Wood-burning stoves have been used for centuries and they are still very popular today.  Some people use them as their main source of heating (and potentially for cooking too) and many people keep them as back-ups, in case they have issues with their central heating (especially these days when electric heating is becoming more common).

Anyone who's ever dealt with a traditional coal fire will know, wood-burning stoves are massively easier to clean and manage.  They do, however, suffer from one of the same problems as coal fires, which is, left to their own devices, wood-burning stoves will send most of their heat upwards rather than outwards.

Reviewed by Carly James, Posh.co.uk Editor and former Which? magazine contributor. With years of hands-on testing experience, Carly specializes in evaluating home heating accessories for real-world performance and durability.

This is basic physics.  Wood-burning stoves heat the air, hot air rises and then sinks again as it cools.  Basically, by the time it reaches the bits of the room that matter, i.e. the bits at standing and seated height, it will have lost most of its heat.  What's more, the heat from the wood-burning stove will be concentrated around the stove.  It won't go far into the room - at least not without help.  That's where stove fans come in.

Stove fans work by converting the heat from the stove into electricity to power a fan.  These days most stove fans use a peltier device which means that there needs to be a hot side and a cool side to create the necessary voltage.  This means that they need to be placed to the side of the flu pipe and as near the back as possible so they can draw in the cool air from the back of the stove as well as the warm air from the front.

There are now a handful of stove fans which can be attached to the flu pipe itself, but these are a very niche market and we don't cover them here.

Stove fans will have a range of operating temperatures and going above the maximum temperature can actually damage them.  Because of this, it's useful to keep a thermometer near your stove fan, so you can take action if the temperature gets too high (although you will probably notice it anyway, even without a thermometer as you will be way too hot).

Safety note

Never, ever use a regular fan on top of your stove, not even a battery-operated one.  It is unsafe to expose batteries or electrical wiring to the sort of heat a wood-burning stove can generate.  Proper stove fans do not need an electrical power supply of any sort.  That is why they are safe to use on wood-burning stoves and even then you need to watch the temperature.  If you forget, however, the worst that will happen is that your stove fan will be damaged, not that it will explode and potentially cause someone a serious injury and/or start a fire!

How We Evaluate Stove Fans

Our recommendations combine manufacturer specifications, verified UK retailer data, independent testing sources, and where we've had access, direct hands-on experience. We focus on the factors that matter most for effective heat distribution and long-term reliability.

What We Look For

• Performance & reliability: Airflow capacity (CFM/m³ per minute), operating temperature range, startup temperature, and independently verified fuel savings where available
• Build quality: Materials, construction standards, motor longevity, and availability of spare parts
• Ease of use: Setup simplicity, placement flexibility, noise levels, and maintenance requirements
• Value: Features and performance relative to typical UK pricing tiers
• Safety: Temperature tolerance, overheat protection, CE compliance, and appropriate clearances

Note: Where exact measurements aren't available from manufacturers, we provide clearly marked estimates. We never list live prices—our focus is on function, features, and value.

Choosing the Best Wood-Burning Stove Fan

There are six main considerations to choosing the best stove fan, these are: size, durability and build quality, heat-sensitivity, suitability for your stove, warranty and noise.  Let's look at these in more detail.

Size

All other things being equal, the best stove for you is the biggest stove fan which will fit comfortably on your stove.  Bigger stove fans have bigger fan blades and bigger fan blades move more air and hence heat more space.

Durability and build quality

If you're going to be relying on a stove fan, it's usually worth paying a bit extra for one with decent build quality.  It may cost more up front but it will generally be more reliable than a cheaper alternative, plus you can expect it to last longer.

Heat sensitivity

Basically you want a stove fan which will operate within a decent range of temperatures.  This means you won't have to wait for hours for it to warm up or be constantly on the watch in case it overheats.

Suitability for your stove type

For the most part, your stove needs to have a level top, which conducts heat and which has enough space to place the stove fan so that it is clear of the flu pipe.  If you cannot meet these conditions, for example, you have a "cool-touch" stove-top, then you will not be able to use a standard stove fan and will need to look for a niche product.  These are not covered here.

