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Looking to keep your home warm or your garden fired up this season? From bags of seasoned logs and smokeless coal to bottled gas cylinders and bulk heating oil, the UK market is packed with options. This guide walks you through the main retailers, specialist suppliers, eco-friendly alternatives, safety tips, and how to choose the right fuel for your needs — all in plain English and with practical pointers you can use today.
Fuel for home and garden use comes in many shapes: logs and kindling, smokeless coal, briquettes, wood pellets, bottled gas cylinders for barbecues and heaters, and bulk heating oil for older boilers. Each type behaves differently in stoves, open fires, and garden appliances, so knowing what you need is half the battle.
Logs are often sold by the bag or by the crate and are best for wood-burning stoves and open fires. Smokeless coal and briquettes burn hotter and cleaner than house coal, making them ideal for urban areas. Wood pellets feed automatically into pellet stoves and offer consistent heat, while bottled gas and propane are portable and predictable for outdoor heaters and BBQs. Heating oil is measured in gallons and used by oil-fired boilers in many rural homes.
If you want convenience, big DIY chains stock a reliable range of fuels. These retailers are easy to find, and their stores often carry seasonal lines like barbecue gas and firewood alongside everyday items like firelighters.
B&Q is a go-to for many homeowners looking for firewood, briquettes, and bottled gas cylinders for outdoor living. You can usually pick up bags of logs that weigh around 22 to 44 pounds, firelighters, and camping gas variants for portable appliances.
Homebase tends to stock seasoned logs, kiln-dried options, and smokeless coal during colder months, plus propane cylinders for garden heaters and BBQs. They’re a reliable place to browse if you want to match fuel types with stoves or fire pits sold in-store.
Wickes offers practical fuel options aimed at the DIY crowd — think bags of kiln-dried logs in handy sizes, firelighters, and sometimes multi-packs of bottled gas. Their range is simple, straightforward, and geared toward people who want to grab and go.
Screwfix is popular with tradespeople and homeowners alike for its range of consumables, including gas cylinders, firelighters, and sometimes compact logs or briquettes. They’re particularly useful if you need contractor-grade products or robust fuel for worksite heaters.
For ease and price, supermarkets like Tesco, Asda, and Sainsbury’s often carry seasonal fuel items. These stores are perfect for topping up before a weekend project or picking up bottled gas for a spontaneous backyard party.
Expect basic bags of logs, small packs of briquettes, and camping gas canisters during the warmer months. Supermarkets are ideal for one-off purchases or smaller quantities when you don’t want to order a bulk delivery.
When you need more specialised products — bulk heating oil, commercial-grade smokeless fuel, palletised logs, or chimney-approved briquettes — builders’ merchants and specialist suppliers step up. These providers serve both trade customers and homeowners with large heating needs.
Travis Perkins and Jewson are builders’ merchants that often supply bulk bags of fuels and specialist products for building sites and rural homes. They’re useful if you need larger quantities measured in bags or pallets and want fuels that are fit for heavy use.
Calor Gas is a household name for bottled propane and butane cylinders across the UK. They supply a range of cylinder sizes that suit BBQs, outdoor heaters, and home appliances in remote areas. If bottled gas is your go-to, you’ll find specialist advice and a varied cylinder range from suppliers like Calor.
If your home uses oil-fired heating, buying fuel in bulk can be practical and economical. Oil is usually sold by the gallon and delivered in tank loads, but you can also find local merchants that offer smaller orders if your tank is low.
Heating oil is typically ordered in gallons and delivered to your storage tank. Prices can fluctuate, so some homeowners track local quotes and buy when rates dip. If you have a larger tank, buying by the gallon in a single run often reduces the unit cost.
Want to cut emissions and be kinder to the environment without freezing your toes off? There are plenty of greener choices available, from sustainably sourced logs to advanced briquettes and pellets made from compressed wood waste.
