Heat logs—also called wood briquettes—are compressed, manufactured wood fuels designed to burn consistently, efficiently and cleanly when kept dry. If you want predictable heat, easy storage, and a fuel that works brilliantly in wood burners, multi-fuel stoves, chimineas and many open fires, heat logs are a smart alternative (or companion) to kiln dried logs.

Browse all options in one place: Shop heat logs & Wood Briquettes

What are heat logs?

Heat logs are made by compressing dry wood material (often sawdust/wood fibre) into dense briquettes. Because the moisture is tightly controlled and the shape is uniform, you typically get:

• Reliable burn behaviour (less variation from log to log)

• High heat output for the space they take up

• Simple stacking and storage (so long as they stay dry)

Tip: briquettes can burn very hot in controlled stoves, so start with one at a time until you learn how your appliance responds.

Heat logs vs kiln dried logs: what’s the difference?

Both can be excellent fuels. The best choice depends on what you value most: flame aesthetics, convenience, consistency, or controllable heat.

See our full wood fuel range: Shop heat logs & wood briquettes

Key benefits of heat logs

1) Consistent heat with predictable burn times

Because briquettes are manufactured to consistent dimensions and moisture levels, many customers prefer them for steady room heat—particularly in stoves where airflow can be controlled.

2) Cleaner, lower-ash options are available

Different briquettes have different ash outputs. For example:

• Oak Pini-Kay lists low moisture (<5%) and low ash (varies by pack format). 

• Hotmax lists moisture ≤7% and ash content 3%. Dawsons Fuels+1

3) Compact to store (with an important rule)

Heat logs are space-efficient—but only if they’re stored correctly. Moisture ruins briquettes quickly, so airtight/covered storage matters (see storage section below). Dawsons Fuels+1

How to use heat logs effectively (without overheating your stove)

General best practice:

• Start with a small, hot base (kindling + a small amount of dry fuel).

• Add 1 briquette at a time until you understand how your appliance responds.

• Avoid overloading—briquettes can burn very hot in controlled stoves.

Open fires:
Use heat logs more sparingly. Open fires have less controllable airflow, so briquettes may burn faster and hotter than expected.

How to store heat logs properly

Heat logs must be kept 100% dry:

• Store in a dry shed, garage, log store with a waterproof cover, or indoors.

• Keep off the ground (pallet, shelf, or battens).

• Reseal open packs when possible.

Hotmax specifically notes that any exposure to moisture can ruin the logs. Dawsons Fuels+1

Which heat logs should I choose?

Below are three high-performance options available at Dawsons Fuels, each suited to slightly different use cases.

Hotmax Heat Logs (high heat, very low moisture)

Made in the UK from recycled softwood dust with no additives, and described as an approved HETAS fuel. Dawsons Fuels+1
Best for: stove owners who want fast, powerful heat and compact storage.

Shop Hotmax:

• 25 x 20kg bags (1/2 pallet): https://dawsonsfuels.co.uk/products/1-2-x-pallet-of-hotmax-heat-logs 

• 50 x 20kg bags (full pallet): https://dawsonsfuels.co.uk/products/1-x-pallet-of-hotmax-heat-logs 

Oak Pini-Kay Heat Logs (dense hardwood briquettes, ideal for open fires)

Pini-Kay briquettes are noted as not expanding while burning, which can make them a strong choice for open fires (reduced risk of briquettes rolling forward). Dawsons Fuels+1
Best for: customers who want a dense briquette and a format that suits open fires and stoves.

Shop Oak Pini-Kay:

• 48 packs (1/2 pallet): https://dawsonsfuels.co.uk/products/1-2-a-pallet-of-oak-pini-kay-heat-logs 

• 96 packs (full pallet): https://dawsonsfuels.co.uk/products/1-x-pallet-of-oak-pini-kay-heat-logs 

Woodlets Briquettes (Ready to Burn certified, strong all-rounder)

Woodlets briquettes are described as:

• Certified Ready to Burn

• Moisture ≤10%

• Approx. 4.8 kWh/kg heat output

• May expand by ~30% when burning (so don’t overfill) Dawsons Fuels+2Dawsons Fuels+2

Shop Woodlets:

• 48 packs (1/2 pallet): https://dawsonsfuels.co.uk/products/1-2-of-a-pallet-of-woodlets-briquettes 

• 73 packs (3/4 pallet): https://dawsonsfuels.co.uk/products/34-of-a-pallet-of-woodlets-briquettes 

• 96 packs (full pallet): https://dawsonsfuels.co.uk/products/1-x-pallet-of-woodlets-briquettes 

Ready to Burn and what it means for your fire

When you see Ready to Burn, it indicates wood fuel that is certified to meet moisture and quality requirements for cleaner, more efficient combustion. Want the full explanation? Read: Ready to Burn explained

Delivery and ordering

Delivery details: Delivery information

Frequently asked questions

Are heat logs better than kiln dried logs?
They’re different. Heat logs excel at consistency, compact storage and predictable performance. Kiln dried logs excel at the traditional log-burn experience and flame aesthetics.

Can I burn heat logs on an open fire?
Many customers do, but use them sparingly because open fires are less controllable and briquettes can burn very hot. Pini-Kay briquettes are specifically described as not expanding while burning, which can be helpful on open fires. Dawsons Fuels+1

Do heat logs need to be kept dry?
Yes—absolutely. Moisture can ruin briquettes and damage performance. Hotmax explicitly warns that exposure to moisture will ruin the logs. Dawsons Fuels

How many heat logs should I add?
Start with one at a time until you learn how your stove responds—especially with high-heat products.