Dry Wood Burns Cleaner: Best Fireplace Wood, Fatwood Kindling and Natural Fire Starters

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The best fireplace wood is dry hardwood, split and ready to burn, started with dry kindling or an all-natural fire starter. Wet or green wood smolders, makes more smoke and leaves more creosote in the chimney, and creosote is what fuels chimney fires.

We compared six products sold by Amazon.com or the brand’s own store: a bulk box of kiln-dried oak, a low-moisture log bundle, a box of fatwood kindling and three natural fire starters. Pizza-oven mini logs and cooking or smoking splits were left out, because they’re sized and sold for grills and ovens, not for an indoor hearth.

For each pick we quote what the listing says about drying, moisture and ingredients, and we flag where a field is empty or doesn’t add up. Good wood is only half of a safe fire, so the guide also covers annual chimney inspections, ash disposal, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and how homeowners insurance fits in.

Our Top Fireplace Wood Picks at a Glance

Price key: $ under $50 · $$ $50–$100 · $$$ $100–$175 · $$$$ $175+. Prices change often; check Amazon for today’s price.

1. Smoak Firewood Kiln-Dried Oak (16-inch, 120–140 lb): Best Overall Firewood

Smoak Firewood’s kiln-dried oak arrives as a single large box of 16-inch splits, packed into a carton the listing measures at 24 inches high by 18 by 18 inches and weighing 120 to 140 pounds. The title says a firestarter is included, so the first fire needs only a match and some kindling.

Kiln drying is the main selling point. Smoak says its premium oak “has been kiln dried to perfection, which reduces the moisture content,” so the wood starts easily and burns clean and hot. The listing doesn’t give a moisture percentage, so if you own a moisture meter, it’s worth checking a few splits when the box arrives. Oak is a dense hardwood, which generally means more heat and a longer burn per log than softwoods like pine.

Day to day, 16-inch logs are a common length for indoor fireplaces and many inserts, but measure your firebox before ordering. Smoak describes the wood as USDA Certified Pest-Free and “100% Organic containing NO chemicals,” and says that makes it suitable for storage indoors and outdoors. Keep any indoor stack small and well away from the hearth.

It suits homeowners who burn regularly through the winter and would rather have dry hardwood delivered than buy damp bundles at the store. Smoak is a family business founded in 2011 in Senoia, Georgia, and the listing says the wood is made in the USA.

Why we like it

• Kiln-dried hardwood, ready to burn
• Fireplace-length 16-inch logs
• Pest-free certification claim

Watch out for

The listing never states a moisture percentage, and a box this heavy needs a plan for getting it from the porch to dry storage.

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2. Green Mountain Firewood 8-Log Bundle: Best Low-Moisture Log Bundle

Green Mountain Firewood sells what the title calls an 8 log bundle, packed in a compact box that the listing measures at 11 by 10 by 5 inches and 18.5 pounds. The brand pitches it as an alternative to cord wood and common fire logs, and fatwood fire starters come in the box.

The listing’s ingredient claim is short: “Nothing but wood. No additives or binders.” It says the wood is pasteurized in process, free of bugs, fungus and mold, and has a natural wood aroma. The moisture claim is striking: “Less than 4% moisture,” well under the 20 percent mark the EPA gives for good burning wood. The listing doesn’t explain how the logs are made, so if you burn in an insert or stove, check its manual for guidance on manufactured or compressed fuels.

Day to day, Green Mountain describes building a two-hour fire and adding more to stretch the burn to two to five hours, and says it can go in any stove, fireplace, fire pit or barbecue. It claims a high heat output of 8,852 BTU per pound against 5,400 for oak, minimal smoke, under 0.5% ash and no popping or cracking. The listing also says it stores in a third of the space of cord wood.

It suits apartment-style fireplaces, weekend fires and anyone without room for a woodpile. The brand also says there is “no creosote build up,” but treat that as a marketing claim and keep your annual chimney inspection on the calendar.

Why we like it

• Very low stated moisture
• Small box, easy to store
• Fire starters included

Watch out for

Several claims, including no creosote and higher BTU than oak, are the brand’s own; your chimney still needs a yearly inspection.

