How to Season Firewood Properly: A UK Log Storage Guide

Firewood is ready to burn when its moisture content drops below 20%, which takes 6–12 months for softwoods and 18–24 months for dense hardwoods like oak — and the biggest factor in hitting those times is airflow through a properly designed log store, not sunshine. Here's how to season wood like it matters (because it does).

Why 20% moisture is the magic number

Wet wood wastes half its energy boiling off water, produces heavy smoke and tars up chimneys and flues. Since 2021, wood sold in small quantities in England must be certified 'Ready to Burn' below 20% — seasoning your own logs to the same standard costs nothing but time and storage.

The seasoning process

1. Split early. Split logs season several times faster than rounds — split as soon as possible after felling or delivery.
2. Stack for airflow. Loose stacks with gaps beat tightly packed walls of wood; the wind does the drying.
3. Cover the top, not the sides. Rain protection above, open airflow through — exactly what a good log store provides.
4. Raise off the ground. Ground-contact logs wick moisture endlessly and rot before they season.
5. Check with a moisture meter. A £15 meter takes the guesswork out — test a freshly split face, not the outside.

Timings by wood type

• Softwoods (pine, spruce): 6–12 months — fast to season, fast to burn.
• Ash, birch, sycamore: 12–18 months — the all-rounders.
• Oak, beech, hornbeam: 18–24+ months — slowest to season, longest to burn.

Why the store design matters

Edensteel's square, round and tall log stores are open-sided steel structures that shelter from rain while letting wind pass straight through the stack — the exact combination seasoning needs. And unlike timber stores, the store itself never rots. See our log store comparison guide for choosing a shape.

Frequently asked questions

Can I burn wood the same year I buy it?

Only if bought pre-seasoned or kiln-dried — fresh 'green' logs need at least a full summer, usually more.

Should logs go bark up or bark down?

In a covered store it makes little difference; outdoors uncovered, bark-up sheds rain slightly better.

Does a south-facing spot season faster?

Sun helps, but airflow matters more — a breezy north-facing store beats a still, sunny corner.

How much wood should I store?

2–4 cubic metres covers a typical UK stove season — size guidance is in our log store guide.

Store it properly

Browse Corten steel log stores, made in Britain and built to outlast every stack they hold.