This review of the best small pellet stoves for your home is divided into easily digestible segments. Jump to the section you need most using this handy table of contents.

I’ve installed hundreds of heating systems during my decade as a Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) specialist, and I’ve seen the right heater have massive benefits for entire families.

I’ve diligently reviewed the smallest pellet stoves in 2021, so you can trust me to make sure you find the perfect pellet stove for you.

The best pellet stoves are easy to use, energy-efficient, eco-friendly, and cost-effective. But not all pellet stoves offer the same features, and not every pellet stove will provide everything you’re looking for. 

Keep reading and we’ll find the best pellet stove for you and your home!

Best Small Pellet Stove Reviews

Best Overall In 2021

For such a compact pellet stove, it’s got a good BTU output of up to 40,000, so it will produce enough heat to get you through the winter for a home, apartment, or room of up to 1,500 square feet. 

The stove burns with an EPA-certified thermal efficiency of around 73% for between 16 and 48 hours, so you’re getting a solid amount of heat in exchange for the fuel used. 

The programmable controller is a great smart feature providing complete comfort that’s customizable around your schedule. There are 5 different burn levels to choose from, and thermostat, manual, or weekly operation modes so you’re always in full control of your home heating. 

The Castle 12327 Serenity wood pellet stove is efficient, effective, great value, and packed into a discreet little package that earns it my best overall mini pellet stove in 2021.

What We Like:

• 40,000 BTU heats up to 1,500 sq ft
• 73+% energy efficient
• Programmable controller
• EPA certified
• Great value

What We Don’t Like:

• Noisy blower fan
• Some issues with blowback

Best For Long Burn Times

This little pellet stove has a 60 lbs hopper capacity and can be increased to a massive 120 lbs hopper with the optional hopper extension. It certainly adds to the size of the unit, but the extra wood pellets guarantee a burn time of up to 69 hours. 

It’s perfect if you need a constant and reliable heat source in, especially cold climates. 

Heat output of 39,000 BTU is impressive given the small body, enough to heat a space of up to 2,000 sq ft, and an efficiency rating of 78% means it’s been EPA certified and will save you money off fuel costs in the long run.  

For those concerned about their impact on the environment, this heater has an especially low particle emissions rate of 0.96 grams per hour, so you can live safe in the knowledge that you and your family are breathing cleaner air than if you used a wood stove. 

There are handy time and effort-saving features such as electronic auto ignition, 6 burn intensity levels to choose from, and a thermostatic or manual mode. It’s easy to clean and maintain thanks to a well-designed and easily accessible ash pan.

This is one of the best mini pellet stoves if you’re looking for long burn times.

What We Like:

• Solid 39,000 BTU heats up to 2,000 sq ft
• 60 lb hopper size can be upgraded to a 120 lbs hopper
• Burns for up to 69 hours
• 78% energy efficient
• Automatic ignition

What We Don’t Like:

• Loud fan
• Pellet hopper extension sold separately

Best For Larger Homes

The Comfortbilt HP22 can comfortably heat a home of up 2,800 square feet thanks to its impressive 50,000 BTU rating output. If you’re looking to heat a large space with a relatively compact heater, then look no further!

You’ll need fewer pellets to generate that heat too since this Comfortbilt pellet stove burns at 86% efficiency. EPA certification means it’s at the very top end of efficiency ratings when it comes to wood pellet stoves, so if you’re concerned about energy wastage, this is a great option. 

It’s also one of the most aesthetically pleasing pellet stoves I’ve seen, with a bay window design and large ceramic glass window to keep the flames contained. This stove would look great as a statement feature in a well-inhabited living area. 

The digital control panel is discrete and takes nothing away from the design, while there’s a remote control for the thermostat too, which can operate at a flexible temperature range between room-temp 61℉ and a very cozily warm 84℉. 

This Comfortbilt pellet stove comes from one of the most well-known and reliable pellet stove manufacturers around today and, and this 50,000 BTU capacity model is definitely the best choice for heating larger homes. 

What We Like: 

• 50,000 BTU for heating up to 2,800 sq ft
• 86% energy efficient
• EPA certified
• Quiet operation
• Easy to install
• Great aesthetic design

What We Don’t Like:

• Quick burn times could mean more regular refills
• Burns through more wood pellets

Best For Heating Smaller Spaces

This pellet stove has a relatively low 15,000 BTU output that’s enough to keep a smaller room of around 875 sq ft at a comfortable temperature during chilly winter months in warmer climates. Why pay for a higher BTU you don’t need?

This subtle heating is made possible by a 4-level smart heating control which generates the right amount of heat for a smaller room on the lowest setting but can get incrementally hotter when you need it. 

You won’t unnecessarily waste fuel you don’t need to use on those milder days!

