How Much Does Firewood Cost in the UK? A Guide to Comparing Firewood Prices

If you're shopping for firewood in the UK, one of the first things you'll probably compare is price.

But comparing firewood prices isn't always as straightforward as it looks.

One supplier might sell a small net of logs, another a dumpy bag, another a jumbo bag and another a loose load or crate.

Then there are differences in wood species, moisture content, log size, delivery charges and the amount of bark, dust and loose material included.

So when you see two very different prices for firewood, the cheaper option isn't necessarily the better value.

Here's what you should actually look at when comparing firewood prices.

How Much Does Firewood Cost in the UK?

There isn't one standard price for firewood.

The amount you'll pay depends on several factors, including:

• The quantity you're buying

• Hardwood or softwood

• The species of timber

• Moisture content

• How the logs have been dried

• Bag or load size

• Delivery costs

• Whether you're buying directly from a producer or through a reseller

For that reason, comparing two prices without comparing the actual firewood can be misleading.

The better question is:

What am I actually getting for my money?

1. Compare the Amount of Firewood, Not Just the Price

This sounds obvious, but it's one of the easiest mistakes to make when buying firewood online.

Terms such as:

Bag

Dumpy bag

Jumbo bag

Super Jumbo bag

Crate

Load

don't necessarily represent the same quantity from one supplier to another.

A cheaper bag isn't better value if it contains substantially less firewood.

Before ordering, check the dimensions, volume or other quantity information provided by the supplier.

This becomes particularly important if you're considering a larger winter order.

If you're wondering whether stocking up makes sense, read our Is It Better to Buy Firewood in Bulk? guide.

2. Check Whether You're Comparing Hardwood With Softwood

Hardwood is often more expensive than softwood.

Dense hardwood species such as Oak, Ash and Beech can provide a more sustained burn because of their greater density.

But don't make the mistake of assuming that anything labelled "hardwood" must automatically be better firewood.

Not all hardwood species have the same density.

And softwood shouldn't be dismissed simply because it's softwood.

Surefire Wood's Premium Firewood predominantly contains Larch and Spruce, providing strong, responsive heat and making an excellent everyday stove fuel.

Our Premium Hardwood predominantly contains Ash, Oak and Beech, giving you a denser fuel where a more sustained fire is preferred.

Both can be excellent firewood when properly dried.

For a more detailed comparison, read our Hardwood vs Softwood Firewood: Which Is Really Best?.

3. Find Out How Dry the Logs Actually Are

This is one of the most important things to compare when buying firewood.

A particularly heavy bag might initially look like good value.

But some of that weight could simply be water.

Freshly cut timber naturally contains a substantial amount of moisture. It needs to be properly dried before it becomes suitable firewood.

When wet logs are burned, some of the available energy is used dealing with the moisture in the timber rather than providing useful heat.

Wet firewood can also be more difficult to light, produce more smoke and contribute to deposits within the stove and flue.

Properly kiln-dried logs give you a much more dependable fuel.

At Surefire Wood, we kiln dry our firewood to below 20% moisture content.

Put simply:

You're buying wood — not water.

4. Look for Ready to Burn Firewood

If you're buying firewood in England, moisture content is particularly important.

Wood fuel sold in smaller quantities for domestic burning is subject to the Ready to Burn requirements, designed to ensure that customers purchasing wood in these quantities receive sufficiently dry fuel.

Surefire Wood is Woodsure Ready to Burn certified.

Rather than relying purely on words such as "seasoned" or "dry" in a product description, look for meaningful information about the moisture content and certification of the firewood you're buying.

If you're unsure about the current rules, our Is It Legal to Burn Wood in the UK? guide explains the regulations in more detail.

5. Don't Pay for Water

It's worth coming back to moisture because it can completely change how you perceive value.

Imagine comparing two bags of firewood.

One feels noticeably heavier.

Does that mean you're getting more actual wood?

Not necessarily.

If the timber contains substantially more moisture, some of that extra weight is simply water that you don't want.

Proper kiln drying removes moisture from the timber before it reaches your stove.

That's why buying well-dried firewood matters.

At Surefire Wood, independent laboratory testing carried out in July 2026 recorded average moisture contents of:

8.16% — Force Dried Hardwood

10.06% — Force Dried Softwood

6.0% — Kindling

Timber is a natural material and individual logs will vary, but these results demonstrate just how dry properly kiln-dried firewood can be.

So when you're comparing firewood prices:

Don't compare weight alone. Compare the firewood.

6. Check What's Actually in the Bag

Firewood production naturally creates some loose material.

You'll inevitably get a certain amount of:

• Bark

• Splinters

• Small fragments

• Dust

That's normal.

But there's a difference between normal variation and a bag containing excessive amounts of material you can't practically use as logs.

At Surefire Wood, our firewood is triple-screened before packing to remove excess bark and dust.

The aim is straightforward:

More usable firewood in the bag and less unwanted material at the bottom.

7. Ask What Species You're Actually Buying

The word "hardwood" doesn't tell you everything.

Oak is a hardwood.

