Biomass & Wood Fuels
Wood Briquettes: What They Are and How They're Used
A guide to wood briquettes as a biomass fuel: what they are, how they differ from wood pellets and firewood, and the two most common industrial formats.
⚠️ Note: this isn't currently part of our regular product line. This page is informational — if you're sourcing briquettes, get in touch and we'll let you know whether we can help.
Wood briquettes are a solid biomass fuel made by compressing sawdust and wood shavings under high pressure, typically with no additives or added binders — the wood's own natural lignin holds the block together. The result is a fuel denser than ordinary firewood, with low and consistent moisture content, suited to both domestic wood stoves and larger industrial biomass boilers.
Because it's a manufactured product made from sawmilling by-product — the same type of sawdust and shavings also used to make wood pellets — a briquette tends to burn more predictably, and generally for longer, than a natural log of variable size and moisture. This page explains what wood briquettes are, how they differ from wood pellets and traditional firewood, and the two industrial formats most widely used across Europe: RUF and Pini Kay.
At a glance
| Typical format | Compressed blocks, usually rectangular (RUF) or hexagonal with a central hole (Pini Kay) |
|---|---|
| Raw material | Compressed wood sawdust and shavings, generally with no added additives |
| Density and burn | Denser than natural firewood, so briquettes tend to burn more slowly and for longer |
| Difference vs. pellet | Larger format, pressed with a hydraulic or mechanical piston rather than a continuous rotary die |
| Typical feed method | Manual, similar to firewood, rather than automated auger-fed systems |
| Typical use | Domestic wood stoves and fireplaces, and manually fed industrial biomass boilers |
What are wood briquettes?
A wood briquette is a compressed block of wood fibre, made from sawdust, shavings or fine offcuts generated as a by-product of sawmilling or planing. The manufacturing process compresses this material under high pressure — often with added heat — into a solid block, with no resins or synthetic binders needed in most manufacturing processes. The higher the compression pressure, the denser the finished briquette, which translates into a fuel that burns more slowly and for longer than natural firewood, while taking up less storage space for an equivalent amount of energy.
Briquettes are used in domestic wood stoves and fireplaces, provided the stove's design suits the block's format and size, as well as in industrial biomass boilers with manual or semi-automatic feed. Their low moisture content and uniform density also make them easier to transport and store than freshly cut firewood, which needs a seasoning period before it can be burned efficiently.
Wood briquettes vs. wood pellets
Both briquettes and wood pellets are made from the same raw material — sawdust and wood shavings — and both are generally additive-free fuels. The main difference is format and press process. A pellet is a small cylinder, typically 6 mm or 8 mm in diameter, continuously extruded through a rotary die. A briquette, by contrast, is a much larger block, usually pressed with a hydraulic or mechanical piston in a batch process.
That difference in format also shapes how each fuel is used. Because pellets are small and free-flowing, they're the standard choice for automated auger-fed systems, in both domestic stoves and more automated industrial boilers. A briquette, being a single larger piece, is normally fed by hand, much like loading a log of firewood — which makes it well suited to stoves and open fireplaces that don't have an automated feed system.
Wood briquettes vs. traditional firewood
Compared with firewood and hardwood heat logs, a briquette is a manufactured product, not a natural log that's been cut and split. Traditional firewood comes straight from the tree and needs a seasoning period — typically several months — to bring its natural moisture down before it burns efficiently. A briquette, made from sawdust that's already dried and compressed, starts out with a low and more consistent moisture content from unit to unit, which tends to produce a more even burn and, often, less ash residue per unit of energy released.
That doesn't mean one format always replaces the other: many wood-stove users mix both fuels depending on availability, local price, or the type of fire they want, since firewood keeps a burning character and scent that many households particularly value in an open hearth.
RUF and Pini Kay: the two dominant industrial formats
Two industrial formats clearly dominate the European wood briquette market. RUF briquettes are rectangular, brick-shaped blocks, which makes them easy to stack and store on a pallet in much the same way as cut firewood. Pini Kay briquettes, by contrast, are hexagonal with a central hole running through the block, a design intended to make ignition easier and improve airflow during combustion.
Both formats are made by pressing sawdust and shavings with no additives, and the choice between them usually comes down to local market convention, the type of stove or boiler installed, and personal preference, rather than any major difference in the fuel's calorific value. Our dedicated pages for each format go into more detail on their characteristics and typical uses.
Other biomass options we do supply
At Maderas Caamaño, wood briquettes are not currently part of our product line. This page is intended as general information for anyone comparing biomass fuel options and looking to understand the differences between formats before deciding what suits their stove, boiler or installation.
We do manufacture and supply other closely related biomass fuels, made from the same type of by-product at our own sawmill: wood pellets for domestic stoves and industrial boilers, firewood and hardwood heat logs for fireplaces and wood stoves, and wood chips for industrial biomass for larger-volume boilers. If pellet or firewood turns out to be a better fit for your installation after reading this page, you're welcome to check those pages directly or get in touch with us.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between a wood briquette and a wood pellet?
A pellet is a small cylinder, typically 6 mm or 8 mm in diameter, continuously extruded through a die. A briquette is a much larger block, usually pressed with a hydraulic or mechanical piston in a batch process, and is generally designed for manual feeding rather than automated auger-fed systems.
Does Maderas Caamaño supply wood briquettes?
No, wood briquettes are not currently part of our product line — this page is provided for general information. We do supply other biomass fuels made at our own sawmill, including wood pellets, firewood and hardwood heat logs, and wood chips for industrial biomass.
What's the difference between RUF and Pini Kay briquettes?
The main difference is shape: RUF briquettes are rectangular, brick-shaped blocks, while Pini Kay briquettes are hexagonal with a central hole that helps with ignition and airflow. See our dedicated pages for each format for more detail.
Are wood briquettes suitable for industrial boilers, or only domestic stoves?
Both. In domestic stoves and fireplaces they're typically loaded by hand, similar to firewood, while some industrial biomass boilers are also designed for manual or semi-automatic briquette feed, depending on the installation.