This pellet stove measures just 17” by 29.5” by 19”, so it’s very compact. It would even fit into a fireplace as a cozy addition to a living room, saving on floor space too. 

A 22lb pellet hopper capacity means constant heat for up to 16 hours, but you’ll have to complete daily pellet refills to achieve this- so it’s not the best model for continuous high-power heating. 

If you’re looking for a pellet heater with only enough BTU output for a room of up to 875 sq ft, this could be the right one for you as it’s my best pellet stove for heating smaller rooms. 

What We Like:

• 15,000 BTU heating capacity for warmer climates
• Fully automatic
• 4-level smart heating control
• Easy to use, clean, and maintain

What We Don’t Like:

• 22lb pellet hopper means regular refills
• Only heats up to 875 sq ft
• Not powerful enough for colder winters

Smallest Pellet Stove in 2021

US Stove has produced some of the best pellet stoves, including the wall-mounted 4840 model, and the popular US Stove 5660. 

This one is tiny in comparison! It’s just 24.5” by 21.5” by 28.5” and will fit discreetly into smaller alcoves or fireplaces that other pellet heaters cannot, making it a great alternative to a pellet stove insert. 

A 36,000 BTU output will generate enough heat for a 1,800 sq ft home, and with a burn time of 40 hours on the lowest of 4 heat settings, that’s a pretty good return on the price of your wood pellet fuel. 

The digital control panel is easy to understand and choosing all the desired settings is simple and responsive.

It’s fitted with a large viewing window that uses air wash glass. This helps to keep the window clean by drawing smoke and gases away from the glass and keeping them in the combustion chamber. That’s less time spent scrubbing soot from the inside of the viewing window, and more time relaxing in front of the flames.  

It should be noted that this pellet stove doesn’t come with the installation materials included. That means you’ll need to buy a floor protector, ventilation, and a chimney connector separately, which can cost hundreds of dollars. 

If you don’t mind that, then this is a great pellet stove that can be tucked away in smaller spaces, since it’s the smallest pellet stove I’ve come across. 

What We Like:

• Very small dimensions make it able to fit in small alcoves or fireplaces
• 36,000 BTU output heats up to 1,800 sq ft
• Viewing window with air wash glass
• Easy to maintain
• User-friendly digital control panel with LED display
• 4 heat settings
• Auto-circulating blower

What We Don’t Like:

• Doesn’t come with installation materials
• Some models reported as having defective circuit boards

Honorable Mentions

These pellet stoves aren’t quite the best in class, but are definitely worth a look if you’re still unsure which model should be your new pellet stove!

• Pleasant Hearth Pelpro PP130-B 
• US Stove GW1949
• US Stove 4840 wall mount direct vent pellet heater
• Pleasant Hearth Medium 35000 BTU

What To Look For When Purchasing A Small Pellet Stove

This pellet stove buying guide outlines the most important factors you should consider when shopping for a pellet stove.

Electric Or Non-Electric Pellet Stove?

Deciding between an electric or non-electric stove will depend on where you plan to use it, and how concerned you are about reducing your electricity usage.

The vast majority of pellet stoves require an electrical power supply to operate, so your options are slightly more limited if you are planning to switch to off-the-grid heating, or if the area you live in is prone to power outages in colder winters. 

Pellet stoves don’t use an exorbitant amount of electricity, usually about 100 watts p/h, which is close to the amount used by a flat-screen TV at the same time. But if conserving electricity really is a priority for you, there are other options. 

Some modern pellet stoves can be powered by solar energy, or an innovative natural gravity feed system as used by the US Stove GW1949- and both eliminate the need for an electrical power supply. 

Non-electric stoves need to be manually ignited, so they’re not as automated as an electric pellet stove. But if you’re looking for a method of providing sustainable heating in your home, a non-electric stove could be a great choice for you.

BTU Output

The heating power of a pellet stove is measured in British Thermal Units (BTUs). A pellet stove with a higher BTU rating will heat a larger space more quickly than one with a lower rating. 

You can calculate the pellet stove BTU you should look for by measuring the square footage of the space you want to heat. To do this, multiply the space’s length by its width. Then multiply this number by 20, since 1 sq ft is roughly equal to 20 BTU.

For example, if your room is 2,000 square feet, then 2,000 x 20 = 40,000 BTU of heating power is needed. Most modern smaller pellet stoves will have a heating capacity of between 20,000 and 50,000 BTU.

Consider The Key Features You Need And Want

Since they operate using electricity, many modern pellet stoves are now fitted with additional features that make using your pellet stove easier than ever before. 

If you’re a fan of smart technology and like the freedom to control your appliances from anywhere in your home, consider a pellet stove that has a wireless connection that can connect to your smartphone or tablet. 

