How to Store Firewood Outside in Winter

Nothing's better than the crackle of a well-built fire - especially when your firewood has been properly stored and seasoned.

A roaring fire, fed by well-kept logs.

A roaring fire in winter brings warmth and comfort into a family home while helping to lower electricity costs. But to get the most out of your wood burning, you should know how to store firewood.

If you cut your own firewood, you might wonder: When and where should you store firewood to keep it dry and usable?

This article shares tips and methods for outdoor firewood storage, suggests ideal firewood spots, highlights the challenges of burning damp wood, and recommends essential tools and techniques for a successful wood-burning season.

Greenwood and Dried Firewood: Spotting the Differences

If you're new to chopping wood from your backyard, it's crucial to know how to properly dry wood before burning it as a source of warmth.

For instance, greenwood is firewood cut straight from a tree. Completely saturated with water, greenwood isn't recommended for immediate use because it creates a lot of smoke, generates little warmth, and burns out quickly.

Like a fine wine, drying or seasoning wood takes time. Once the moisture out of firewood evaporates, it lights easily and burns easily without excessive smoke.

Consider these differences between greenwood and dried firewood.

Colour: Ready-for-use firewood is grey while newly chopped wood looks fresh and vibrant. 

Weight: Cured wood is considerably lighter than water-laden wood. 

Sound: Knock two pieces together- wet wood sounds heavy while a light hollow ring means your wood is dry and ready to burn.

*Top tip: Use a moisture meter for accurate readings of the moisture content of your firewood. It's the best way to enjoy a warm fire all winter!  

Where to Store Firewood Outdoors 

Wood is vulnerable to weather like rain or snow, pests, and more, so you need to store it properly. Preferably, in dry shelters away from wood-eating bugs and insects.

Here are some ideal storage locations to keep your wood perfectly dry throughout the coldest months.

Sunlight: Seasoning wood takes months, so plan ahead. To dry your timber before the cold sets in, position your wood piles under direct light. Shady areas work too, but can take longer.

Stack against walls: Stack your wood against walls, but leave a space between the wall and your wood. This allows air to flow freely and prevents moisture build-up.

Elevated: Stacking wood directly on the ground can lead to rot. Also, pests like termites hinder the drying process. Always keep it elevated - like on a pallet or a firewood rack.

Inside outdoor woodsheds: Sheds safeguard your wood against harsh weather. But, if you don't have one, use a weather-resistant cover to shield your wood.

Where Shouldn't I Store Dried Firewood?

Where should you store your wood? Can you keep it inside if you don't have access to a yard or garden?

When preparing for the winter, bear in mind that you don’t want to be out, carrying heavy wood in the cold. So, find an ideal spot close by, within 150 feet of your home's entrance. If you choose to store it out of the way, invest in a wheelbarrow or a firewood cart for easier transportation.

Although storing firewood in your home offers seamless access, it also invites bugs inside. Plus, the wood dries more slowly because it doesn't get enough wind and sun exposure.

If you have no available storage space outside, install a firewood rack to keep your logs off the ground. Or, a well-ventilated garage or basement can also store logs.

Why Isn't My Wood Drying Properly?

Among the many tips in this guide, one of the most valuable is this: never leave wood on the ground, and here's why.

Poor airflow: Stacked directly on the ground, the firewood blocks airflow. Without enough ventilation, your timber can't dry properly.

Too much water: Wood soaks up moisture from the ground, resulting in decay or fungus growing.

Insects:  Elevate your stack a couple of inches off the ground so that it won't attract unwanted critters.

Are you still struggling to season it successfully? Check out these tips for common problems and how to fix them. 

You Aren't Keeping The Wood Dry 

Wood can prove challenging to keep dry when stored outdoors. Not only do you need to protect your woodpile from bad weather, but you also need to shield it correctly so that it receives enough air to dry. 

Here's how you do it: shield the top of your wood stack at an angle so that rain runs off it without soaking your bundle, but leave the sides of your woodpile uncovered to allow air to flow through. 

You Didn't Start Seasoning Early Enough 

While different types of wood dry at varying rates, preparations for seasoning and wood storage should start during summer. Failure to begin timeously results in wood not drying before wintertime. 

You Haven't 'Split' Your Wood

Unless you plan on throwing large chunks of wood into a bonfire, split your wood before you dry it. This process is best done while the wood is freshly cut and unseasoned, as it is softer and easier to chop. Splitting wood not only speeds up drying but also aids in igniting the fire.

You Didn't Stack Your Wood Correctly 

There’s a right way to stack, and incorrect implementation could result in wood that doesn’t dry fast enough or at all. We’ll look at stacking techniques later, but for now, it’s important to note that for moisture to evaporate, both ends of a wood piece must be exposed to sun and wind.