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3. Eco-Stix Fatwood Kindling, 10 lb: Best Fatwood Kindling

Eco-Stix is fatwood: split sticks of pine heartwood that are naturally soaked with resin. EasyGo Products says it hand-chops the sticks from leftover stumps of pine trees and downed or damaged trees, and that the internal resin is what lets each stick light easily and burn long enough to catch the wood above it.

The listing calls the wood resin-rich Ocoee pine and says it contains “no petrochemical additives, no Methyl Bromide fumigation.” That matters for indoor fires, since the EPA’s Burn Wise guidance recommends only newspaper, dry kindling and all-natural or organic fire starters. This box is 10 pounds, and the brand says it also sells 10, 20, 25, 30, 40 and 50 pound boxes.

Using it is simple. The directions say to lay three or more sticks at the bottom of the fire, crisscrossed or overlapped, stack your wood on top and light the Eco-Stix. Because the sticks burn hot and fast, keep the fireplace screen closed and the damper open from the moment you strike the match.

It suits anyone who struggles to get a hardwood fire going and wants to skip wax cubes and crumpled newspaper. EasyGo says that if you aren’t satisfied, you can return the leftover wood within 30 days for a refund of the product cost.

Why we like it

• All-natural resin kindling
• Three sticks per fire, per directions
• Refund on leftovers

Watch out for

Specs list no weight or size; the 10-pound figure comes from the title. Store it away from the hearth, since it lights so easily.

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4. WoodHot WH Natural Fire Starters, 370+ pcs: Best Bulk Natural Fire Starter

WoodHot’s WH fire starters are small bundles of pine wood wool, sometimes called tumbleweed starters, sold in a large box the listing puts at 10 pounds and more than 370 pieces. The title pitches the box for an indoor fireplace, and the bullets add wood stoves, chimneys, fire pits and grills.

Ingredients are listed plainly: pine wood wool with natural fatty and lauric acid, and “No Paraffin, No Wax, No Additives.” WoodHot says the starters are chemical-free and odorless. That lines up with the EPA’s advice to start indoor fires with dry kindling or all-natural or organic fire starters rather than gasoline, kerosene or charcoal starter fluid.

In use, you tuck one starter under a small pile of kindling, light it with a single touch of a match, and let it catch the kindling before adding splits. The listing says the starters are water-resistant and work without newspaper, but it doesn’t give a burn time per piece, so build the fire with small, dry kindling to be safe.

It suits people who burn often enough that a small box would run out by January. WoodHot describes itself as a family business making starters to European standards for over 20 years, and much of the copy is aimed at grilling, which doesn’t change how it works in a fireplace.

Why we like it

• Bulk 10 lb supply
• Wax-free, paraffin-free recipe
• Indoor fireplace named in title

Watch out for

No burn time is listed, and the weight field reflects a single starter rather than the 10-pound box.

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5. Rutland Safe Lite Fire Starter Squares: Best Fire Starter Cubes

Rutland’s Safe Lite squares are compact fire starter cubes made from what the listing calls a natural wood-based and wax blend. Rutland says it was founded in 1883 in Vermont and describes itself as a manufacturer of products for fireplace, chimney and stove maintenance, and the cubes are made in the USA.

Each cube burns for 10 minutes, according to the listing, which is enough time for dry kindling to catch and start lighting the first splits. The bullets describe a 144-pack weighing 4.6 pounds, though the specs weight field reads 1 pound, so confirm the pack size on the product page before ordering.

Day to day, you set one or two cubes under kindling, light a corner and close the screen. Rutland says the cubes work with firewood, wood pellets, lump charcoal and sticks, and names indoor fireplaces, wood stoves and outdoor fire pits among their uses. They are described as odorless, which helps indoors where a burning starter would otherwise scent the room.

They suit budget-minded fireplace owners and anyone who wants a tidy cube that stores neatly in a drawer or tin. Keep the box well back from the hearth, like any fire starter, and never use cubes to revive a dying fire by tossing them onto hot coals.

