Free shipping above £ 25
2 working day delivery
Pay in 3 installmentsLooking for kiln dried alder logs with a bright, lively flame? Alder is a lighter hardwood that lights fast and burns clean — perfect for modern stoves, smoking salmon and mixing with denser woods. Sub-20% moisture, Ready to Burn certified, delivered fast across the UK.
Need help with your choice? Call 01902214317 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Alder isn't the firewood most people think of first — but it deserves a closer look. It's a hardwood, but a lighter one — closer to birch in density than to oak or beech. That means it lights quickly, burns with a bright cheerful flame, and produces a clean, low-smoke burn. It's also one of the most popular woods in the UK for smoking salmon and other foods.
Every alder log on this page is kiln dried to below 20% moisture, Ready to Burn certified, and ready to use straight out of the pack. No seasoning, no surprises.
Yes — alder is genuinely good firewood, but it's important to understand what you're getting. Here's the honest take:
Where alder shines:
Where alder is less ideal:
For most UK households, alder is excellent value as a fast-lighting wood, an outdoor cooking option, or as part of a mix. It's particularly popular with people who run smaller stoves, light fires regularly but for shorter sessions, or smoke food at home.
If you've ever bought smoked salmon from a UK fishmonger, there's a good chance it was smoked over alder. Alder produces a mild, slightly sweet smoke that's particularly well-suited to fish — strong enough to add flavour, gentle enough not to overpower delicate proteins. It's the traditional smoking wood for:
For smoking you'll typically want alder wood chips or chunks rather than full-size logs, but our logs split easily into smaller pieces if you prefer to prep them yourself. Have a look at our smoking wood range if smoking is your primary use.
Plenty of UK suppliers list alder as a "filler" species alongside their main ash and oak ranges. Here's what sets ours apart:
Alder is easy to burn, but a few small tweaks make the difference between a quick, smoky fire and a steady, clean one:
Around 1 to 1.5 hours per log in a modern log burner, depending on log size and how damped down the fire is. Alder burns faster than ash (1.5–2.5 hrs), beech (2–2.5 hrs) or oak (2–3 hrs) because it's a less dense hardwood. On an open fire you'll get through them quicker due to higher airflow. For longer burns, mix alder with ash or oak.
Alder is technically a hardwood, but it's on the lighter end of the hardwood scale — closer to birch than to oak in density. The botanical distinction is about leaf type (deciduous vs evergreen), not weight or density. So while alder is officially a hardwood, it burns more like a dense softwood than like ash or oak.
Yes — alder is one of the best woods for smoking food in the UK. It produces a mild, slightly sweet smoke that pairs especially well with salmon, trout, other fish, poultry, bacon and even cheese. For smoking you'll typically want chips or chunks rather than full logs, but our alder logs split easily into smaller pieces. Soak the chips in water for 30 minutes before adding to your BBQ or smoker.
Order before 14:00 on a working day and your alder logs leave us the same day. Smaller orders arrive next working day with our courier partners. Bulk bags and full pallets typically take 1–3 working days depending on where you are in the UK.
