How Much Firewood Do I Need? (Bonfire, Firepit & More)

Whether you’re planning a summer bonfire or trying to stay warm throughout the winter, you can’t get enough firewood. There is no easy way to determine how much firewood you need camping, cooking, and heating your home. So, how much firewood do I need?

You need up to 4 cords (576 bundles) of firewood to heat a 1,000-square-foot home throughout fall and winter. Maple and oak are two of the best types of firewood, and you may only need 2 bundles of maple to sustain a campfire for 6 hours. Each bundle of firewood contains up to 12 pieces of firewood, and that only costs between $5 and $14.

The average person needs 1 bundle of firewood per hour when cooking food in a fire pit. However, it depends on the type of wood and the size of the fire pit. Follow along as we explore how much firewood you need to maintain a fire pit or bonfire and heat your home throughout the fall and winter.

How Do I Figure Out How Much Firewood I Need?

Bonfire

Ideally, you should have at least 2 bundles of firewood for your next bonfire. Bundles of firewood typically contain 7-12 pieces of wood, but it varies based on the size and shape of each piece. Each bundle of firewood can burn for up to 3 hours, but it varies based on the heat of the flames.

Burning time also varies based on how old and dry the wood is, as well as how dense it is. You may only burn one bundle at your bonfire, but it’s worthwhile to have 2 on hand in case it burns quicker than expected. When camping, it helps to bring up to 6 bundles if you plan to stay for 2 or more nights.

Fireplace

The amount of firewood you need for a fireplace varies based on how often you use it. For example, if your fireplace is the only way for you to heat your home, you will need up to 4 logs per hour. A standard log measures 16 inches.

That said, firewood burns much slower in a closed fireplace than in an open one. It takes roughly an hour to burn 4 logs in the average fireplace, and that’s not nearly enough for a night. However, the same 4 logs may take 3 hours to burn in an open fireplace.

Because of that, it’s best to buy firewood in bulk if you need it to heat your home with a closed fireplace. Whether you have an open or closed fireplace, you can easily go through 2-4 bundles per day. Buy a cord of firewood if you use your fireplace every day throughout fall and winter. A cord contains 144 bundles of firewood and costs between $100 and $500 depending on the type and your location.  

Fire Pit

You can expect to burn through at least 1 cubic foot of firewood per hour when you cook over a fire pit. A bundle contains up to 1 cubic foot of firewood. How many bundles of firewood you need depends on the size of the firepit and the heat of the flames.

If you plan to cook over the fire pit or simply sit around it for 3 hours, you would need 3 bundles of firewood. This comes out to be up to 36 pieces of firewood, and you would likely burn between 7 and 12 pieces per hour. That said, the fire will burn faster if you use mesquite, cherry, hickory, or oak.

How Much Firewood Does it Take to Heat a House?

It can take up to 4 cords of firewood to heat a house per winter but it varies based on where you live. As many Redditors pointed out, the winter is when you will go through most of your firewood. Factors such as how big and well-insulated your home is also help determine how much firewood you need to heat a house.

The general rule is it takes up to 3 cords of firewood per winter to heat a 1,000-square-foot home. However, that is only necessary in parts of the United States that experience harsh winters, such as the East Coast, Midwest, and Pacific Northwest. If you are unsure about how much firewood you need, you may simply want to buy 1-2 cords in mid-to-late fall or whenever it gets cold.

See how quickly you go through the firewood and purchase more before it gets too cold and the supply dwindles. Make sure to seal the joints, jacks, doors, windows, and walls in your home to retain heat so you won’t need as much firewood.

What Type of Firewood is Best?

Maple, oak, and birch are some of the best types of firewood. These are all hardwoods, and that means that they will burn for a long time. Hardwoods also typically produce bigger, hotter flames that are ideal for bonfires as well as wood-burning stoves.

Douglas fir, holly, chestnut, Laburnum, and willow are among the worst firewood options. None of those types of wood produce large flames, and they typically go out quickly. Never use treated wood as it may contain chemicals that are dangerous to inhale.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) strongly recommends against burning treated wood. This is especially dangerous indoors, but the chemicals can also harm the environment when you burn treated wood outside.

How to Store Firewood

Whether you store it indoors or outdoors, you must keep firewood in a dry space. Not only will you struggle to burn firewood after it’s gotten wet, but it may rot altogether. Burning wet wood is also inefficient because much of the heat and energy will go toward burning off the moisture.

Ideally, you should store firewood in a dry, airtight container that is elevated. This will prevent it from getting cold and wet from thermal transference and water that can occur on the ground. You don’t need to store firewood in a sealed container if it’s in your home or a shed, however.

Some homeowners leave firewood on a platform outside so it can soak up the sun. This is a great option, but only if you can quickly cover it with a tarp or bring it inside before it rains or snows.

How Much Firewood Do I Need for One Night of Camping?

You typically only need 2-3 bundles of firewood for one night of camping. However, it depends on how many meals you plan to cook throughout the day. Some campers only build fires at night to stay warm.

Others build several smaller fires throughout the day to cook meals. In that case, you may go through a bundle of firewood for each meal you cook. Assuming you cook 3 meals while camping, you would need up to 3 bundles of firewood for cooking alone.

After that, you would need at least 2 bundles of firewood to stay warm at night. Of course, you can always supplement your firewood with logs and sticks you find near your camping spot to make it last longer.

How Long Should Firewood Sit Before Burning?

Firewood must sit for at least 6 months for burning. Many people store and dry firewood for up to 12 months. The type of firewood and how dry it is when it’s cut down determines how long it must sit.

Firewood will burn weakly if you burn it too soon after you cut it down. It will take a long time to burn and the flame will continually go out if the firewood is moist. In some cases, you can simply store firewood for a season, whether it be spring or summer, and it may be ready by the next season.

Does the Size of Firewood Matter?

Firewood size matters because it affects how well it will burn. The standard size for firewood is up to 16 inches long, but you can find shorter logs that measure 12 inches long. There is no minimum firewood length, but exceeding 16 inches long can make the firewood difficult to work with.

The best width for firewood is anywhere between 3 and 5 inches, but you can find wider pieces of firewood. However, you should avoid overly thick firewood as it will take longer to get hot, and you will waste time and energy.

So, How Much Firewood Do You Need?

You need 3-4 cords of firewood, or 576 bundles, to heat a 1,000-square-foot home for the winter. Fireplaces typically burn through 4 pieces of firewood per hour, so you may need 2-4 bundles if you plan to use your fireplace all day and night. You need to burn one bundle (12 pieces) of firewood per hour when you cook over a fire pit.