Fuel
How many logs do I need for winter?
Updated 26 October 2026
Short answer: for a typical UK home lighting a stove on cold evenings, HETAS puts a winter supply at roughly 1.5 to 3 cubic metres of seasoned hardwood, burnt at 20% moisture or less. The real figure depends on your stove, how often you light it, how well your home holds heat and, just as much, how your logs are measured when you buy them.
Rough winter amounts by how you burn
These are rough planning estimates, not measurements. The middle row is the HETAS range; the others are our own rough scaling either side of it. Keep a note of what you actually use this winter and adjust next year.
| How you use it | Rough winter amount (dry hardwood) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Occasional fires (some weekends, a few evenings) | Under 1.5 m³ (rough estimate) | Nets or a single bulk bag plus top-ups may be enough. |
| Stove on most cold evenings | About 1.5–3 m³ (HETAS) | The “typical home” range HETAS gives, at 20% moisture. |
| Stove as main heat, lit most of the day | More than 3 m³ (rough estimate) | Can be well above this in a large or draughty house. Bulk is usually best value. |
| Open fire instead of a stove | More than a stove for the same warmth | Much of an open fire’s heat goes straight up the chimney. |
Wet wood changes everything. Burning logs above 20% moisture means part of each log’s energy goes into boiling off water, so you burn more for less heat, and the cool, smoky fire leaves creosote in the flue. Every figure on this page assumes dry wood. See kiln-dried vs seasoned logs for how to check.
Loose vs stacked: the catch in “a cubic metre”
A cubic metre of logs thrown loosely into a bag holds less wood than a cubic metre stacked neatly. Forest Research’s rule of thumb is that 1 m³ loose is roughly 0.66 m³ stacked. Turned round, 1 m³ stacked is about 1.5 m³ loose.
HETAS notes that its winter figures are shown as stacked volume, while the wood you buy is often loose. So if you aim for 2 m³ stacked, you may need around 3 m³ of loose-filled bags. Always ask a supplier which they mean.
Nets, bulk bags and crates
- Nets and small bags — handy for top-ups but the dearest way to buy per cubic metre. Check the volume on the label; sizes vary a lot.
- Builder’s, bulk or dumpy bags — HETAS says these usually hold roughly 0.8–1 m³. There is no standard size, so check the stated volume and whether it is loose.
- Crates and tipped loads — sizes vary by supplier. Usually the best value per cubic metre if you have room to store them.
Worked example (rough): you want about 2 m³ stacked. That is roughly 3 m³ loose, which is three or four bulk bags at 0.8–1 m³ each. Check the actual bag size before you order.
The 2 m³ rule in England
In England, wood sold in units under 2 m³ (bags, nets, smaller bulk loads) must be certified Ready to Burn, meaning 20% moisture or less (GOV.UK). Loads of 2 m³ or more do not need that certification. Instead the seller must give you a notice explaining how to dry, store and test the wood. So a big cheap load may not be ready to burn yet. Test a freshly split log with a moisture meter before you use it.
How much space do you need?
HETAS says 2 m³ stacked about 1 m high takes up roughly the space of a small wardrobe. Loose bags take more room than that until you stack them.
- Keep logs off the ground on a pallet or slatted base.
- Cover the top, but leave the sides open so air can move through.
- Don’t overbuy: HETAS warns that badly stored wood delivered at 20% can be back above 25% by spring. Buy what you can store well and top up with bags.
- Bring a day or two’s worth indoors before burning.
When to buy
HETAS suggests buying between May and August, when prices tend to be lower and there is time to dry anything slightly over 20%. If you are reading this in autumn, kiln-dried logs are the easy option because they arrive ready to burn.
Buy Ready to Burn kiln-dried logs from LogsOnline (affiliate link — we may earn a commission if you buy).
Before you light up
More burning means more soot and tar in the flue. For wood, most guidance is a sweep at least once a year, and more with heavy use (see how often to sweep). Run through the first fire checklist, keep a working CO alarm in the room, and book early, because diaries fill fast from October (silly season). Want the basics on fuel? See Ready to Burn logs.
Questions
How many cubic metres of logs do I need for a winter?
HETAS puts a typical UK home using a stove on cold evenings at roughly 1.5 to 3 cubic metres of seasoned hardwood per winter, at 20% moisture. Occasional weekend fires need less; using the stove as your main heat needs more. Treat any figure as a rough estimate and adjust after your first winter.
Is a cubic metre of loose logs the same as a stacked cubic metre?
No. Forest Research says 1 m³ of loose logs is roughly 0.66 m³ stacked, because loose logs have bigger air gaps. Always check whether a supplier quotes loose or stacked volume.
How many bulk bags of logs is that?
HETAS says builder’s (bulk or dumpy) bags usually hold roughly 0.8 to 1 m³. Bag sizes are not standard, so check the stated volume and whether it is loose.
Do bulk loads of logs have to be Ready to Burn?
In England, wood sold in units under 2 m³ must be certified Ready to Burn (20% moisture or less). Loads of 2 m³ or more do not need certification but must come with a notice on drying and testing, so check the moisture yourself before burning.
Does an open fire use more logs than a wood burner?
Yes, generally. Much of an open fire’s heat goes up the chimney, so you burn more wood for the same warmth. A modern stove gets more heat from each log.
Sources
- HETAS — How much wood do I need for winter?
- Forest Research (Biomass Energy Centre) — Wood as Fuel technical supplement (loose vs stacked volume)
- GOV.UK — Selling wood for domestic use in England
- Woodsure — Ready to Burn
Need a sweep?
Find a registered sweep listed from public registers, or browse by town. Ask for a certificate with the date and the sweep’s registration body on it.
Disclosure: some product links are affiliate / referral links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Not affiliated with HETAS, NACS, the Guild, APICS, Sweep Safe or Ready to Burn / Woodsure. This is general guidance; amounts are rough estimates. Follow your stove maker’s manual and your sweep’s advice. In an emergency, call 999.