Buying good-quality firewood is only half the job. Once your logs arrive, knowing how to store firewood outside properly helps keep them dry and ready for the next time you light the fire.
Fortunately, learning how to store firewood outside isn’t complicated. You don’t need an elaborate log cabin for your logs or a degree in timber management. A sensible location, protection from the worst of the weather and plenty of airflow will do most of the hard work.
In this guide, we’ll explain how to store firewood outside, how to keep your logs dry through our famously cooperative British weather, and the common storage mistakes worth avoiding.
What’s the best way to store firewood outside?
If you only remember three things from this guide on how to store firewood outside, make them these:
- Keep your logs off the ground
- Protect them from direct rain
- Allow plenty of air to circulate around them
A proper outdoor log store is ideal because it can achieve all three at once. However, you can also store firewood successfully using a raised rack or another covered, well-ventilated area.
The important thing to remember when considering how to store firewood outside is not to completely seal your logs away from the outside world. Keeping rain out matters, but so does letting moisture escape.
Why does firewood storage matter?
Firewood needs to be dry before it is burned.
Wet wood doesn’t burn as efficiently as properly dried wood. It also produces more smoke and can contribute to deposits in your stove and chimney.
For domestic burning, the general benchmark is a moisture content of 20% or less. In England, wood sold in volumes of less than two cubic metres must be certified as Ready to Burn, confirming that it has a moisture content of no more than 20%. You can read more on the Government’s guide to selling wood for domestic use. But even properly dried firewood needs looking after once you’ve bought it.
Leave dry logs sitting on wet ground or exposed to persistent rain and they can absorb moisture again. A little thought about storage therefore goes a long way towards keeping your firewood in good condition.
If you’ve ever wondered why this makes such a difference when the fire is actually lit, have a read of our guide to what happens when you burn wet wood.
Keep your firewood off the ground
One of the simplest improvements you can make when considering how to store firewood outside is raising your logs above ground level.
Soil, grass and other surfaces can hold moisture. If the bottom layer of your firewood is sitting directly on a damp surface for weeks or months, you’re giving that moisture an easy route into the stack.
Instead, use something that creates a dry, stable base while allowing some airflow underneath.
A purpose-built log store does this nicely, but depending on your setup, a suitable raised rack or similar solid support can work too.
The main goal is simple: don’t leave your firewood sitting in the wet.
Give your firewood plenty of airflow
It can be tempting to think that keeping logs dry means sealing them away as tightly as possible.
In reality, ventilation is a big part of good firewood storage.
Air needs to circulate around the logs so that moisture can escape rather than becoming trapped inside the stack. This is particularly important if you’re storing wood for a long period or drying wood before it is ready to burn.
Try not to cram logs together into one enormous, tightly packed heap. Stack them securely, but leave enough space for air to move around the wood.
Think sheltered rather than sealed.
Should you cover firewood outside?
Yes, protecting firewood from rain is sensible, but how you cover it matters.
Ideally, an outdoor log store will have a roof that protects the stack from rain while leaving the sides relatively open for ventilation.
If you’re using another type of cover, concentrate on keeping rain off the top rather than wrapping the entire stack tightly from top to bottom.
Completely enclosing firewood with an impermeable cover can restrict airflow and trap moisture inside. That’s rather defeating the object.
Can you cover firewood with a tarpaulin?
A tarpaulin can provide temporary protection, but don’t simply wrap the whole pile up like a parcel.
Secure the tarp so that it protects the top of the stack from rain while leaving ventilation around the sides where possible.
Also check it from time to time. British wind has a remarkable ability to relocate carefully positioned tarpaulins to whichever corner of the garden they’re least useful in.
Where is the best place for a log store?
When considering how to store firewood outside and the best place for a log store, the perfect position will vary from one home to another, but there are a few things worth considering.
Choose somewhere that is:
- reasonably sheltered from driving rain
- dry and well drained
- open enough for air to circulate
- convenient to reach when you need logs
- on a firm, level base
That last practical point is easy to overlook.
A log store tucked into the furthest corner of the garden may look wonderfully tidy in July. It can feel slightly less inspired on a cold, wet January evening when the fire needs another log.
Try to strike a balance between good storage conditions and somewhere you’ll actually be happy to visit regularly.
Can you store firewood against the house?
If your log store is positioned near an exterior wall, it’s sensible to leave space for air to circulate rather than packing the logs tightly against the wall itself.
Good ventilation is the recurring theme here.
You should also think about general fire safety when thinking about how to store firewood outside. Keep stored dry wood safely away from stoves, open fires and other ignition sources.
If you’re unsure about safe distances around a particular stove or heating appliance, follow the manufacturer’s instructions and seek professional advice where necessary.
What’s the best way to stack firewood?
A good firewood stack should be stable without being packed unnecessarily tightly.
Arrange your logs so that the stack supports itself and air can move between and around them. Avoid simply throwing everything into a heap, particularly if the wood is being stored for several months.
You don’t need to become overly particular about every individual log. There are plenty of theories about the perfect direction for bark, the ideal angle for each piece and various other details.
For everyday home storage, the fundamentals matter much more:
Keep the stack stable, keep it raised, keep most of the rain off and let the air circulate.
Get those things right when looking at how to store firewood outside and you’re most of the way there.
Can you store firewood in a shed or garage?
You can store dry firewood in a shed or garage, provided the space is suitable and sufficiently ventilated.
A completely enclosed, damp shed isn’t automatically better than a well-designed outdoor log store. If moisture gets inside and there’s very little airflow, it can linger.
