To store logs and firewood well, keep them outdoors in a log store with a roof, a raised floor and ventilated sides, sited out of the prevailing wind and close to the door you use most. Indoors, keep only a day or two's supply, in a basket or rack well away from the stove. Get those basics right and your logs will light easily and burn cleanly all winter.
How to store logs and firewood: the essentials
-
Off the ground: Raise logs on a slatted floor, pallet or bricks to keep ground moisture out of the bottom row.
-
Covered on top, open at the sides: A roof keeps the rain off, while open or slatted sides let air carry moisture away.
-
Air through the stack: Stack logs neatly with small gaps rather than tipping them into a heap.
-
Out of the prevailing wind: Face the open front away from the direction your weather usually comes from.
-
Dry before you burn: Logs should have a moisture content of 20% or less before they go on the fire.
-
Away from the stove: Indoors, keep logs in a basket or rack at a safe distance from the stove or fireplace.
Why a log store works better than a tarp, shed or open pile
Wood takes on and gives off moisture depending on its surroundings, so even well-seasoned logs will turn damp again if they are stored badly. HETAS notes that firewood kept in poor conditions reabsorbs moisture and may eventually start to decompose. Most of the trouble comes from three common setups.
Logs on the ground: Soil, grass and bare concrete all hold damp, and the bottom layer of a pile draws it straight up. That row is usually the one that never dries properly, however good the weather.
Tarps and plastic sheeting: Wrapping a stack keeps rain off but also traps the moisture leaving the wood. HETAS notes that closely covering bagged firewood can lead to sweating, and a fully wrapped stack is prone to mould for the same reason.
Sheds and garages: These keep the rain off, but the air inside barely moves, leaving moisture from the wood with nowhere to go. They are fine for logs that are already dry; wet wood dries far better outdoors.
A purpose-built log store deals with all three at once: a roof over the stack, a floor that lifts the bottom row clear of the ground, and sides that let air through. It also gives your logs a fixed, tidy home close to the house. There is more on the practical side of owning one in our guide to the benefits of domestic log stores.
What makes a good log store
Log stores come in a wide range of shapes and sizes, but the ones that keep logs dry share the same handful of features. These are worth checking whichever design you choose.
A roof with a generous overhang
A pitched or sloping roof sheds water away from the stack. Look for one that overhangs the front: drips then fall clear of the logs, and rain hitting the ground is less likely to splash back up into the bottom rows. On an exposed site, a deeper overhang gives the front of the stack more shelter from rain driven in at an angle.
A raised, ventilated floor
The floor should hold the bottom row clear of the ground with space for air to move underneath. A slatted floor does this well. If your store has no raised base, propping the bottom layer on bricks or timber does the same job and improves airflow through the whole stack.
Slatted or ventilated sides
Sides with small gaps between the boards let air pass through the logs while still sheltering them from the worst of the weather. Fully solid sides give more protection on a windy site but slow drying, and slatted sides strike a sensible balance between the two.
An open front or doors
An open front makes loading and unloading easy and gives the stack the most airflow. Doors suit stores that cannot be stored away from the prevailing weather, or where you want a neater look or more security. A store with doors can also keep other outdoor items or equipment tidy outside the burning season.
Treated, responsibly sourced timber
A timber log store sits outside all year and needs timber treated to cope with the British weather, ideally sourced under schemes such as FSC or PEFC. Fixings should be heavy-duty, because a full store puts a lot of weight on its side walls and needs to stay strong and square for its whole lifespan.
How big a log store do you need?
The right size comes down to how often you light the fire and how you buy your wood. As a rough guide:
-
Occasional fires, mostly weekends: A compact store close to the door is usually enough.
-
Most evenings through winter: A larger store saves you restocking every few days in poor weather.
-
Daily, as a main source of heat: A long store, or a main store plus a smaller one by the door for easy topping up.
-
Bulk deliveries: Size the store to take a full delivery with room to spare, so nothing is left out in the rain.
If you are unsure, it is usually better to size up than down. Any logs left unburned this winter will carry on seasoning in the store, ready for next year. Our own log stores run from 3ft to 11ft wide, and measuring the space by your door first makes choosing much easier.
Where to put your log store
Put the store close to the door you use most. On a wet January evening, the last thing you want is a dash across the garden every time the basket runs low.
