Many people want to stack, dry and store wood logs to prepare for the cold season. Find out the best way to store firewood and more with our helpful guide.
16.12.2024
Depending on the storage location, type of wood and thickness of the logs, firewood needs several months to dry, even under optimal storage conditions. The minimum time is 250 days, but if possible you should leave the wood for two years to be on the safe side.
You can store firewood for up to 5 years. However, if left in storage for too long there is a risk that woodworm will settle in.
The best way to store firewood outdoors is under a well-ventilated canopy on the south side of a building, to prevent moisture and rot. You could build a log store, for example.
You should cover firewood from September onwards to protect it from precipitation. A canopy is a good choice for this; plastic tarpaulin is less advisable, as moisture can collect under it and encourage mould to spread.
Freshly cut firewood has a water content of between 40 and 50 percent and loses around 15 to 20 percent moisture in one to two years – depending on storage conditions and the type of wood. You can easily check the moisture content using a wood moisture meter.
If you're wondering where to store your firewood, it's best to house it on the south side of a building and not on the windward side to ensure it is protected as effectively as possible from precipitation and moisture.
Cutting your own firewood saves money. However, there are a few things you need to bear in mind before you use it for heating.
Fresh firewood has a water content of 40 to 50 percent – and the German Federal Immission Control Act states that it must not be burned straight away, in order to limit harmful smoke and particulate matter. Damp wood can also damage your chimney.
In order to comply with the legally prescribed maximum wood moisture level of 25 percent, you need to dry and store your firewood for several months.
You should allow sufficient time for your firewood to dry thoroughly. Even if you store logs in optimal conditions, they will need to spend a few months drying – we recommend a minimum of 250 days. If possible, you should plan to dry your firewood for about two years to be on the safe side. Dried wood is easy to identify as it will have lost its colour, is hard, and sounds hollow when stacked. A wood moisture meter can also help you estimate the drying time more precisely.
Storing firewood correctly will significantly contribute to ensuring that the wood does not rot or go mouldy. Drying hardwood requires more patience than drying softwood – but hardwood is also less sensitive to the weather. However, you should not store firewood for too long. After five years or more, there is a risk that woodworm will settle in.
Larger quantities of firewood are best stored outside, along the southern wall of a building. This allows sufficient air to reach the wood and means that the wood pile is away from the windward side, so rot and mould are much less likely to develop. For outdoor firewood storage, a DIY log store effectively protects against rain and moisture.
Smaller quantities of wood can also be stored indoors.
Never store firewood in your cellar or garage as humidity will build up and mould may form.
If you do not fancy bringing logs into the house one at a time as you need them, you can keep dried firewood indoors in a DIY log rack.
If you saw your own firewood, it’s not a good idea to store the firewood in the forest. For one thing, there is a good chance your wood will be stolen; furthermore, many forestry offices require people cutting wood to remove it promptly.
If you want to store firewood in your garden, there are different laws to observe depending on the state. Normally you can store up to 40 cubic metres of firewood per property without issue. If you want to stack firewood in such a way that it functions as a practical privacy screen, any specified distance from the property boundary must be observed when storing the wood. For fire protection reasons, the legislation also often provides for minimum distances between the firewood storage location and neighbouring buildings.
Feel free to ask your municipality or local authority what is permitted if you are unsure.
In addition, the Ordinance Implementing the Federal Immission Control Act (BImSchV) prohibits the burning of wood with a moisture level of more than 25 percent. A residual moisture content of approximately 15 percent is recommended. Make sure that you store your firewood for long enough even if you buy it rather than sawing your own.
STIHL tip
A wood moisture meter will help you to quickly find out whether your wood meets the legal requirements or you need to store your firewood for even longer – so you can be sure you are on the safe side.
To correctly stack firewood for storage, you should first position a few logs crosswise in the bottom row to increase stability.
Then, loosely stack the logs on top of each other so that enough air can circulate between them during the drying process. This is usually easy to achieve with wood you have cut yourself, as slight irregularities in the logs create small gaps.
If you've opted for outdoor log storage, make sure that the firewood is not in contact with the ground during storage so that it remains dry and does not rot.
A round stack holds a lot of firewood.
If storing firewood in the garden, you have the option of layering the logs in a round stack if you have enough space; the advantage of this storage arrangement is that it can accommodate particularly large quantities of firewood. Start by laying out a circular foundation on a waterproof base and then stack the wood in a circle starting from the centre.
When you have stacked the wood to a height of about one metre, add a layer of planks before you continue stacking, to make your round stack sufficiently stable. Finally, remember to cover the firewood during storage.
An indoor log rack is a practical and attractive feature.
A pile of firewood need not just take up space – it can actually be downright stylish when done right. If storing firewood near a seating area, the appealing texture and warm scent of the wood can offer welcome privacy screening that has a rustic charm.
With a little craftsmanship, you can even make a DIY indoor log storage rack – a practical, timelessly beautiful feature piece that can be used to store firewood next to your stove or fireplace. The shelf can also be used for plant pots or ornaments.
