How to Stack Firewood? How Much Space Does 1 Tonne of Firewood Take?

Short answer: Turkey's forestry directorate (OGM) takes one ster, wood stacked into 1 m³, as 500 kg on average. So 1 tonne of firewood takes about 2 m³ when neatly stacked and 2 tonnes about 4 m³. At 1 m high that is 2 and 4 m² of floor; a loose pile needs half as much again.

Current prices and types: Firewood prices →

For the tonne, ster and sack conversion see how many kg is a ster, how many sacks is a tonne; for drying and moisture tests see how to dry firewood.

How much space does 1 tonne of firewood take?

It takes two steps. First convert tonnes to ster: with the OGM average, 1,000 kg ÷ 500 kg = 2 ster. Then give the ster a volume: by definition a ster is 1 m³ of stacked wood, so 2 ster = about 2 m³ of stack. A tipped, loose heap takes more room: per the UK's Forest Research, 1 m³ of loose logs is roughly 0.66 m³ stacked. Turned around, 2 m³ stacked ÷ 0.66 ≈ 3 m³ as a loose pile.

OGM stresses that ster weight varies widely with species, piece size, moisture and stacking care.

How much floor area do 2 tonnes of firewood need?

Floor area = stack volume ÷ stack height. To get the length, divide the area by the row depth, which is the log length. The example below assumes 33 cm logs in a single row; do the same division with your own log length. For height we used 1 m and 1.2 m: the Canadian non-profit Wood Heat Organization gives four feet (≈ 1.2 m) as the best height; above that stability becomes a problem.

If it does not fit, build several shorter rows with air gaps between. Per Wood Heat Organization, crisscrossed ends are looser than the middle; allow a little extra.

How do you stack firewood?

1. Get it off the ground. Forest Research recommends drying wood on bearers off the ground, and Iowa State University recommends stacking off the ground; wood stacked directly on soil may be fed upon by termites. A pallet or two rails will do; Purdue University says smaller logs laid crosswise underneath improve airflow.
2. Cover the top only. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says to store wood outdoors, off the ground, with only the top covered; covering the sides traps moisture.
3. Pick a sunny, windy spot. Forest Research recommends a sunny, windy location with the prevailing wind blowing through the stack.
4. Bark up. According to Purdue, pieces stacked bark down outdoors form a trough that holds water, slows drying and speeds decay; under a roof the difference is small.
5. Crisscross the ends. Wood Heat Organization suggests building end pillars from alternate crisscrossed layers, using straight, even pieces.

How many months it needs to dry is a separate topic; EPA recommends at least 6 months, with details in our how to dry firewood guide.

Where should the woodpile go, and how close to the house?

Iowa State University writes that a woodpile stacked against a house can serve as an avenue for termites, and advises stacking firewood away from the home. For wildfire-prone areas, the Colorado State Forest Service advises keeping the woodpile at least 30 feet (≈ 9 m) from the home and level with or uphill from buildings. It is a US guideline, but a useful pointer for homes near woodland. Do not put the pile in front of a door, under stairs or on an escape route.

Can firewood be stored indoors?

Keep the main supply outside. HETAS, the UK stove certification body, says to bring indoors only wood that will be burned over the next two days, to keep logs away from heat sources, and not to stack them on top of, beside or against an appliance. Iowa State notes that insects in wood brought indoors crawl out as it warms, and advises against spraying firewood with insecticide. The US Fire Administration (USFA) says a wood stove should be 3 feet (≈ 0.9 m) from anything that can burn; keep the log holder beyond that.

What does it depend on?

• Tree species: Forest Research says a tonne of hardwood logs occupies less space than a tonne of softwood. OGM measured the air-dry weight of one ster of Scots pine in Eastern Anatolia at about 266 kg; on that basis 1 tonne ≈ 1,000 ÷ 266 ≈ 3.8 ster. For species see oak, beech or pine.
• Moisture: Part of green wood's weight is water: less wood per tonne.
• Piece size and length: OGM found ster weight drops with thinner pieces; log length sets the row depth.
• Stacking care: A neat stack takes about a third less room than a loose pile.

To see how many tonnes you need for a season, read how much fuel should I buy or use our fuel needs calculator.

Safety

Burning wood produces carbon monoxide; no fuel is smokeless. Turkey's Ministry of Health describes carbon monoxide as a colourless, odourless, poisonous gas; if you notice headache, dizziness or weakness, ventilate, leave the room and call 112. More: stove gas symptoms and carbon monoxide detectors.

Frequently asked questions

How much space do 2 tonnes of firewood take?

About 4 m³ neatly stacked: 4 m² of floor at 1 m high, about 3.3 m² at 1.2 m. About 6 m³ as a loose pile.

Should I wrap the woodpile in plastic?

No. EPA recommends covering only the top and leaving the sides open.

Can firewood be stacked against a wall?

Not against the house; Iowa State says it can let termites in. Leave an air gap behind.

How much firewood should be kept indoors?

According to HETAS, only what will be burned over the next two days, in a log holder away from the stove.

Sources: OGM, Scots pine ster weights bulletin; Forest Research, Wood as Fuel technical supplement and Wood as Fuel guide; EPA, Best Wood-Burning Practices; HETAS, Log storage; Iowa State University, Firewood Insects; Purdue University, Stack firewood bark up or bark down; Colorado State Forest Service, Home Ignition Zone checklists; Wood Heat Organization, Stacking firewood; USFA, Heating fire safety; Turkish Ministry of Health, CO poisoning.