Pellet consumption calculator
This pellet consumption calculator shows how many pounds and bags of wood pellets a stove burns. A stove putting out 30,000 BTU/h at 90 % efficiency burns about 4.68 lb of pellets per hour at full output – roughly 2.8 bags of 40 lb in 24 hours.
How it is calculated
Pellets per hour = heat output ÷ (heating value × efficiency). The ENplus certification scheme requires wood pellets of classes A1, A2 and B to have a net heating value of at least 4.6 kWh/kg (16.5 MJ/kg, about 7,120 BTU/lb) and a bulk density of 600 to 750 kg/m³. At 90 % efficiency one kilogram therefore gives at least 4.14 kWh of usable heat.
Pellet stove burn rate (90 %, 4.6 kWh/kg)
| Heat output | lb per hour | lb per day (24 h) |
|---|---|---|
| 20,000 BTU/h | 3.12 | 74.9 |
| 30,000 BTU/h | 4.68 | 112.4 |
| 40,000 BTU/h | 6.24 | 149.8 |
A stove delivering 30,000 BTU/h around the clock at full output burns about 112 lb a day, a little under three 40 lb bags. These are full-output figures; most stoves modulate down and burn less. If the spec sheet lists a burn rate, use that directly.
Pellets per year
If you know your annual heat demand (for example from past heating-oil or gas use), the amount is heat demand ÷ (heating value × efficiency). 10,000 kWh at 90 % and 4.6 kWh/kg is about 2,415 kg (5,325 lb) of pellets.
- The heating value is often printed on the bag or in the test report; 4.6 kWh/kg is the ENplus minimum and therefore a cautious assumption.
- Pellets with more than 10 % moisture do not meet ENplus; ENplus allows at most 10 %.
- Storage safety: pellets can give off carbon monoxide for months after production. Germany’s Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) reports fatal poisonings in airtight storage rooms, says brief airing before entering is not enough, and recommends continuous ventilation to the outside and CO alarms.
To compare heating costs, use the heating cost comparison; for split wood, the firewood cord calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How many bags of pellets does a stove burn per day?
At 30,000 BTU/h output, 90 % efficiency and 4.6 kWh/kg, about 4.68 lb per hour – roughly 112 lb or 2.8 bags of 40 lb in 24 hours at full output.
How many BTU are in a pound of pellets?
The ENplus minimum of 4.6 kWh/kg equals about 7,120 BTU per pound.
How many pellets do I need for 10,000 kWh of heat?
About 2,415 kg (5,325 lb) at 90 % efficiency and 4.6 kWh/kg.
Why does my stove burn less than calculated?
The calculator assumes full rated output. On lower settings or with a thermostat the stove runs smaller and burns less.
How much space do pellets need?
Loose pellets weigh 600 to 750 kg per cubic meter under ENplus, so 2.4 metric tons take about 3.2 to 4 m³.
Sources and legal basis
- ENplus Handbook Part 3: requirements for pellet quality, version 3.0 (August 2015), Table 1: calorific value Hu ≥ 4.6 kWh/kg (16.5 MJ/kg), bulk density 600–750 kg/m³, water content ≤ 10 m-% (read 10.10.2026)
- BfR (German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment), press release 19/2014 (17.07.2014), avoiding toxic gases from the pellet store: pellets can release carbon monoxide for months after production; brief airing before entering is not enough; continuous ventilation to the outside and CO detectors (read 10.10.2026)
- NIST SP 811, Appendix B.8: 1 lb = 0.453 592 37 kg; 1 Btu (IT)/h = 0.293 071 1 W (read 10.10.2026)
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