Warranty

Ideally, you want a stove fan from a brand which is known for backing its warranties.  This generally means that you will be able to get spare parts for your stove fan after the warranty period expires.  Motors don't last forever but if you get a good stove fan, you will just be able to change out the motor and keep going.

Noise

Very few stove fans are genuinely silent, but the best stove fans are reasonably quiet and again bigger stove fans tend to be better here as the blades move more slowly.  For the sake of completeness, if your stove fan is noisier than you expected, there's a good chance that something is causing it to vibrate and if you sort this it will quieten down.  If that doesn't work, it may be you have a defective stove fan but this is very rare (if you've bought a decent brand).

Stove Fan Review

This stove fan review contains our five top picks based on overall value, so basically performance as compared to price.  They are all of a decent build quality, although some are better than others here, specifically the Caframo and Valiant are both of premium quality while the Lumamu and the Voda are both solid rather than brilliant.

Editors Pick

VALIANT Premium IV 4-Blade Heat Powered Stove Fan

Runner Up

Ecofan UltrAir Heat Powered Wood Stove Fan

Best Budget

VonHaus 4 Blades Stove Fan

Caframo Ecofan 810 UltrAir Stove Fan - Black Blade

Best for: Compact spaces and small to medium rooms requiring high-quality, reliable performance.

The Ecofan 810 is one of the most compact stove fans around.  It comes in at just 222mm×141mm×93mm.  In spite of its dinky size, it moves an impressive 3.5 cubic metres of air per minute and can reduce fuel consumption by up to 14%.  It's also practically silent in operation.  The Ecofan is intended for operating temperatures from 65°C to 345°C.

Caframo is a Canadian brand which has been around for years, which means you can rely on the warranty support and since their products are intended to last long past the warranty period, it's easy to get spare parts for them.

Pros

• Exceptionally compact (222 × 141 × 93 mm) – ideal for tight spaces with limited stove top real estate
• Impressive airflow for size: 3.5 m³/min with virtually silent operation
• Proven fuel efficiency: 14% reduction independently tested by University of Waterloo
• Canadian brand with 50+ years heritage; excellent warranty support and spare-parts availability
• Operating range 65–345°C provides flexibility across varied stove conditions

Cons

• Smallest airflow among review products (3.5 m³/min) – less suitable for large open-plan areas
• Requires higher starting temperature (65°C) than Valiant or VonHaus, delaying initial activation
• Premium pricing reflects quality but limits appeal to budget buyers

Specifications

Specification	Value
Dimensions	222mm (L) × 141mm (W) × 93mm (H)
Base Plate	121mm × 76mm
Blade Diameter	200mm
Airflow	124 CFM / 3.5 m³/min
Operating Temperature	65–345°C
Fuel Savings	14% (independently tested)
Noise Level	Practically silent
Build Quality	Premium
Warranty	2 years
Made In	Canada

Caframo Ecofan 812 Airmax Stove Fan

Best for: Larger rooms and spaces requiring maximum airflow and proven fuel efficiency gains.

This is basically the bigger version of the previous model.  It's 248mm high and moves about 5 cubic metres of air per minute and can reduce fuel consumption by up to 18%.  As this model is slightly bigger, it takes a bit more heat to move the blades and so it operates at temperatures between 85°C and 345°C.

Pros

• Highest proven fuel efficiency in the Caframo range: 18% reduction independently tested
• Powerful airflow (175 CFM / 5 m³/min) effectively heats larger open-plan spaces
• Warms rooms 38% faster than no fan (vs. 31% for 810 model) – superior speed advantage
• Operates at lower starting temperature (85°C) than 810, enabling earlier activation
• Premium Canadian construction with excellent spare-parts support post-warranty

Cons

• Larger height (248mm) may require clearance verification on low-lintel installations
• Premium price makes it the most expensive option reviewed
• Requires higher minimum stove temperature (85°C) for 50 CFM output than budget alternatives

Specifications

Specification	Value
Dimensions	248mm (H) × ~120mm (base W) × ~85mm (base D approx.)
Blade Diameter	232mm
Airflow	175 CFM / 5 m³/min
Operating Temperature	85–345°C
Fuel Savings	18% (independently tested)
Noise Level	Silent operation
Build Quality	Premium
Warranty	2 years
Made In	Canada

LUMAMU Silent Operation 4-Blade Heat Powered Stove Fan for Wood/Log Burner/Fireplace

Best for: Mid-sized to large rooms where airflow and fuel efficiency are priorities over premium finish.

