Drying and Stacking Firewood

Before you stack firewood, understand that firewood is measured by the cord, which is the amount of firewood that can fit into an 8' x 4' x 4'space. Because of the irregularities of the individual pieces of wood, the space will more likely fit about 80 cubic feet when you stack firewood.

The best method to store the most firewood possible (roughly 100 cubic feet) is to start with relatively uniform pieces of wood. Sorting firewood prior to stacking can be helpful for this consolidation. It is important to stack firewood as close as possible to avoid large gaps, however some gaps are necessary to allow the wood to continue its drying process.

The best place to stack firewood is inside of a wood room, shed or garage. This keeps the wood out of the elements and allows it to stay dry. If these spaces are not available, it is advisable to stack firewood on a platform that is at least 6 inches off of the ground and to cover the stack with a tarp.

Once properly stacked, you must dry your firewood. If the wood you use for your fire is not dry enough then your fire will be less efficient and smoky, which can pose health dangers due to toxic gases or particulate matter. Drying firewood requires lots of time, or alternatively a kiln or other apparatus for quick drying.

To dry firewood naturally, split the wood so one side is free from bark. This will allow air to reach the wood and moisture to evaporate. Next, select a place to stack your woodpile. Ensure the pile will receive plenty of sunshine and air circulation. Do not start the woodpile directly on the ground because the wood on the bottom will retain moisture and start to rot. Instead, lay down metal poles or wooden beams. Space them so air can circulate then stack your firewood on top.

Stack it loosely to allow air flow and if you are stacking against a house or shed, make sure the firewood isn't flush against the building. Maintaining plenty of cracks in your firewood pile is important for allowing air and light to circulate through.

Drying firewood can take from 3-6 months or up to a year. The drier your wood is, the more efficiently it will burn.

The next step is to season your firewood, or reduce your wood's water content. Firewood that is too wet will burn less or not at all. Different species of wood season at different rates, and some parts of the country season firewood faster than others. You should season your firewood for at least 6 months before using it, though a full year is recommended.

You can speed up seasoning by splitting and shortening your firewood as soon as you can. If you don't have a year or two to wait for natural seasoning, cut your logs no longer than 12" and split them so that no piece is larger than 4" in either height or width. Lay them out bark side down in the sun for as many days as possible but be sure to cover them when it rains. This can be labor intensive, but you will be rewarded with drier logs and better fires.​