Finding a reliable source of dry, well-seasoned firewood can mean the difference between cozy evenings by the fire and a smoky, frustrating experience. Whether you heat with wood, enjoy weekend fires, or keep your fireplace ready for occasional use, knowing where to buy quality firewood saves you time, money, and hassle.
This guide covers the best places to purchase firewood, what to look for in each option, and how to avoid common pitfalls that leave you with green wood or poor value.
Where Can You Buy Firewood?
You can buy firewood from local tree services, firewood dealers, farm suppliers, big-box home improvement stores, online marketplaces, and direct from landowners. Each source offers different advantages in price, convenience, wood quality, and delivery options, so the best choice depends on how much you need, your storage capacity, and whether you can transport it yourself.
Local Firewood Dealers and Tree Services
Dedicated firewood dealers and tree service companies are among the most reliable sources for seasoned wood. These businesses typically cut, split, and stack wood year-round, giving it time to dry properly before sale.
Tree services often sell firewood as a byproduct of their removal work, which can mean lower prices than specialty dealers. However, wood from recent tree removals may not be fully seasoned, so ask how long it has been drying and whether it has been covered.
Firewood dealers usually offer delivery and can stack the wood for an additional fee. This convenience matters if you’re buying a full cord and don’t have a truck or the ability to move several thousand pounds of wood.
Look for dealers who clearly state their measurements, sell by the full cord (128 cubic feet), and provide references or online reviews. Avoid anyone who sells only by vague terms like “truckload” without specifying dimensions.
Farm and Agricultural Suppliers
Farm supply stores, feed stores, and rural co-ops in many areas sell firewood during fall and winter. These retailers often source from local producers and may offer competitive prices on both bundled and bulk firewood.
Quality varies widely at farm suppliers, so inspect the wood before purchasing. Check that pieces are split to a manageable size, free from excessive rot, and show signs of drying such as cracked ends and lighter weight.
Some farm suppliers sell firewood by the face cord or rick, which is one-third of a full cord. Clarify the measurement and calculate the per-cord price to compare with other sources accurately.
Home Improvement Stores and Gas Stations
Big-box stores like Home Depot and Lowe’s sell bundled firewood year-round, stocked near the seasonal section or garden center. Gas stations and convenience stores also carry small bundles, especially near camping areas and during peak fireplace season.
Bundled firewood is the most expensive option per volume, but it offers maximum convenience if you need a small amount for a single fire or weekend camping trip. A typical bundle contains about 0.75 cubic feet, so you would need more than 170 bundles to equal a full cord.
The wood in retail bundles is usually kiln-dried or heat-treated to meet regulations that prevent the spread of invasive insects. This makes it a safer choice if you’re traveling to a campground or state park that restricts outside firewood.
Never transport firewood more than 50 miles from its source unless it has been certified and heat-treated, as moving untreated wood can spread destructive pests like emerald ash borer and Asian longhorned beetle.
Online Marketplaces and Classified Ads
Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and Nextdoor often have listings from individuals and small operators selling firewood. This route can offer significant savings, especially if you’re willing to pick up the wood yourself and communicate directly with the seller.
Always inspect the wood in person before paying. Look for signs that it has been seasoned for at least six months: dark bark that falls off easily, visible cracks radiating from the center of each log, and a hollow sound when two pieces are knocked together.
Measure the stack yourself if possible, or ask for clear dimensions. A full cord should measure 4 feet high, 4 feet deep, and 8 feet long when tightly stacked, though the wood is often delivered in two rows of 4x4x4 feet for easier handling.
Be cautious with sellers who only offer “green” or freshly cut wood unless you have the space and time to season it yourself for six months to a year. Burning green wood creates excessive creosote buildup in chimneys, reduces heat output, and produces heavy smoke.
Direct from Landowners and Self-Cutting
Some rural landowners sell firewood directly from their property, often at lower prices than commercial dealers. You may also find self-cut permits available through national forests, state lands, and timber companies.
Buying from a landowner gives you the opportunity to see exactly where the wood comes from and often to select specific species. Hardwoods like oak, maple, and ash provide longer burn times and higher heat output than softer woods like pine or poplar.
Self-cutting requires a permit, appropriate safety equipment including chainsaw chaps and eye protection, and the physical ability to fell, limb, cut, split, and transport the wood. This option makes sense only if you have experience with chainsaws and access to the necessary tools and vehicle.
