There’s a certain kind of satisfaction that comes from stacking firewood. It’s simple, repetitive work, but it carries weight. Preparing for the colder months taps into something old and familiar, and there’s comfort in knowing your home will stay warm because you took the time to do your firewood storage right.

But a neat pile isn’t enough. If your firewood hasn’t been seasoned properly—or if it’s been stored in a way that lets it absorb moisture—you’re setting yourself up for problems. Wood that’s too wet to burn will smoke more than it flames. It’ll leave behind creosote in your chimney, reduce heat output, and make starting a fire harder than it needs to be.

The good news is, it’s not complicated to fix. With the right knowledge and a little patience, you can store and season firewood in a way that’s both safe and efficient. This guide will walk you through what seasoned firewood really is, how long the process takes, and how to stack and store it to get the best results.

What Is Seasoned Firewood?

Seasoned firewood is wood that has been allowed to dry until it contains a safe, efficient level of moisture—usually between 15 and 20 percent. Freshly cut logs, sometimes called “green” wood, can hold up to twice that. When burned, all that internal moisture turns to steam, which cools the fire and sends more smoke up the chimney. It’s inefficient and messy, and over time, the residue it leaves behind becomes a real fire risk.

The seasoning process happens naturally. After cutting and splitting, wood is left to dry in the open air, where sun and wind can help draw moisture out of the wood fibers. As the water content drops, the logs become lighter, crack more easily, and burn cleaner. You’ll notice the ends of properly seasoned logs often show small splits or checks, and the wood sounds more hollow when knocked together.

To be sure your wood is ready to burn, it’s best to test it with a moisture meter. This tool gives a quick, reliable reading and can help you avoid burning wood that’s still too green. If you’re unsure what those numbers really mean, we also have a complete guide to understanding firewood moisture content.

How Long Does It Take to Season Firewood?

The time it takes to season firewood depends on a few key factors: the species of wood, your local climate, and how the wood is split and stacked. Softwoods like pine or fir tend to season more quickly—usually in six to nine months—because they’re less dense. Hardwoods such as oak, hickory, or maple can take a year or longer to reach the proper moisture level, and that timeline stretches even further in damp or humid regions.

Splitting the wood early is one of the best ways to speed things up. The more surface area you expose to the air, the faster moisture can escape. Stacking it soon after splitting, in a spot with good airflow and direct sunlight, also makes a noticeable difference. If you’re in a particularly wet or dry area, it’s worth adjusting your approach to fit local conditions (link: seasoning firewood in humid climates).

Even once seasoned, firewood can reabsorb moisture if it’s left sitting in the wrong place. That’s why how you store it matters just as much as how long you wait.

How to Stack Firewood for Drying

The way you stack your firewood affects how well it dries. The goal is to keep it off the ground, exposed to sunlight, and open to air movement. A woodpile that’s thrown together too tightly or sits in a shaded, damp area may never season properly—even after months of waiting.

Start by choosing a spot with good drainage and plenty of exposure to the sun. Lay down pallets, scrap lumber, or a firewood rack to elevate the stack off the ground. This prevents moisture from seeping in from below and allows air to flow underneath the logs. Stack the wood with the bark side facing up or out, especially if rain is a concern, and avoid pushing the pile directly against a wall or fence. Leave some space in back so the air can move freely around the entire stack.

There’s no need to cover the whole pile with a tarp. In fact, doing so can trap humidity and slow the drying process. It’s better to cover just the top to protect from rain and snow, leaving the sides open. You can even purchase tarp-like firewood rack covers that handle this for you. If you’re storing wood near your home, give it some space—a few feet of clearance helps reduce the risk of pests and keeps air circulating.

There are many ways to stack wood depending on your space and needs. Some people build freestanding round stacks, while others prefer rows along a fence line or woodshed. Whichever method you use, make sure the stack is stable and won’t collapse as it settles over time. For a detailed walk-through on different stacking methods and setups, take a look at our guide to stacking firewood.

Best Practices for Firewood Storage

Once your wood is properly stacked and seasoning is underway, the next challenge is keeping it dry until you’re ready to burn it. Storage is where many people slip up—either by choosing the wrong location or using the wrong materials to protect the pile.

