How long does firewood need to sit before burning?
Freshly cut logs known as green wood, contain a high amount of moisture, often 40–60% water content. At that level, it’s far too wet to burn efficiently. If you try to burn green wood, much of the heat energy is wasted boiling off the water inside the log instead of producing warmth for your home. It also creates more smoke, soot, and creosote, which can build up in your chimney and reduce efficiency or even cause chimney fires.
Traditionally, green wood needs to season (air-dry) for 12 to 24 months before it’s ready to burn. During this time, the logs are split and stacked in a well-ventilated, covered area so that the air can circulate and draw out moisture. Properly seasoned wood should have a moisture content of around 20% or less, producing a cleaner, hotter, and more efficient burn.
However, seasoning takes time and the results can vary depending on the weather, airflow, and how the logs are stored. That’s why we only sell kiln dried hardwood logs. These are seasoned naturally and then dried in a specialist kiln to achieve a consistent moisture level of below 18%, ensuring every log burns hot and clean straight away — no waiting, no guessing, and no fuss.
In short:
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Green wood: up to 2 years before it’s ready
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Seasoned wood: around 12–24 months, if stored correctly
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Kiln dried wood: ready to burn immediately
So if you want guaranteed performance and maximum heat output without the long wait, choose kiln dried firewood, perfect from the kiln straight to your stove.