Check permit requirements carefully, as most programs specify which trees you can cut, how much you can take, and when cutting is allowed. Some permits are competitive and issued through lottery systems due to high demand.
What to Look for When Buying Firewood
Regardless of where you buy, inspecting the wood before purchase helps ensure you get good value. Well-seasoned firewood should have a moisture content below 20 percent for efficient burning.
You can check moisture with an inexpensive moisture meter, which you insert into a freshly split piece. Test several pieces from different parts of the stack, as moisture levels can vary significantly.
Signs of Quality Firewood
- Cracks and splits visible on the cut ends
- Bark that is loose or falling off
- Lighter weight compared to green wood of the same size
- Dark or grayed appearance rather than bright, fresh-cut color
- Hollow sound when two pieces are knocked together
- No visible mold, excessive rot, or insect damage
Ask the seller what species you’re getting, as this affects both burning characteristics and price. Mixed hardwood is common and burns well, while specialty woods like oak or hickory command premium prices.
Understanding Measurements
A full cord is the standard measurement and equals 128 cubic feet of stacked wood, bark, and air space. A face cord or rick is typically one-third of a full cord, though the term is not standardized and can mean different things in different regions.
Some sellers advertise by the “furnace cord,” “stove cord,” or other non-standard terms. Always ask for the specific dimensions in feet and calculate the volume yourself to compare prices accurately.
Firewood is almost always sold by volume, not weight. If a seller refuses to provide dimensions or becomes evasive about measurements, find another source.
Delivery Versus Pickup
Delivery adds convenience but increases the total cost. Expect delivery fees to range from $25 to $75 or more depending on distance, with some dealers offering free delivery for orders above a certain amount.
If you pick up the wood yourself, bring a truck or trailer with adequate capacity and tie-down straps. A full cord of oak weighs around 4,000 pounds when dry, so plan for multiple trips unless you have a heavy-duty vehicle.
Confirm where the wood will be placed if you choose delivery. Most delivery drivers will dump the wood in your driveway unless you’ve arranged and paid for stacking, which can double your delivery cost.
When to Buy Firewood
The best time to buy firewood is during late spring and summer when demand is low and prices drop. Wood purchased in warm months also has time to finish drying in your own storage before you need it.
Buying in fall or winter means higher prices and greater risk of getting wood that hasn’t been properly seasoned. Many sellers cut wood in spring and summer, so late-season buyers often get whatever inventory remains.
If you must buy during peak season, test moisture content carefully and consider buying extra if you have storage space. You can season partially dry wood yourself by stacking it in a location with good airflow and protection from rain.
Storing Your Firewood Properly
Even well-seasoned firewood can reabsorb moisture if stored incorrectly. Stack wood in a sunny location with good air circulation, at least a few inches off the ground on pallets or lumber.
Cover only the top of the stack with a tarp or metal roofing, leaving the sides open for airflow. Completely wrapping the stack in plastic traps moisture and encourages mold and rot.
Keep firewood at least 20 feet from your home’s foundation to reduce the risk of termites and carpenter ants moving from the woodpile into your house. Store only small amounts indoors near the fireplace or stove.
Red Flags and Common Scams
Some firewood sellers take advantage of buyers unfamiliar with proper measurements or wood quality. Watch for sellers who refuse to give specific dimensions, deliver significantly less than promised, or misrepresent green wood as seasoned.
The “short cord” scam involves delivering wood that doesn’t stack to the agreed dimensions. Always measure the delivered pile yourself, or ask the driver to stack it so you can verify the volume.
Extremely low prices often indicate green wood, mixed species with a high percentage of soft or rotted wood, or incorrect measurements. If a price seems too good compared to other local sellers, ask detailed questions before committing.
Making Your Decision
Choose your firewood source based on how much you need, your ability to transport and stack it, and how soon you need to burn it. For regular heating, establish a relationship with a reliable local dealer who can deliver seasoned hardwood each year.
For occasional fires or camping, retail bundles from home improvement stores offer convenience despite higher per-volume cost. If you have space, time, and equipment, buying green wood in spring and seasoning it yourself provides the lowest cost per cord.
Test moisture content before your first fire of the season, store wood properly to maintain dryness, and never hesitate to walk away from a seller who won’t answer basic questions about species, seasoning time, or measurements. Quality firewood is an investment in safety, efficiency, and enjoyment throughout the heating season.
We hope this guide helps you find the best firewood source for your needs and budget. Check back for more practical advice on maintaining and enjoying your home throughout the year.