One of the first decisions you’ll face is whether to store your wood indoors or outdoors. In most cases, outdoor storage is best while the wood is drying. Indoor storage, especially in a garage or basement, can trap moisture and slow the seasoning process. It can also invite pests into your home. Only bring wood inside once it’s fully dry, and even then, it’s a good idea to bring in small batches at a time.

If you’re storing wood outside, you have a few good options. Firewood racks and metal stands are great for keeping logs off the ground and neatly organized. For something more DIY, a base made of cinder blocks and a few treated boards works just as well. Covering the top of your stack with a waterproof material—like a tarp, sheet metal, or the roof of a woodshed—will protect it from rain and snow. Just be sure to leave the sides open so air can continue to circulate.

Piling firewood directly on the ground is one of the most common mistakes people make. Even seasoned wood can begin to rot from the bottom up if it sits in damp soil for too long. Another mistake is wrapping the entire pile in plastic, which traps moisture and creates condensation inside. Think of your stack like a living thing—it needs to breathe.

Can You Burn Wet or Green Firewood?

The short answer is no—not if you want a clean, efficient fire. Burning wet wood creates more problems than it solves. The moisture inside has to evaporate before the wood will burn properly, which means most of the energy gets used up drying the log instead of producing heat. You’ll get more smoke than flame, and your fire will be sluggish, smoky, and frustrating to maintain.

There are warning signs that your firewood is too wet. Excessive smoke, a hissing sound, or difficulty keeping the fire lit are all common indicators. You might also see bubbling sap or steam escaping from the ends of the log. In the long run, burning unseasoned wood can lead to creosote buildup in your flue, increasing the risk of chimney fires.

Sometimes, especially in colder months, wet wood is all that’s available. In those situations, there are a few things you can do to speed up the drying process. Bringing the wood indoors for a few days, storing it near your stove or fireplace, or using a wood drying rack can help draw out some of the moisture. But these are short-term solutions. They won’t fully season a green log, and they aren’t a substitute for doing it right from the start.

Storing Firewood in Different Climates

Your local weather plays a huge role in how you should store and season your firewood. What works in a dry, high-desert climate may not hold up in the wet winters of the Pacific Northwest or the snow-heavy Northeast. That’s why it’s important to adapt your setup based on where you live.

In dry climates, the challenge is often sunlight. A shaded backyard might mean slower seasoning, even if the air itself is arid. In these cases, positioning your stack where it gets the most daylight—even for just a few hours each day—can make a significant difference.

Humid regions present a different problem. The air itself holds a lot of moisture, so airflow becomes the top priority. Stacks need more spacing between the logs, more clearance underneath, and better overall exposure. Elevating the pile is especially important to avoid drawing dampness from the ground. Using a cover that allows moisture to escape is essential, since sealed tarps in humid weather tend to trap more condensation than they block.

Cold, wet climates often require more protective infrastructure. Woodsheds with open sides and sloped roofs are a smart investment if you plan to burn wood regularly. These shelters allow wood to season while shielding it from snow and rain. In deep winter, having a smaller pile of seasoned wood stored closer to your house—while keeping the bulk of your supply in a protected area farther away—can strike a good balance between convenience and safety.

We’ve compiled regional wood guides that will assist with advice that breaks this down further depending on where you live.

When to Start Prepping Firewood for the Season

If you want firewood to be ready by the time the weather turns cold, it helps to think a season or two ahead. The best time to start splitting and stacking is in late winter or early spring. This gives your wood the full benefit of spring winds and summer sun, and it increases the chances that your stack will be ready by fall.

For hardwoods, which can take a year or longer to fully season, the earlier the better. Many people prefer to run a full-year cycle—splitting and stacking one year, burning the next. That way, the wood has had time to dry properly, and you’re never scrambling to season wood in a rush.

Different times of year call for different strategies. In spring and summer, focus on seasoning: keep your stack exposed and let nature do the work. Come fall and winter, your priorities shift toward keeping that seasoned wood dry and accessible. It’s also the time when pests start looking for places to hide, so having a clean, elevated, and well-maintained stack can help keep insects and rodents at bay.

If you’re planning your firewood use around the seasons, or just wondering how early to start buying or cutting, we’ve put together a timeline to help you stay on track (link: firewood buying timeline).