Century S250 vs Drolet Escape 1200 N: Which Small Stove to Buy (2026)
No Sales Tax in any state. We sell both of these small stoves. The Century S250 and the Drolet Escape 1200 N both come from Stove Builder International (SBI) in Quebec and are rated for the same 250–1,200 sq ft. The difference is that the Escape 1200 N is the newer N-series revision, and it makes a lot more heat.
Side by side
| Spec | Century S250 | Drolet Escape 1200 N |
|---|---|---|
| Heating area | 250–1,200 ft² | 250–1,200 ft² |
| Max heat output | 45,000 BTU/h | 75,000 BTU/h |
| Firebox (overall / EPA loading) | 1.8 ft³ / 1.55 ft³ | 1.85 ft³ / 1.67 ft³ |
| Max burn time | 5 h | 5 h |
| Combustion | Non-catalytic | Non-catalytic with NexBurn tertiary zone |
| Flue | 6" | 6" |
| Warranty | 5 years on firebox welds and cast iron door frame, 1–2 years on most other parts | Drolet limited lifetime |
| Availability | Ships in 1–2 days | Ships in 1–2 days |
Which one to buy
Buy the Escape 1200 N. Same coverage rating, but its NexBurn firebox puts out 75,000 BTU/h against the S250's 45,000, so it recovers a cold room much faster. It also carries Drolet's limited lifetime warranty.
If the Escape 1200 N has a wait, the S250 is the stove to take: same SBI platform family, same 250–1,200 sq ft rating, current lead time Ships in 1–2 days. It suits a cabin, shop or small house where you want steady, moderate heat rather than fast recovery.
One install note: the 1200 N needs 24" to a side wall, more than the stove it replaced, so check section 3 of its manual against your space before you order.
Shop the Drolet Escape 1200 N → Shop the Century S250 →
Completing the install
Both stoves run a 6" flue, and both take the AC02050 blower and AC02055 thermodisc. We also stock 6" single-wall stove pipe and hearth pads. Shopping small stoves more broadly? See our best small wood stoves guide.
More Century and Drolet comparisons
- Century Heating vs Drolet: the full range compared
- Every Century model and its Drolet equivalent
- Drolet Escape 1200 N review
Specifications from each model's current SBI installation manual. Century Heating and Drolet are trademarks of Stove Builder International Inc. StoveSource is an authorized online dealer for both.