If you’re storing logs in a shed, make sure the building itself is dry, and there is adequate ventilation.
Garages require a little more common sense because they’re often used for several different purposes. Keep firewood away from potential ignition sources and avoid creating an unstable pile somewhere people regularly walk or work.
For many households considering how to store firewood outside, a purpose-built outdoor log store is the simpler solution because it combines shelter with natural ventilation.
How should you store kiln-dried logs?
Kiln-dried logs have had their moisture content reduced during the drying process, but that doesn’t mean they can be left uncovered outside indefinitely.
Wood can absorb moisture from its surroundings.
Once your kiln-dried logs arrive, the aim is therefore to keep them dry, rather than giving them another round of British weather to deal with.
Store kiln-dried logs:
- under cover
- off the ground
- somewhere dry
- with good ventilation
- away from direct sources of heat or ignition
If you’re bringing a smaller quantity indoors ready for use, choose a suitable dry location away from your stove or open fire.
How to store firewood outside in winter
Winter doesn’t fundamentally change the rules of firewood storage, but it does make getting them right more important.
Persistent rain, damp ground and strong winds can all expose weaknesses in your setup.
Before winter arrives, check that:
- your logs aren’t touching damp ground
- the roof or cover is keeping direct rain off
- water isn’t pooling underneath or around the store
- air can still circulate around the stack
- any temporary cover is securely fastened
- the stack itself is stable
It’s worth checking your log store occasionally after particularly wet or windy weather too.
A two-minute check now is preferable to discovering a pile of damp logs when you’re trying to get the fire going later.
How can you tell if your firewood is too damp to burn?
The most reliable way to check is with a suitable moisture meter.
Wood should have a moisture content of 20% or less before burning. For the most useful reading, test a freshly split surface rather than simply measuring the outside of a log.
There are also a few physical clues that wood may be dry, including cracks towards the ends, bark becoming loose and a relatively light weight. Tapping dry logs together can also produce a more hollow sound.
These signs are useful, but they’re not as precise as actually measuring the moisture level.
If your logs have become damp during storage, don’t assume they’ll be fine once they’re sitting beside the fire. Give them time to dry properly before burning them.
Common firewood storage mistakes
When it comes to how to store firewood outside, most storage problems come back to a handful of simple mistakes.
Leaving logs directly on damp ground
The bottom of the stack can absorb moisture. Raise your firewood on a suitable base instead.
Wrapping the whole stack tightly in plastic
Keeping rain off is useful. Preventing all ventilation isn’t. Cover the top while allowing air to circulate.
Putting the log store somewhere water collects
Even a decent log store will struggle if it’s sitting in a permanently soggy patch of garden. Look for somewhere well drained.
Packing logs too tightly
Some gaps between the logs help air circulate and moisture escape.
Assuming kiln-dried logs can’t get wet
They can. Kiln drying removes moisture from the wood, but it doesn’t make it waterproof.
Keeping too much firewood beside the stove
It may be convenient, but dry wood is combustible. Store it safely away from your stove, fireplace and other sources of ignition.
Forgetting about your logs once they’re stacked
Covers move, stacks shift and weather changes. An occasional look at your firewood store can catch small problems before they become soggy ones.
Your simple ‘how to store firewood outside’ checklist
Before you congratulate yourself on a beautifully stacked log pile, run through this quick ‘how to store firewood outside’ checklist:
- Are the logs raised off the ground?
- Are they protected from direct rain?
- Can air circulate around the stack?
- Is the area underneath reasonably dry?
- Is the stack secure and stable?
- Is the wood safely away from ignition sources?
- Can you reach it easily when you actually need it?
If the answer to all seven is yes, your firewood is in pretty good shape.
How to store firewood outside FAQs
Can firewood be stored outside all year?
Yes. Firewood can be stored outside throughout the year if it is kept off damp ground, protected from excessive rain and given plenty of ventilation.
A well-designed outdoor log store is ideal for this.
Should firewood be covered with a tarp?
A tarp can help protect firewood from rain, particularly as a temporary solution. Avoid tightly wrapping the entire stack, though. Leave enough space around the sides for air to circulate.
Can kiln-dried logs get wet again?
Yes. Kiln-dried logs can absorb moisture if they’re exposed to rain or stored in damp conditions.
Once you’ve bought dry logs, good storage helps keep them that way.
Can I store firewood in a shed?
Yes, provided the shed is dry and adequately ventilated. A damp, poorly ventilated shed can trap moisture, so simply putting logs indoors isn’t enough on its own.
How dry should firewood be before burning?
Aim for a moisture content of 20% or less.
In England, firewood sold in quantities of less than two cubic metres must be certified as Ready to Burn, which confirms a moisture content of 20% or below. If you’re drying your own wood or want to check logs after a long period in storage, a moisture meter is the most reliable way to check.
Keep good logs in good condition
Learning how to store firewood outside isn’t particularly complicated.
Keep your logs off the ground, sheltered from direct rain and well ventilated, and you’ve covered the most important points.
Most importantly, when considering how to store firewood outside, remember that buying properly dried firewood is only the beginning. Looking after it once it’s delivered helps ensure it’s still dry and ready to burn when you come to use it.
At County Logs and Coal, we know that choosing the right fuel and looking after it properly go hand in hand. If you’re stocking up on firewood, take a look at our range of logs and make sure you’ve got a suitable dry, ventilated place ready for your delivery.
Then all that’s left is keeping the log basket topped up, preferably before you’ve settled into the comfiest chair in the house.