Wood Stove Product Comparison: 5kW Size
March 7, 2019
The 5kW size is the perfect stove for serious heating in a larger small space, or one in an especially cold climate. For larger RVs and full sized buses in colder climates, larger sized tiny homes and cabins, or yurts, a stove in the 5kW range can provide plenty of heat through the Winter without overwhelming your space. A stove that’s just the right size will allow you to burn longer, cleaner, more efficient fires, and can make it possible to burn your stove earlier in the Fall and later in the Spring without making your home uncomfortably hot.
In this article, we provide an apples-to-apples comparison of small stoves in the 5kW range, (approximately 15,354 – 20,474 BTU/hr). Because the BTU claims of some manufacturers vary wildly relative to their actual performance (why?), we've grouped stoves based on which ones work best for small spaces within this BTU range (according to the Tiny Wood Stove BTU Calculator), regardless of the manufacturer's claimed output.
Warning: Most BTU calculators are designed to overestimate your heating needs, which can result in a stove that's so large, you can't burn it without overheating your space. If you're not sure which size stove you need for your small space, run through the Tiny Wood Stove BTU Calculator, which is specifically designed for sizing wood stoves for small spaces.
Dwarf 5kW
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The Dwarf 5kw Small Wood Stove
$1,095.00
- Dimensions: 22” H x 14” W x 11” D
- Flue: Standard 5″, Top or Rear Exit
- Weight: 150 lbs
- Construction: Welded steel body, cast door and fire box, refractory firebrick
- Claimed BTU Output: 5kW 17,060 BTU/hr
- Air Controls: Separate Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Controls
- Glass: 9.25″ W x 10.5″ H
- Firebox Dimensions: 10″ H x 12.125″ W x 10″ D
- Available Accessories: Direct Air, Tall Legs, Wood Storage Stand, Spring Handle, Oven
- Finish: Painted Flat Black, Optional Enamel Door, Optional DIY Paint Colors
- UL/CSA: No
- EPA: No
- Notes: The Dwarf’s separate primary, secondary, and tertiary air controls make it one of the easier stoves to dial in for long, slow burns, up to 10 hours with the upside-down fire method. When using the rear exit option, the large top surface of the Dwarf also makes a useful cooking appliance, and the oven attachment converts the Dwarf 5kW into a cookstove.
- Manual: Download here
Dwarf Cookstove
- Dimensions: 38” H x 14” W x 11” D
- Flue: Oval 5″, Top Only
- Weight: 225 lbs
- Construction: Welded steel body, cast door and fire box, refractory firebrick
- Claimed BTU Output: 5kW 17,060 BTU/hr
- Air Controls: Separate Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Controls
- Glass: Stove 9.25″ W x 10.5″ H; Oven 9.25" W x 9.25" H
- Firebox Dimensions: 10″ H x 12.125″ W x 10″ D
- Available Accessories: Direct Air, Tall Legs, Wood Storage Stand, Spring Handle
- Finish: Painted Flat Black, Optional Enamel Door, Optional DIY Paint Colors
- UL/CSA: No
- EPA: No
- Notes: All the features of the Dwarf 5kW, plus a baking oven. The Dwarf Cookstove is best at home in a stationary tiny house or cabin where weight isn't an issue.
- Manual: Download here
The Katydid
- Price: $3,995
- Dimensions: 38″ H x 12″ W x 12″ D
- Flue: 4″ Top Only
- Weight: 153 lbs
- Construction: Steel with refractory firebrick in the fire box
- Claimed BTU Output: 55,000 BTU (?!)
- Air Controls: Single Damper Controls Combustion and Air Wash
- Glass: 10.125″ H x 7.125″ W
- Firebox Dimensions: 10″ H x 9.63″ W x 9″ D
- Available Accessories: Outside air intake available
- Finish: Stainless Steel and Black
- UL/CSA: Yes
- EPA: Yes, and WA State
- Notes: One of the few EPA/WA State certified small stoves available. The manufacturer recommends using 4″ pellet pipe for installation of the Kimberly, but requires the pellet pipe to be sleeved inside a 6″ UL listed Class A chimney system through the roof penetration to the chimney cap. Only roof exits are allowed—there are no approved wall exit configurations for the Katydid.
- Manual: Download here
Petit Godin 3720
- Price: £990 – £1,320 plus shipping from Europe
- Dimensions: 30″ H x 16″ D
- Flue: Standard 4″, Rear Only
- Weight: 132 lbs
- Construction: Enameled Steel and Cast Iron, Refractory Firebrick
- Claimed BTU Output: 5kW 17,060 BTU/hr
- Air Controls: Single intake on lower door for primary and secondary
- Glass: Small viewing window in lower door
- Firebox Dimensions: 15.75 H x 7.87 D
- Available Accessories: None
- Finish: Painted black or enameled, many colors available
- UL/CSA: Unknown
- EPA: Unknown
- Notes: Godin Stoves is a French manufacturer that’s been around since 1840. There don’t seem to be any distributors in North America, but you can often find used Godin stoves on eBay, or you could import one yourself. There are several sizes of Petit Godin available, and the 5kW is the smallest. This stove is notable for its unique top-loading design, which makes it the only small stove we’re aware of that will take whole standard cordwood logs.
- Manual: Download here
