Buck Stove, a stove manufacturer in Spruce Pine, North Carolina, makes wood stoves, wood fireplace inserts, zero clearance wood fireplaces, a wood cook stove, camp stoves, vent free gas stoves, gas fireboxes and gas log sets. To choose one, start with how many square feet you need to heat. Then decide how it installs: freestanding on a hearth, as an insert in a masonry fireplace, or framed into a wall. Call (708) 765-6925 and we will check the sizing with you before you order.
Buck wood stoves by square footage
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Up to 1,800 square feet: the Model 21 (Buck calls it the 21NC) heats 800 to 1,800 square feet. It works freestanding on legs, as an insert in an existing fireplace, or as a prefab insert. The Model 21ZC (ZC21 on Buck's site) has the same 800 to 1,800 square foot rating and is made for new homes and renovations.
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1,600 to 2,700 square feet: the Model 81C is a catalytic stove that Buck calls "an outstanding choice for large homes." It goes freestanding or into a masonry fireplace as an insert.
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Up to 3,200 square feet: the Model 91 is a catalytic stove with a 4.4 cubic foot firebox and an 8 inch flue. Buck says it is its most popular selling wood stove. It installs freestanding or as a masonry fireplace insert.
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Also in the Buck line: the Model 74C and the zero clearance Model ZC74C, both rated 1,500 to 2,600 square feet in Buck's 2026 catalog. Our Buck sizing guide puts the six wood heating stoves side by side.
Freestanding, insert or built into a wall
Freestanding means the stove sits on a hearth pad, on legs or a pedestal. As an insert, the Model 21, Model 74C, Model 81C and Model 91 fit into a masonry fireplace, and a standard trim kit or oversize trim kit closes the gap around the opening. Built in means a zero clearance model framed into a wall in new construction or a remodel. Compare the two zero clearance models in Buck 21ZC vs ZC74C.
Catalytic stoves and blowers
The Model 91, Model 81C, Model 74C and ZC74C are catalytic stoves; the Model 21 and 21ZC are not. Buck lists a factory installed blower on the Model 91 and the Model 81C, and lists the blower as included on the Model 21 and, in its 2026 catalog, the Model 74C. If you are choosing between the two large catalytic stoves, read Buck Model 91 vs 81C.
Cooking and camping with wood
The Homesteader is Buck's wood cook stove, with a large cooktop and an oven built in. Buck rates it for 800 to 1,800 square feet. Our Homesteader guide covers cooking, baking and heat. For camp, Buck builds the Big Buck and Little Buck camp stoves from 11 gauge steel, with a steel door and air intake adjustments.
Buck gas stoves, fireboxes and coal
Buck's vent free gas stoves include the Model 34 Contemporary, the Model 34 Manhattan, the Model 384, the Model 329, the Model 1127, the Model 1110 and the steel Townsend II. Buck rates the Model 34 Contemporary at up to 33,000 BTU, the Model 1127 at up to 25,000 BTU and the Model 1110 at up to 10,000 BTU. The Model T-33 gas stove carries a 32,000 BTU rating. Check your local code before you order a vent free unit.
The ZCBB and 42ZCBB fireboxes come in 36 inch and 42 inch sizes, and Buck says they need no chimney or hearth. For coal, the Combo Coal stove burns bituminous or anthracite coal. It is not approved for mobile homes.
Questions buyers ask
Where are Buck stoves made?
In Spruce Pine, North Carolina. Buck says it has always been proud of its North Carolina roots and its American made commitment, and that it is determined to remain a manufacturer in Spruce Pine.
Which Buck wood stove heats my house?
Buck rates the Model 21 and 21ZC for 800 to 1,800 square feet, the Model 74C and ZC74C for 1,500 to 2,600 square feet, the Model 81C for 1,600 to 2,700 square feet and the Model 91 for up to 3,200 square feet. The sizing guide walks through the choice, and we will size it with you by phone.
Can a Buck wood stove go into my existing fireplace?
Yes, for the Model 21, Model 74C, Model 81C and Model 91. Buck says the Model 21 can be installed into an existing fireplace with a face plate kit, and that the 81C and 91 work as masonry fireplace inserts. Measure the opening first: each product page lists the minimum fireplace size.
Is the blower included?
On the Model 91, Model 81C, Model 74C and Model 21, yes. For the ZCBB and 42ZCBB gas fireboxes, the blower assembly kit is sold separately and can be added after the firebox is installed.
Does the federal wood stove tax credit still apply in 2026?
No. The federal credit ended for stoves placed in service after December 31, 2025. Our guide, Does the wood stove tax credit still apply in 2026?, explains what changed and what may still help with the cost of a new stove.
How does delivery work?
Each Buck stove ships free by freight within the continental US, and the carrier calls ahead to schedule a delivery day with you. There is no sales tax on orders shipped outside New York, and returns are accepted within 30 days under our return policy. Questions about flue size, clearances, hearth pads or insert fit: call (708) 765-6925 before you order.
Buck Stove buying guides