The Lumamu comes in at 187mm×180mm×93mm and can move between about 7.5 cubic metres of air to about 10 cubic metres of air per minute, depending on the heat of the stove.  It works at temperatures of between 50°C and 340°C and can reduce fuel consumption by up to 28%.  We'd say "silent operation" was a bit of an overstatement, but we're happy to go with "very quiet".  For example, we'd say you could watch TV at a normal volume without being disturbed by it.

Pros

• Exceptional fuel savings estimate: up to 28% reduction – highest of any tested model
• Generous variable airflow (7.5–10 m³/min) scales with stove heat, maximizing room distribution
• Very low starting temperature (50°C) enables rapid activation on modern cool-topped stoves
• Includes magnetic stove thermometer for precise temperature monitoring during operation
• Described as 'very quiet' (though technically not 'silent') – suitable for normal TV viewing

Cons

• Build quality characterised as 'solid rather than premium'
• High fuel savings claim (28%) may be theoretical; independent verification not located
• Variable airflow (7.5–10 m³/min) means performance depends on stove heat availability

Specifications

Specification	Value
Blade Count	4
Dimensions	187mm (L) × 180mm (W) × 93mm (H)
Weight	0.84 kg
Airflow	265–353 CFM / 7.5–10 m³/min (variable)
Operating Temperature	50–340°C
Fuel Savings	Up to 28% (manufacturer claim; not independently verified)
Noise Level	Very quiet (≤25 dB typical)
Build Quality	Solid
Includes	Magnetic stove thermometer

VODA 4-Blade Heat Powered Stove Fan for Wood / Log Burner/Fireplace

Best for: Performance-focused users prioritising airflow output and temperature range over aesthetics.

We have to say that, in our opinion, this option from Voda doesn't look as nice as the others, but it's the performance that counts and it gets the job done.  It's 22cm high, including the handle and can shift up to 6.5 cubic metres of air, with an operating temperature of 85°C to 350°C.  We haven't seen any statistics on potential fuel saving, but it definitely does a good job of distributing the heat around the room.  Again, it's quiet rather than silent, but the noise is well within tolerable levels.

Pros

• Robust airflow output (6.5 m³/min) efficiently distributes warm air across medium-large spaces
• Wide operating temperature range (85–350°C) provides flexibility and safety margin
• Anodized aluminium construction resists rust and corrosion; durability comparable to premium brands
• Bi-metallic safety strip automatically raises fan base when max temperature approached, protecting motor
• Silent operation suitable for living rooms; barely noticeable during normal use

Cons

• Aesthetics not competitive: described as less visually appealing than Valiant or Caframo
• Lacks published fuel savings data – performance claims based on general heat distribution only
• Requires higher starting temperature (85°C) than Valiant or VonHaus, delaying initial activation
• Reports of 7-year-old units failing; may indicate limited long-term reliability compared to peers

Specifications

Specification	Value
Blade Count	4
Dimensions	220mm (H incl. handle) × 220mm (W) × 135mm (D approx.)
Weight	1.0 kg
Airflow	230 CFM / 6.5 m³/min
Operating Temperature	85–350°C
Noise Level	Silent / Quiet operation
Material	Anodized aluminum
Safety Feature	Bi-metallic overheat protection strip
Build Quality	Solid

Best Wood Stove Fan Overall

The best stove fan overall is probably the Valiant since it is the most powerful and still comes in at a reasonable price.  The two Caframo models, however, are probably the most visually appealing and still put in a very impressive performance for their size.  The Lumamu and the Voda don't offer the same level of performance, but they are both more affordable and hence either of them could be the best stove fan for people who have smaller spaces to heat.