How much gap do you need behind a wood burning stove?

Author: Erling Hickle  |  Last update: Thursday, May 22, 2025

Air gaps to non-combustibles behind stoves? 2″ absolute minimum but 3″ is our minimum recommended and more if you can get it.

How much clearance do you need behind a wood stove?

Wood frame walls covered with dry wall are considered combustible. If no wall protection is used, the common radiant-type stove or heater must be spaced out at least 36 inches from the wall. This distance may be reduced considerably if asbestos millboard and/or 28 gage sheet metal is used for wall protection.

How much gap do you need around a wood-burning stove?

This information can often be found on the back of the appliance, as well as in the stove manual. The distance specified will vary between different woodburners, depending on their heat output and other factors, but typical advice would be a gap of more than 400mm around your wood-burning stove.

How much space is needed around a wood stove?

Clearance to Combustible Materials: A minimum clearance of 36 inches from the sides and rear of the wood stove to any combustible materials.

What is the 3:2-10 rule for wood stoves?

3-2-10 Rule Explained

Explained, the chimney pipe must be a minimum of three feet above the roof but also two feet taller than anything within ten feet.

Wood Stove Clearances

How high should a chimney be for a wood-burning stove?

Building Regulations recommend a minimum flue height of 4.5m however the chimney must be high enough to allow for enough draught to clear the exhaust gases.

Is it OK to burn 2x4 in wood stove?

The chemicals used can release dangerous amounts of arsenic and other very toxic compounds into your home. Note: Even if you find 2x4s that aren't treated, avoid using them as firewood – they burn incredibly hot, which can be dangerous and damaging.

How close can I put a wood stove to the wall?

All combustible materials, wood- work, unprotected walls, furniture, firewood, etc., should be no closer than 36 inches to a wood stove. A stove pipe should not be closer than 18 inches to an unprotected ceiling.

How much clearance does a stove need?

30" of air clearance is required between the cooktop surface and bottom of an unprotected wood or metal cabinet above. 0" of air clearance is needed for the sides of the Range below the cooktop surface.

How close can a wood stove be to cement board?

Using PermaBASE Cement Board as a wall protector in between the stove and the combustible wall materials allows you to shrink that distance by 40% or down to 14".

What is the clearance required around a wood burning stove?

How much space to leave around a wood burner? For non-combustible materials, the typical minimum distance or clearance required from the front and rear of the stove's external surface to surrounding walls is 150mm. This clearance requirement is for both freestanding stoves and wood burners installed within a recess.

What is the air gap between wall and wood stove?

Local building codes dictate the legal minimums for clearances to combustible materials like wood framing or panels. These mandated wood-burning stove air gaps are much more significant, usually 12 to 18 inches on the sides. Building codes don't regulate gaps for non-combustibles.

Do I need a heat shield behind a wood stove?

Wood stoves require heat shields both under and behind them to protect your home from heat damage. While many wood stoves include heat shields in their design, some do not.

What is required on the wall behind a wood stove?

The National Fire Protection Association recommends a minimum of 36 inches between the stove and combustible walls, furniture, and other things. However, you may lower the distance by using a noncombustible heat screen to protect your walls.

What is the clearance between stove and wall?

The following are general minimum clearances for ranges: 1 ½ inches to nearest adjacent sidewall above the cooktop on both sides. 30 inches between the cooktop and a cabinet. 0 inches for sides below the cooktop.

How close can a wood stove be to furniture?

1. Maintain the required distance between the wood stove and its surroundings. Many safety codes require wood stoves to be at least 3 feet away from any furniture, rugs, drapes or other items. 2.

What is the minimum space around a wood burning stove?

Stove manufacturer's usually request a certain air gap around wood burning stoves, to non-combustible materials (not to be confused with combustible materials), left and right: usually between 2″ (50mm) and 6″ (150mm).

How much space should I leave around the stove?

Stove: gas or electric

Make sure you have a 30” clearance between the cooking surface of an electric stove and the bottom of your upper cabinet and a 36” clearance for a gas stove. This means that the bottom of the cabinet with the range hood should be 66" to 72" from the finished floor.

How much space should be between stove and wall?

Without a backguard, a stove or range should typically be installed at least 6 inches away from a combustible back wall surface, like drywall. With a backguard, the range can usually be installed with zero wall clearance.

What is the best thing to put behind a wood burning stove?

Replacing the back wall with heat-resistant materials, like heat-resistant stones or a specialized wood stove heat shield, can be cumbersome and aesthetically displeasing. A simpler, more elegant solution is to use a cast iron fireback as a heat shield for the wood stove.

Can you vent a wood stove straight out the wall?

You have to use a UL-approved Stainless Steel Class "A" insulated chimney or a sound masonry chimney. Here are some of the ways you can install a chimney in your home. There are 2 basic ways to vent a wood-burning stove, (1) straight up and out the ceiling or (2) out the wall and along the side of the house.

Can you use cement board behind a log burner?

HardieBacker® 12mm cement backerboard can be used as a decorative non-combustible lining sheet for multi-fuel or log burning stove installations.

Can firewood be too old?

Unlike most fuels, as long as it is done correctly, firewood can be stored indefinitely, safely, and without degrading.

Is it safe to leave wood stove burning at night?

Generally speaking, it's safe to leave your wood burning stove on overnight, as long as you take the necessary steps to ensure it is properly maintained and monitored. That said, there's always a risk of a chimney fire, so common sense with your wood burner is important.

Can you put too much wood in a wood stove?

Overloading your stove with wood provides an excess of fuel, creating a runaway burn that becomes uncontrollably hot whilst also potentially blocking the tertiary air vents and preventing the secondary burn of gases. Too much airflow feeds your fire too much oxygen, causing it to burn excessively.

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