Why we like it

• Set 10-minute burn
• Long-time fireplace brand
• Inexpensive per fire

Watch out for

The pack size and weight fields don’t match the bullets, and these cubes do contain wax, unlike the wax-free WoodHot starters.

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6. Better Wood Products Fatwood Firedrops, 8-Count: Best Small Trial Pack

Better Wood Products makes its Firedrops from the leftover, highly resinous sawdust produced when fatwood is cut. The sawdust is pressed into small drops, so each one carries the same pine resin that makes fatwood sticks light so easily, in a tidier shape that sits neatly under a pile of kindling.

The listing is brief, with three bullets. It describes the drops as safe and non-toxic with a long shelf life, says they burn hot for up to 20 minutes, and says they can be used in any indoor or outdoor fire, naming fireplaces, chimneys, wood and pellet stoves, fire pits and campfires. Twenty minutes is a long burn for a single starter, which gives slow-catching hardwood more time.

In practice, place one drop under a teepee or log-cabin stack of dry kindling, light it, and leave the screen closed while the kindling catches. The pack holds eight drops, so it lasts eight fires at one per fire. The box measures 6 by 3.13 by 5.75 inches in the listing and weighs a pound.

It suits people who light only a handful of fires each winter, or anyone who wants to try fatwood before committing to a big box of sticks. Keep the pack in a closed container away from the hearth between uses.

Why we like it

• 20-minute stated burn
• All-wood recipe
• Small, cheap pack

Watch out for

Eight starters won’t last long if you burn often; a bulk box works out better for regular use.

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How We Chose the Best Fireplace Wood and Starters

We kept to products for an indoor fireplace or insert that are in stock and sold by Amazon.com or the brand’s own store, then compared what each listing actually says:

• Drying and moisture: kiln-dried, seasoned or a stated moisture percentage, quoted as written.
• Ingredients: all-natural wood, fatwood or wax blends, and any additives the listing rules out.
• Fit for the job: log length for a standard firebox, or burn time for a starter.
• Exclusions: no pizza-oven mini logs, cooking or smoking splits, or chemical lighter products.
• Seller, rank and gaps: who sells it, Amazon sales rank, and empty or contradictory fields.

Fireplace Wood Buying Guide

Best Wood to Burn in a Fireplace: Dry, Split Hardwood

The EPA’s Burn Wise best practices say to burn only dry, split, well-seasoned wood, and that wood burns best at a moisture content of less than 20 percent. The EPA suggests testing wood with a moisture meter before you burn it, and notes that properly seasoned wood is darker, weighs less and sounds hollow when knocked against another piece. Kiln-dried wood such as the Smoak oak has been dried in a kiln rather than left to season outdoors, which is why it’s sold as ready to burn.

Hardwood vs. Softwood for Fireplace Burning

Dense hardwoods such as oak, hickory, ash and cherry are the usual choice for the main fuel because they burn longer per log. Softwoods such as pine catch fast, which is why resin-rich pine fatwood makes such good kindling. A practical approach is softwood or fatwood at the bottom to get the fire going, then hardwood splits on top for heat. Whatever you choose, dryness matters more than species.

Best Smelling Wood for a Fireplace

Scent is mostly personal preference, and none of our listings makes a strong scent claim beyond Green Mountain’s “natural wood aroma.” Fruitwoods are popular for their smell, but much of what’s sold as cherry or apple online is cut short for smokers and pizza ovens, so check the length before ordering for a fireplace. Never add scented or treated materials to a fire to change the smell.

Best Wood Fireplace Inserts and Stoves: Check the Manual

If you burn in an insert or wood stove, its manual is the final word on fuel. The EPA notes that many wax and sawdust logs are made for open hearth fireplaces only and recommends checking your stove or insert instructions before using artificial logs; if you do use manufactured logs, it suggests ones made from 100 percent compressed sawdust. The EPA also says to keep the doors of a wood-burning appliance closed unless you’re loading or stoking the fire.