The Best Way to Stack Wood Outdoors

How you stack your wood is as important as where you store it outdoors. This can significantly affect how your firewood dries.

This means stacking your wood on a base to prevent damp or unwanted creatures from creeping in, making it unusable. 

Create the base using asphalt, gravel, tarp, or other materials, such as cinder blocks, or bricks. Once constructed, arrange your wood by placing the bigger pieces at the bottom for stability. Although you can have a tall wood stack, it shouldn’t tower over four feet for safety purposes and accessibility.

Pack your wood in an orderly but loose fashion, leaving spaces between the pieces to allow air to move freely. While various stacking methods exist, we feature a popular technique that ensures safe and efficient drying.

What is Norwegian Round Stacking?

Some might call wood packing a 'lost art' that must be mastered before the start of wood-burning season.

And while that might be true for particular methods, Norwegian round stacking doesn't require much skill or precision. It's also considered a more stable structure, reducing the risk of the wood tipping over.

Round stacking consists of a horizontal base arranged in a cylindrical pattern, with logs placed inside the centre to provide support and prevent an inward collapse, topped off with a layer of small logs with the bark facing upwards.

Not only aesthetically pleasing, round stacking is the ultimate time- and space-saving technique.

Firewood Drying Time: A Species-Specific Guide 

With firewood, some types burn longer and conduct more heat than others, with contributing factors such as density and water content making a difference. Generally, the denser and drier your wood is, the better - and warmer - your fires will be. 

Planning to snuggle up in front of a fire with hot chocolate or a glass of wine? Carefully selecting your firewood and factoring in drying times is crucial. With good planning, you'll have enough dried wood stored to last you the season.

Which is Better: Hardwood or Softwood?

Typically, hardwood is denser than softwood. Although it's expensive upfront, hardwood burns hotter and for a more extended period, making it ideal for a longer-lasting fire. In the long run, it's more economical to buy than softwood, which often depletes rapidly.

That said, softwood is practical for burning logs quickly and making large outdoor bonfires.

Among hardwoods, ashwood is a popular choice. It burns hot and produces long-lasting fires, emitting minimal smoke when properly dried. Cherry firewood is another top choice, enjoyed for its wonderful wooden aroma when lit and lack of smokiness.

On the flip side - softwoods like pine, cottonwood and cedar aren't ideal to use. They don't burn as efficiently and contain more water, resulting in a significantly longer drying process. Additionally, creating a fire from this softwood requires more maintenance. That's because wood burns through quickly, requiring more logs to be added to the fire.

Seasoned Versus Unseasoned 

As previously mentioned, drying wood in winter is essential because burning unseasoned timber is ineffective, unpleasant, and even outright dangerous.

Unseasoned wood produces more residue, which can lead to chimney blockages and even fires. If you choose it, burn it outdoors in a bonfire or fire pit for safety reasons rather than indoors.

Equipment To Haul and Store Firewood Easily

We’ve rounded up essential equipment you may need to store firewood efficiently. 

Firewood Log Carriers

Log carriers simplify the task of carrying logs into your home from the outdoors. Bid goodbye to awkwardly hauling around bundles of firewood while dealing with wood splinters.

This log carrier carries large pieces of wood, so you don't have to make several trips to your storage facility. It's also sturdy, durable, and weather-resistant!

Firewood Covers

Protect your firewood from the elements and pests with a heavy-duty firewood cover for year-round use.

Designed with velcro straps, you don't need to remove the entire cover to access your firewood.

The product also allows for ample circulation, so you don't have to worry about moisture build-up resulting in soggy or rotten wood.

Wood Moisture Meter

Tired of burning wet firewood that results in smoky and ineffective fires?  A wood moisture meter gives accurate readings of the level of moisture in various types of wood, including firewood, so you can ensure an effective burn every time.

Recap: How to Store Firewood Outside 

Do you dream of evenings cosied up in front of a crackling fire during the height of winter? Without proper firewood storage, you're likely to be disappointed.

This article has provided a comprehensive overview of where to store firewood during sub-zero temperatures, ensuring that your wood is dry and well-seasoned.

If your wood isn't ready to be burned, feels damp, or has become infested by insects, you're likely storing it incorrectly. We've discussed the best locations and settings for storing firewood, including the least recommended spots (note that storing firewood inside is generally discouraged). Additionally, we've covered the dos and don'ts of firewood seasoning in terms of preparation, placement, and stacking.

This article also features a helpful guide on selecting wood, outlining the differences between hard and soft wood and unseasoned (or green) versus seasoned (or dried), and highlighting the most widely used firewood and its benefits.