Ash is a hardwood.

Beech is a hardwood.

But Birch and Alder are hardwoods too.

Their densities and burning characteristics aren't identical.

The same principle applies to softwood.

Larch, for example, is relatively dense for a softwood and can make excellent firewood when properly dried.

That's why we think customers should know what they're buying.

Our Premium Hardwood predominantly contains Ash, Oak and Beech.

Our Premium Firewood predominantly contains Larch and Spruce.

Knowing the species gives you much more useful information than simply seeing "hardwood logs" or "softwood logs" on a product description.

8. Is Delivery Included in the Price?

This can make a major difference to the true cost of buying firewood online.

A supplier may have an attractive headline price, only for a substantial delivery charge to appear later.

Another offer may look more expensive initially but include delivery to your area.

So when you're comparing suppliers, don't look only at the product price.

Compare the total delivered cost.

And always check the current delivery information for your postcode before placing an order, as delivery charges and availability can vary by location.

9. Are You Buying Direct From a Firewood Producer?

Another question worth asking is:

Who actually made the firewood?

Some companies produce their own logs.

Others purchase finished firewood and resell it.

Surefire Wood has been producing firewood since 1989.

We process and kiln dry our own firewood using locally sourced timber from FSC® certified, well-managed forests.

Our production process includes cutting, splitting, kiln drying, screening and packing.

We also make use of wood waste and by-products from our own timber processing to help generate the heat required for our kilns.

That gives us control over the product rather than simply buying finished bags from another firewood producer.

10. Is Cheap Firewood Actually Cheaper?

Sometimes it is.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with finding a good deal.

But you need to compare like with like.

Suppose one supplier is cheaper, but:

The bag is smaller.

The logs contain more moisture.

There's more loose debris.

You don't know what species you're getting.

And delivery costs extra.

Another supplier might initially look more expensive but offer a larger quantity of properly kiln-dried, screened and certified firewood.

Which one represents better value?

That's why we'd recommend comparing:

Quantity + Species + Moisture + Quality + Delivery + Price

rather than:

Price alone.

Should I Buy Small Bags of Logs From a Petrol Station or Shop?

Small bags of firewood can be very convenient.

If you've unexpectedly run out of logs and want to light the stove that evening, being able to pick up a bag locally is useful.

But if you regularly use a wood-burning stove, repeatedly buying small bags may not be the most convenient way to keep yourself supplied.

Having a larger quantity of properly kiln-dried firewood stored at home means your logs are ready whenever you need them.

That becomes particularly useful once colder weather arrives.

Is Buying Firewood in Bulk Better Value?

For regular stove users, larger orders can make a lot of sense.

Buying in bulk can mean:

• Fewer orders throughout winter

• Firewood available when temperatures suddenly fall

• Less chance of unexpectedly running out

• A larger choice of bag sizes and bundle deals

• Potentially better value than repeatedly purchasing small quantities

But there's one important condition:

You need somewhere suitable to store it.

Once kiln-dried firewood reaches your home, you want to keep it dry and well ventilated.

If you're unsure how to do that properly, read our How to Store Firewood Outside in the UK guide.

How Much Firewood Should I Order?

This depends entirely on how you use your stove.

Someone who lights a fire occasionally at weekends needs far less than a household using a stove every evening throughout autumn and winter.

Think about:

• How many days per week you use your stove

• How many hours it's normally burning

• Your stove size and output

• Whether it's supplementary or primary heating

• How much suitable storage space you have

For a more detailed breakdown, read our How Much Firewood Do I Need? Complete Guide.

You can also read our How Long Does a Bag of Firewood Last? guide to understand why consumption can vary so much from one household to another.

What Should You Check Before Buying Firewood Online?

Before choosing a supplier based purely on price, ask:

How much firewood am I actually getting?

What species are in the bag?

What's the moisture content?

Has it been properly kiln dried?

Is it Ready to Burn certified where required?

Has the firewood been screened?

What will delivery cost to my postcode?

Who actually produced the firewood?

Those questions tell you considerably more than the headline price.

Buying Firewood: The Bottom Line

So, how much does firewood cost in the UK?

There's no single useful answer because different suppliers aren't necessarily selling the same thing.

A cheap bag of wet or poorly prepared firewood isn't necessarily a bargain.

Equally, paying more simply because a bag says "premium hardwood" doesn't automatically guarantee better value.

Look at what you're actually buying:

Quantity. Species. Moisture. Quality. Certification. Delivery. Price.

At Surefire Wood, we've been producing firewood since 1989, giving us control over the process from timber selection and processing through to kiln drying, screening and packing.

Whether you prefer the strong, responsive heat of our Larch & Spruce Premium Firewood or the greater density of our Ash, Oak & Beech Premium Hardwood, the important thing is choosing properly dried firewood that suits how you use your stove.

Compare Our Current Firewood Options

Firewood prices and special offers change, so rather than publishing prices here that could quickly become outdated, check our current range before ordering.

Browse our kiln-dried firewood range or take a look at our current firewood special offers to compare the latest bag sizes, bundles and available deals.