
Wood Pellet Brand Comparison
Depending on brand, you’ll spend anywhere from $4 to $9 for a 40-pound bag of pellets.
| Brand | Typical Cost Range |
|---|---|
| New England | $5 – $7 |
| Lowe’s | $6 – $8 |
| Home Depot | $6 – $8 |
| Packsaddle | $6 – $8 |
| Lignetics | $7 – $9 |
Bulk Wood Pellet Prices
Buying pellet fuel in bulk costs $250 per ton on average. This is a good way to stock up on fuel, but you’ll pay extra if you need it delivered. Delivery costs an additional $50 to $100, depending on how far you live from the purchasing site.
Wood Pellet Prices per Ton
Typical bulk orders for wood pellets are by the ton. A single ton of wood pellets (equivalent to 50 40-pound bags) costs $250 on average. Depending on the type of pellet fuel, however, you could spend up to $380 per ton—or $480 if you need delivery. Alternatively, a cord of wood costs between $150 and $500 and lasts 6 to 10 weeks in a fireplace or wood-burning stove.
Bag of Wood Pellets Cost
Pellets commonly come in 40-pound bags and average $7 per bag, but you can usually lower the cost to $5 per bag when buying a bulk order. The type of pellets and where you order them from also factor into price. Expect to pay anywhere from $5 to $9 for one 40-pound bag.
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Pellet Stove Cost Per Month
While a pellet stove costs between $1,025 and $3,300 as an initial investment, it only costs $35 to $50 per month to run your stove.
Homeowners often use pellet stoves in addition to a home’s heating system. Like a fireplace, stoves work best to heat a single room. Maintenance isn’t a monthly cost, but you might need servicing annually or every other year to help your stove last. Contact a pellet stove installer near you to get the best recommendation.
Pellet stoves require both pellets and electricity to operate. This table breaks down the average cost of running a pellet stove each month:
| Cost of wood pellets | $25 – $35 |
| Cost of electricity | $10 – $15 |
| Total monthly cost | $35 – $50 |
Pellet Stove Fuel Cost
Pellets are an affordable way to fuel a wood-burning stove. At $5 to $9 per bag, you can expect to spend $25 to $35 per month on pellets. This largely depends on how often you run the stone; a single bag will burn for roughly 24 hours. This monthly wood pellet pricing estimate assumes that you’ll use the stove between three and four hours a day.
Cost to Run a Pellet Stove
A pellet stove needs electricity to power its fans and thermostat. These stoves typically use 1 kilowatt of electricity per hourto run (and 3.5 to 4.5 kilowatts to ignite). For three to four hours of daily usage, monthly electric costs will range between $10 and $15 a month.
How to Choose Pellets
Not all wood pellets are created equal. Just because you can find a bag for $5 doesn’t mean you should pass up the bag that costs nearly twice as much. Certain factors, like BTUs, ash content, moisture content, and additives, may make the more expensive pellets longer-lasting and thus worth the investment.
BTUs
BTU, which stands for British Thermal Unit, is a measurement of heat output. The higher the BTUs, the higher the pellets will burn. Generally, wood pellets range from 8,000 to 9,000 BTUs. To heat a larger space, you’ll want pellets with a higher BTU rating—but these tend to be more expensive.
Ash Content
When purchasing wood pellets, look for ash content less than 2% of the total weight of the pellets—at a minimum. An even higher-quality pellet should have an ash content below 1%, and the highest-quality may fall below 0.7%. The lower the ash content, the less often you’ll have to clean out your stove.
Moisture Content
Moisture content can also determine wood pellet quality. Wood pellets need some degree of moisture during the pelletization process—the moisture serves as a glue to hold it together. However, too much moisture can make pellets less effective.
Additives
You might find bags of wood pellets with bark, cardboard, or recycled materials added in. This may yield lower wood pellet prices, but it results in a mixture that won’t burn as hot and produces more ash.
Consult a Professional When Installing a Pellet Stove
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will a 40-lb bag of wood pellets burn?
A 40-pound bag of wood pellets will burn for roughly 24 hours, depending on the temperature. The higher you set your stove’s thermostat, the faster your wood pellets will burn. If you only use the stove for an average of three to four hours per day, you can expect a single bag to last you six to eight days, or roughly one week.
How many bags are in a pallet of wood pellets?
A pallet of wood pellets contains 1 ton of wood pellets. Because stores sell wood pellets in 40-pound bags, you can anticipate 50 individual bags of wood pellets in your bulk order. While this may sound like a lot, you can save significant money on wood pellets by buying in bulk. It’s also more convenient than making weekly trips to the store.
How many bags of pellets do I need for winter?
The number of bags you need depends on temperature, your comfort level, and how frequently you’ll use your pellet stove. One bag of pellets lasts about 24 hours. On colder days and on weekends (or whenever you’re home the most), you might set your thermostat higher or use your stove for longer periods.
There’s a benefit to buying wood pellets in bulk. In milder climates, 1 ton of pellets should last you well through the winter. Colder areas might need 2 or 3 tons of pellets. It all depends on how frequently you use your stove.
Are wood pellet stoves cost-effective?
Wood pellet stoves are cost-effective for several reasons:
Cheap to run: Most homeowners spend $35 to $50 a month to run their stove, including the cost of wood pellets and electricity.
Lower your heating bill: The average homeowner spends at least $600 on heat in the winter. Pellet stoves can reduce your need to crank the heat throughout your home, instead keeping the thermostat at a lower temperature and running just the stove in the room you’re in. This lowers your heating bill without sacrificing comfort.
Efficient: When it comes to cost and energy efficiency, pellet stoves outrank fireplaces and wood stoves. Pellet fuel is cheaper, burns cleaner, and needs less attention to run than making a fire with wood.
The typical alternative is a fireplace or wood stove. Installing a fireplace or wood stove costs between $875 and $3,925.
Which is better: hardwood or softwood pellets?
Softwood pellets tend to burn better than hardwood, which means they reach hotter temperatures faster. They also burn cleaner. Hardwood pellets are a good option for someone who doesn’t want their room to heat up too fast or to get too hot. If you prefer hotter temps or are heating a larger space, softwood pellets are better.
Which costs more to run: a traditional stove or pellet stove?
A pellet stove is more affordable to run than a wood stove or a fireplace. Pellet stoves are also safer, easier to install, and more energy-efficient—plus, they’re easier to maintain. (On average, pellet stove repair costs $400.) Wood stoves, however, don’t require electricity to run; if you have ample access to firewood on your property, the fuel is technically free. You shouldn’t use a traditional gas or electric cooking stove to heat your kitchen.
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