According to data from the German Pellet Institute (DEPI), the average price for a tonne of pellets in January stands at €405.33 for a purchase volume of 6 tonnes. At current levels, the kilowatt-hour of climate-friendly wood energy costs 8.11 euro cents.

Compared with natural gas, wood pellets have offered an average price advantage of around 30% since 2015. Relative to heating oil, the price advantage over recent years has been roughly 25%.

“Despite unfavourable conditions, the price increase for wood pellets remains comparatively modest,” said Martin Bentele, managing director of DEPI. He noted that regional developments vary: while there have recently been signs of easing in south-western Germany, parts of central Germany remain under pressure, with some waiting times for deliveries. “Overall, prices are still within a typical winter range,” Bentele said.

Wood pellets continue to be a reliable, domestically produced energy source with high security of supply, even during the winter months. Long-term market observations show that prices remain stable and predictable over time. “Like all energy sources, pellets can of course be affected by external events or economic developments,” Bentele added. He expects that this year’s “real” winter will encourage consumers to refill their pellet storage during the warmer months.

Regional prices
In January 2026, regional price differences for wood pellets (based on a purchase volume of 6 tonnes) are evident. In northern and eastern Germany, pellets cost €392.95 per tonne, followed by central Germany at €396.92 per tonne. In southern Germany, the average price is higher at €412.24 per tonne.

For larger purchase volumes of 26 tonnes, January 2026 prices are lower across all regions. In central Germany, pellets are priced at €379.02 per tonne, in northern and eastern Germany at €380.39 per tonne, and in southern Germany at €398.63 per tonne. All prices include value-added tax.