How to store firewood so it stays dry all winter

Why storage matters even for kiln-dried wood

Kiln-drying gets your logs below 20% moisture before they leave our yard, but wood is not sealed: left somewhere damp, it will reabsorb moisture from the air, rain or ground over time. Good storage is simply about protecting the dry state your logs already arrived in, not drying them out from scratch.

Where to keep it

A log store, shed, garage, or a covered spot against a house wall all work well. The two things that matter most are keeping rain off and keeping air moving, since damp, stagnant air is what slowly draws moisture back into wood, even under cover.

Keep logs off the ground

Stack logs on a pallet, bearers, or any raised surface rather than directly on soil or a wet path. Ground contact is one of the fastest ways for the bottom layer of a stack to pick up moisture, even in a stack that otherwise looks well covered.

Give the stack airflow

Wood stacked too tightly, or wrapped completely in plastic with no ventilation, can trap moisture rather than shed it. A log store with slatted or open sides, or a stack with a gap against a wall, lets air move through and keeps everything drying rather than sweating.

Cover the top, not necessarily the sides

The classic approach, top covered, sides open, works because rain is the main enemy and airflow is the second most important thing. If you only have a tarpaulin rather than a proper log store, drape it over the top of the stack and leave the sides open rather than wrapping the whole thing.

How long will kiln-dried logs stay ready to burn?

Stored well (dry, covered, off the ground, with airflow), kiln-dried logs will happily keep for a full season and well beyond. There is no rush to burn a delivery immediately. Many of our customers order a full winter's supply in one go, both for the better per-bag price and because storage is straightforward if you follow the steps above.

The short version, step by step

1. Choose a covered spot. Pick a log store, shed, garage, or a covered area against a wall, away from standing water.
2. Raise the stack off the ground. Use a pallet or bearers so the bottom layer never sits directly on soil, grass or a wet path.
3. Stack loosely for airflow. Leave small gaps rather than packing logs in tightly, so air can move through the stack.
4. Cover the top. Keep rain off the top of the stack; leave the sides open or ventilated rather than fully wrapping it in plastic.
5. Use older logs first. If topping up an existing stack, add new logs behind or underneath so you burn through the older, driest wood first.