Hunter Herald 5 Eco Review (UK 2026)
£1,099.The UK's cheapest mid-market 5kW wood-burner from a Devon-made brand. Strongest back-boiler integration at this price point. 10-year warranty.
Headline specs
- Heat output: 5kW nominal
- Certification: DEFRA-approved, Ecodesign 2022
- Fuel: Multifuel (wood + authorised smokeless)
- Dimensions: ~510×580×380mm
- Weight: ~108kg
- Flue: 5" (125mm)
- Air control: Double
- Back-boiler option: Yes (£300–£500 supplement)
- Warranty: 10 years on authorised dealer registration
- UK manufacture: Devon
- RRP: £1,099
Why the Herald 5 wins on value
At £1,099 RRP, the Herald 5 Eco is the cheapest UK-made mid-market 5kW wood-burner from a brand with a serious dealer network and 10-year warranty. Direct UK rivals sit higher: Stovax Stockton 5 at £1,223, Aarrow Ecoburn 5 at £1,379.
r/DIYUK consensus from 2024–25 sums it up: "good solid mid-range product… on a par with Stovax for quality but without the price tag." Stove fitters consistently rate Hunter as their go-to value pick at this kW.
Calculate your Herald 5 install cost
The Herald 5 sits in the mid-tier in the calculator. Total installed cost typically £2,700-£3,700 with an existing chimney.
Open the calculator →Back-boiler — Hunter's niche
Hunter's strongest single feature at this price: back-boiler integration is available across the Herald range, including the Herald 5 Eco. For owners who want a stove that also helps heat the central heating system, the Herald 5 with back-boiler is the most accessible UK route.
See our dedicated back-boiler install cost guide for the full integration scope. Typical total install cost with back-boiler: £5,000–£8,000.
Herald 5 vs Herald 5 Eco Slimline
Two variants for different fireplace configurations:
- Standard Herald 5 Eco (£1,099): standard body depth (~380mm). Best for openings with full standard depth available.
- Herald 5 Eco Slimline (£1,569 RRP / £1,249 street): shallower body for shallow fireplace recesses. Available as single-door or double-door variant. Best for older UK homes with shallow openings.
Same 5kW output. The Slimline costs more and gets you a different form factor — not a feature upgrade. Measure your fireplace depth first.
Pricing vs UK alternatives
- Herald 5 £1,099 vs Stovax Stockton 5 £1,223 — Hunter is cheaper; Stovax has broader dealer network. Both 5kW multifuel. Stovax guide →
- Herald 5 £1,099 vs Aarrow Ecoburn 5 £1,379 — Hunter is significantly cheaper; Aarrow has clearSkies Level 4 and lifetime body warranty. Aarrow guide →
- Herald 5 £1,099 vs Charnwood C-Four £1,195 — comparable. Hunter wins on price; Charnwood has the broader warranty package (3-year consumables in addition to body).
Where to buy
UK authorised dealers for the 10-year warranty:
- Direct Stoves (Cheadle, online + showroom)
- Stoves Are Us (online, broad range)
- Castfireplaces (Heanor, Derbyshire — main Hunter showroom)
- Rangemoors, Stove Supermarket, The Stove House, Bonfire
Get 3 quotes from HETAS installers who fit Hunter
Tell us your postcode and we'll match you with HETAS installers experienced with the Hunter range — especially important if you want a back-boiler integration.
Find an installer →Frequently asked questions
Is the Hunter Herald 5 Eco a good UK mid-market stove?
Yes — one of the most-installed UK 5kW wood-burners at £1,099. Mid-market workhorse with Hunter's standard 10-year warranty. Particularly strong if you want a back-boiler option, where Hunter outshines Stovax and Aarrow at this price point.
Herald 5 Eco vs Herald 5 Eco Slimline?
Standard Herald 5 Eco (£1,099) has standard-depth body. Slimline variant (£1,569 RRP / £1,249 street) has a shallower depth profile for shallow fireplace recesses where a standard stove won't fit. Same 5kW output, same internals. Choose Slimline if your fireplace depth is under 350mm.
Does the Herald 5 come with a back-boiler option?
Yes — back-boiler integration is available across the Herald range. The Herald 5 Eco with back-boiler is one of the most accessible UK boiler stoves at this kW. See our /cost/back-boiler guide for the integration cost (typically £5,000–£8,000 total).
How does the Herald 5 compare to the Stovax Stockton 5?
Both are go-to UK mid-market 5kW wood-burners. Hunter wins on price (£1,099 vs £1,223 RRP) and back-boiler integration options. Stovax wins on dealer network breadth and slightly more cosmetic variants (Wide, Sheraton, Huntingdon). Either is an excellent choice; pick the one with the nearer dealer.
Where to buy a Hunter Herald 5?
Major UK retailers: Direct Stoves (Cheadle), Stoves Are Us (online), Castfireplaces (Heanor — main Hunter showroom), Rangemoors (Devon). Also Stove Supermarket, The Stove House, Bonfire.