Bioethanol stove: everything you need to know
A bioethanol stove gives a real, living flame with no chimney, flue or building permit. Here is how it works, what it costs to run, how much heat it gives, safety, and how to choose.
What is a bioethanol stove?
A bioethanol stove burns liquid bioethanol instead of wood, gas or pellets. The fuel goes into a burner in the base and is lit. The flame is real: it moves and warms like a wood fire, but there is no smoke, soot or ash.
Burning it gives off mainly water vapour, carbon dioxide and heat, much like lit candles. That is why a bioethanol stove needs no chimney. It can stand freely in a living room, a flat, a summer house or a new build that never had a flue.
More on stoves with no chimney →
Bioethanol, wood or electric?
The big difference from a wood stove is installation. A wood stove needs a chimney, a building notice, inspection and yearly sweeping. An electric fire has no real flame. A bioethanol stove sits in between: real fire, no installation.
| Bioethanol | Wood stove | Electric | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chimney | No | Yes | No |
| Permit / building notice | No | Yes | No |
| Sweeping | No | Yes | No |
| Real flame | Yes | Yes | No, vapour or light |
| Movable | Yes | No | Yes |
| Ash and soot | No | Yes | No |
What does it cost to run?
Bioethanol in a 5-litre can costs about 53–79 kr per litre in Swedish shops (October 2026). A four-hour evening with Glödvik uses about 0.75–2 litres, depending on flame height. At 60 kr/L that is about 45–120 kr for the evening.
That is on par with an evening of bagged birch, without the cost of a chimney, installation and sweeping. Always use liquid bioethanol made for stoves, never gel or other fuel.
How much heat does it give?
Our stoves give up to 3 kW, roughly a large electric radiator. That is enough for a living room of around 30 m² in a normally insulated home. Since no heat escapes up a chimney, all of it stays in the room. You set the output with the burner lid.
Think of it as warmth and atmosphere for the evening, not the home's main heating.
Is a bioethanol stove safe?
Yes, when you follow the manual. The flame uses the room's air, so the room needs at least 63 m³ (Härdberg at least 80 m³). Multiply floor area by ceiling height: 25 m² with a 2.5 m ceiling is 62.5 m³, right at the limit.
- 01Air the room normally, especially on long evenings.
- 02Never refill a warm or burning burner.
- 03Keep curtains, furniture and paper away from the flame.
- 04Never leave a burning stove unattended, keep children and pets away.
- 05Have a smoke alarm in the room.
How to choose the right one
1. Room size
Start with the volume. Under 63 m³, no bioethanol stove fits, whatever the brand.
2. Burn time
A larger burner lasts longer per fill, so you don't need to refill during the evening.
3. Shape and placement
Corner, against a wall or in the middle of the room? The versions with a pipe are for looks and need no connection.
4. Permits and housing
A freestanding bioethanol stove needs no permit, notice or sweeping. If you rent or live in a cooperative, check the house rules on open flames and ask your insurer.
See our comparison of ten stoves →
Common questions
Does it smell?
Pure bioethanol burns almost odourless. A faint smell can show when lighting and putting it out.
Can I have one in a flat?
Yes, as long as the room is big enough and the house rules allow open flames.
Does it need sweeping?
No. There is no soot, and with no chimney there is nothing to sweep.