Digital or programmable thermostats are much more accurate than traditional thermostats and can regulate temperature automatically or according to the settings you input. This can make your home more comfortable, lower your energy bills, and help you become more energy efficient.

Push-button ignition makes a pellet stove easy to switch on and start generating heat, perfect if you’re not confident with manually starting a flame and keeping it running by adjusting airflow. 

If you’re concerned about safety, a pressure switch will shut off a burning stove if the door isn’t closed properly, and a vacuum safety cutout switch will shut the stove off if it detects an abnormal amount of vacuum in the firebox caused by a blocked vent or a leak.

A pellet stove that’s designed to be easy to clean is a great time-saver. Check for models that have accessible internal components like the ash pan, blower motors, and burn pot. You’ll also need fewer expensive professional maintenance visits if your pellet stove is easy to clean and maintain yourself!

Hopper Size And Burns Times

The hopper is the part of the pellet stove that stores wood pellets until they’re automatically fed into the burning stove.  A larger hopper size can hold more pellets, so there is a longer burn time and less frequent pellet refills. 

If you need a constant heat source that will burn for long periods of time unattended, then invest in a pellet stove with a larger hopper capacity. Most fuel pellets are sold in 40-pound bags, so a 40 lb hopper means you can empty a whole bag in at once.

If you’re only using your pellet stove for a few hours at a time, you may only need to think about a smaller hopper capacity.

Energy Efficiency

Pellet stoves are exceptionally energy-efficient and are regarded by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as the cleanest solid fuel residential heating appliance. 

Most modern pellet stoves are at least 70% efficient, which means that 70% of the heat generated is actually heating your room, and only 30% is lost as harmful emissions that are expelled outside.

Make sure you check the energy efficiency of your prospective pellet stove and keep in mind that a higher rating will mean you’ll use less fuel to heat a space, spending less on fuel pellets in the long run, and you’ll be helping to protect the environment.

EPA Certification

A pellet stove that has been awarded EPA certification has met the US Environmental Protection Agency’s strict cleaner air standards and has an energy efficiency of 80% or higher. 

They should also produce no more than 4.5 grams of smoke p/h, which most pellet stoves manage no problem as they usually produce less than 1 gram of smoke p/h. 

EPA certification is a quick way to tell if the stove you’re looking at meets the highest standards of efficiency and eco-friendliness.

Who Can Install My Pellet Stove?

It’s relatively easy to install a pellet stove, and smaller free-standing models are even easier since they can be placed anywhere in a room as long as the surface is heat resistant or is covered by a heat-resistant pad, which can cost between $40 and $300. 

If you want to make use of an existing fireplace, consider a pellet stove insert that will fit snugly in the unused cavity. These are just as easy to install and require very basic DIY skills. 

In short, anyone can install your pellet stove, but if you’re unsure it’s always best to enlist the services of a licensed HVAC professional.

Small Pellet Stoves: Frequently Asked Questions

What Is The Smallest Pellet Stove Available?

The smallest pellet stove I’ve come across is the tiny US Stove 5040, with dimensions of just 24.5” by 21.5” by 28.5” that means it will fit discreetly in most small alcoves or fireplaces.

Should I Install My Own Pellet Stove?

Only attempt to install your own pellet stove if you have some basic DIY skills and the full user instruction manual to hand. Incorrect installation can lead to harmful gasses being spread throughout your home, so use a licensed HVAC professional if you’re not sure.

Do Pellet Stoves Use A Lot Of Electricity?

Pellet stoves only use electricity to ignite the flame and then use about 100 watts of electricity per hour. That’s the same amount as a 40inch TV uses in the same amount of time, so they shouldn’t be considered an especially big drain on your electrical power supply.

How Often Should I Clean My Pellet Stove?

This depends on how many pellets you use, as more pellets burnt in the stove means more regular cleaning. Most pellet stoves need to have the ash pot emptied every 2 or 3 days, but your instruction manual will have detailed instructions if you’re unsure. 

A full professional inspection should be carried out every year to ensure your stove is working safely, efficiently, and effectively.

My Final Thoughts

I’m amazed at the compact size of some modern pellet stoves! Manufacturers are fitting more powerful stoves, with more additional features, into smaller and smaller units! That’s good news if you’re looking for a stove that doesn’t take up too much space, and burns efficiently and effectively.

The best pellet stove I came across when putting this review together is the Castle 12327 Serenity, which offers a great combination of practicality, efficiency, and affordability, in a discreet unit that has some nice additional smart features such as a programmable controller.

Ultimately, the decision as to the best pellet stove for you is yours to make and depends on your own personal needs. But I’m confident that you’ll be able to make a well informed choice after reading these reviews!