What Never to Burn

The EPA lists materials that can release toxic chemicals or damage your appliance, including household trash and cardboard, coated, painted and pressure-treated wood, plywood, particle board or any wood with glue, ocean driftwood, and wet, rotted or moldy wood. That rules out old pallets, scrap lumber and wrapping paper. Start fires with newspaper, dry kindling or all-natural fire starters, never gasoline, kerosene or charcoal starter fluid.

How Much Firewood to Buy, and How to Store It

A full cord is a stack 4 by 4 by 8 feet, or 128 cubic feet. The Smoak box measures 24 by 18 by 18 inches, about 4.5 cubic feet, or roughly 3.5% of a cord by our math, so think of it as several weeks of evening fires rather than a winter’s heating. The EPA recommends storing wood outdoors, off the ground, with only the top covered, because covering the sides traps moisture. Bring in only what you’ll burn in a day or two, and keep it well back from the hearth.

Looking for the Best Wood for a Fireplace Mantel?

A mantel shelf is a building material, not fuel, so it’s outside this guide. Whatever you mount, local building codes and your fireplace maker set the clearance between the firebox opening and anything combustible above it, so check those before you install.

Chimney Safety, Creosote and Your Home Insurance

Every wood fire leaves creosote in the flue, and wet wood leaves more. The NFPA’s heating safety guidance says to have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional, and the Chimney Safety Institute of America certifies chimney sweeps if you need to find one. Use a sturdy screen, keep curtains, furniture and books away from the fireplace, and keep a fire extinguisher handy.

• Ashes: the EPA says to remove ashes into a covered metal container and store it outdoors on a nonflammable surface. Never put warm ashes in a paper bag or plastic bin.
• Alarms: test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms before the burning season, and make sure there’s one on every level of the home.
• Doors and dampers: open the damper before lighting, and keep insert or stove doors closed while the fire burns.

A chimney fire can damage the flue, roof and nearby rooms, and the way your policy responds can depend on how the fire started and whether the chimney was maintained. Our Ohio homeowners insurance guide explains how dwelling and personal property coverage work, and if this is your first winter with a working fireplace, read our insurance tips for first-time Ohio homeowners.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best wood to burn in a fireplace?

Dry, split hardwood such as oak is the usual choice for the main fuel. The EPA says wood burns best at a moisture content of less than 20 percent and recommends burning only dry, split, well-seasoned wood. Kiln-dried firewood like the Smoak oak is sold ready to burn.

Is kiln-dried firewood better than seasoned firewood?

Both can burn well if they are dry enough. Seasoned wood is air-dried, and the EPA suggests at least six months. Kiln-dried wood is dried in a kiln, which speeds the process. Either way, a moisture meter reading under 20 percent is the EPA’s benchmark.

What is the best fire starter for an indoor fireplace?

The EPA recommends newspaper, dry kindling or all-natural or organic fire starters, and never gasoline, kerosene or charcoal starter. Among our picks, Eco-Stix fatwood, WoodHot wood wool starters, Rutland cubes and Better Wood Firedrops all name fireplaces or wood stoves in their listings.

Can I burn softwood like pine in my fireplace?

Dry pine burns, and resin-rich pine fatwood is a common kindling. Hardwoods are usually preferred for the main fuel because they are denser. What matters most is that any wood is dry and untreated, and that the chimney is inspected and cleaned every year.

How do I prevent creosote buildup in my chimney?

Burn dry wood, build hot fires rather than smoldering ones, and have the chimney cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional, as the NFPA advises. Wet wood and slow, smoky fires leave more creosote behind.

The Bottom Line

For a winter of fires, Smoak Firewood’s kiln-dried oak is the best fireplace wood here: dense hardwood in fireplace-length 16-inch logs, sold by the brand. Green Mountain’s low-moisture bundle suits occasional fires and small spaces. To light it, Eco-Stix fatwood is a natural kindling, WoodHot offers a bulk wax-free supply, Rutland cubes are an inexpensive standby, and Better Wood Firedrops make a cheap trial pack. Pair any of them with an annual chimney inspection and a metal ash can.

Lighting the fireplace this winter and wondering how your policy handles a chimney fire? Call Jeff Smith’s State Farm office at (740) 354-7747 or get a free coverage review.