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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.