Face the open front away from the prevailing wind, which for much of the UK comes from the south-west, to keep rain from blowing into the stack.
A spot that gets some sun and a breeze helps logs dry and stay dry. Low-lying corners, boggy ground and places under dripping trees do the opposite.
Stand the store on a firm, level base such as paving slabs, gravel or a concrete pad. A level base keeps the stack stable and stops the frame racking out of shape under load.
Many UK log stores sit against a house wall or garden fence, and that works well as long as the store has its own back panel and a small gap behind it for air. A loose stack piled straight against brickwork traps damp against both the logs and the wall.
How to stack logs in a log store
-
Split before you stack: Split logs dry much faster than whole rounds, and around 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20cm) across is a practical size for both drying and burning.
-
Stack in neat rows: Lay logs in rows rather than tipping them in, leaving small gaps so air can move through the stack.
-
New wood at the bottom, older wood on top: We recommend keeping your newest wood at the bottom of the pile and your oldest at the top, so the driest logs are always easiest to reach while newer ones keep drying.
-
Keep a mix of sizes within reach: Arrange the stack so you can get at both smaller and larger logs as the fire needs them.
-
Keep kindling separate: Store kindling where it stays bone dry, such as a lidded box or a sheltered shelf, ready for lighting.
-
Leave a little headroom: A small gap between the top row and the roof lets air move over the stack as well as through it.
Dry logs and wet wood need different things from your store
Kiln-dried and Ready to Burn logs arrive with a moisture content of 20% or less. In plain terms, the store's only job is to stop them taking moisture back on, and a roof, a raised floor and good airflow are all it takes.
Wet or freshly cut wood needs time, sun and moving air. Under the Air Quality Regulations 2020, wet wood sold in volumes of two cubic metres or more must come with drying advice. That advice is to dry it in a sunny, well-aired space for at least two years, keeping rain off in winter. An open-fronted store with slatted sides, sited in a sunny and breezy spot, suits this well.
The same official notice gives two signs that wood is ready to burn: radial cracks across the ends and bark that comes away easily. For certainty, calibrate a moisture meter and test a freshly split face rather than the outside of the log.
In England, firewood sold in volumes under two cubic metres has had to be certified as Ready to Burn since the rules came into force in May 2021. The scheme is run by Woodsure on behalf of Defra, and certified wood carries a logo confirming a moisture content of 20% or less.
Storing logs indoors safely
Bring in a day or two's supply at a time and keep it in a log basket or rack. The main stack belongs outside in the store, which keeps dirt and damp out of the house. Never store logs on the hearth, or stack them on top of, beside or against a stove.
Give logs a quick check for insects and spiders before bringing them in. You can use some pest control options around a log store, but avoid using pesticides or other chemicals on or near logs that are going to be burned. A store with doors helps keep many pests out in the first place.
If you would like help choosing a log store for your space, get in touch with our team here at Rutland County Garden Furniture. We are always happy to help.
Frequently asked questions
Can you store logs in a garage or shed?
You can keep logs that are already dry in a garage or shed for a short time, as long as they are raised off the floor. Wet or freshly cut wood needs the moving air of a ventilated outdoor log store to dry properly. If the garage is attached to the house, keep the quantity small and well away from any source of heat.
Is it okay to stack logs against your house?
A log store with its own back panel can sit against a house wall, provided you leave a small gap behind it for air to circulate. Stacking logs loose against brickwork is best avoided, because it traps damp against both the wood and the wall.
How do logs stay dry in a log store?
Three features do the work together. The roof keeps rain and snow off, the raised floor keeps the bottom row clear of ground moisture, and the ventilated sides let moving air carry damp away from the stack.
Do logs go off if you store them for too long?
Logs kept dry, off the ground and well ventilated carry over happily into the next season, and wetter logs keep drying while they wait. Logs left on wet ground, wrapped in plastic or exposed to rain will reabsorb moisture and eventually start to rot. If you have logs that have been stored for a few years, check them with a moisture meter before burning.
Do I need a log store with doors?
Not always. An open front is easier to load and gives the most airflow, which suits most sheltered spots. Doors are useful on exposed sites, where you want a tidier look, or if you would like to use the store for other outdoor items as well.