Wood pellets are a compact, efficient option for pellet stoves and offer consistent heat with low ash output. Briquettes made from compressed sawdust or recycled wood burn longer and cleaner than raw logs, making them a smart choice if you want a low-maintenance, eco-minded fire.
Look for logs that are kiln-dried and certified to have come from sustainable forestry. These logs should burn hotter and cleaner and are often sold by specialist suppliers who can tell you the moisture content and length — typically around 12 to 16 inches for stove-ready pieces.
Proper storage isn’t glamorous, but it’s essential. Fuel that’s damp or poorly stored can be inefficient, smoky, and even dangerous. Think of storage as the unsung hero that keeps your fire reliable and your home safer.
Keep logs elevated off the ground and covered — a dry place with good airflow is ideal. Stack them in a single row or a neat pile to allow air to circulate, which helps seasoning. Briquettes should be stored in a dry shed or garage where they won’t absorb moisture and degrade.
Gas cylinders should be stored upright, in a ventilated area away from direct heat or open flames. Always check valves and seals before use, and follow the manufacturer’s guidance on connection and storage to reduce risk.
Different appliances prefer different fuels. An open fire thrives on larger logs, while a modern multi-fuel stove works best with kiln-dried wood or approved smokeless fuels. Pellet stoves require uniform pellets, and outdoor patio heaters will usually favour bottled gas.
Open fireplaces benefit from longer, slower-burning pieces of seasoned wood to create a lasting bed of coals. Stoves, especially multi-fuel stoves, prefer cut, kiln-dried logs or commercial smokeless fuels that produce steady heat with minimal smoke. For garden heaters and BBQs, bottled propane or butane delivers predictable flames and controllable heat.
Low price is tempting, but cheap fuel can be a false economy if it’s wet, low-quality, or inefficient. Balance cost with burn time, heat output, and ash residue to get real value. Think of fuel like food for your fire — high-quality fuel gives better performance per pound.
Buying by the pallet or in bulk often reduces the price per bag if you have space to store it. Small bags are convenient but can cost more per pound. If you use a lot of fuel through the winter, bulk buys usually make sense; if you only light a fire occasionally, smaller quantities may be better for freshness.
Fuel prices and availability swing with the seasons. Stocking up before a cold snap can keep you warm and save money, but avoid overbuying if storage space is tight. A little planning goes a long way in avoiding last-minute shortages and premium prices.
Logs are often cheapest in late summer and early autumn when suppliers move new-season stock. Pellets and briquettes can be bought year-round, but discounts appear in off-peak months. For heating oil, monitor local quotes and consider buying when prices drop — even a small dip per gallon can add up across a full tank.
Comparing prices and reading user reviews can help you avoid pitfalls. Look for feedback on burn quality, moisture content, and customer experience. Trusted retailers and independent review platforms can point you to suppliers with consistent standards.
Common review points include how long a bag lasts in a typical stove, the amount of ash left behind, and whether logs were truly kiln-dried or still damp. These details matter because they determine how easy and pleasant your fires will be over a season.
Choosing the right home and garden fuel in the UK doesn’t have to be a chore. With a clear idea of the appliance you’re feeding, the space you have for storage, and the environmental impact you’ll accept, you can match fuel types to your lifestyle and budget. Use big retailers for convenience, specialist suppliers for larger or specialist orders, and don’t forget to factor in safety and eco credentials when making a decision.
Ready to stock up? Start by identifying what your appliance needs, then compare local options and trusted national chains. Think like a chef choosing ingredients: quality matters and the right fuel will make all the difference to the warmth and atmosphere of your home and garden.
Conclusion: With so many options available from high-street DIY stores, supermarkets, builders’ merchants, and specialist suppliers, UK homeowners have the flexibility to buy fuel that fits their appliance, budget, and environmental goals. Keep it dry, choose certified products where possible, and match fuel to the device — your home will thank you with reliable heat and fewer headaches.
