Buying firewood sounds simple enough.
Find someone selling wood, order a load, stack it and burn it.
But anyone who has purchased firewood more than once knows there can be a lot more to it.
What species are you actually getting? Is the wood properly seasoned? How much wood is really in a face cord? Is delivery included? Where should you stack it? And how do you know whether you’re getting good value?
That’s exactly why CanFirewood exists. This is the Complete Guide to Firewood in Canada!
We help Canadians find local firewood suppliers while also providing straightforward information about how to buy, measure, season, store and burn firewood properly.
This guide is the best place to start.
Firewood Basics: What Actually Makes Good Firewood?
Good firewood isn’t determined by species alone.
A premium hardwood that is still wet can be far more frustrating to burn than a properly seasoned piece of a less-dense species.
When evaluating firewood, think about four things:
- Moisture content
- Wood species
- Piece size and consistency
- How the wood has been stored
For most people, dryness should be near the top of the list.
Properly dried firewood generally lights more easily, produces better heat and creates less smoke than wet or freshly cut wood.
If you’re buying wood from a supplier, don’t be afraid to ask questions.
How long has it been seasoned? How was it stored? Has the moisture content been checked?
Those are reasonable questions from an informed firewood buyer.
Want to go deeper?
Read our full guide:
1. How to Buy Firewood
Before comparing prices, make sure you’re comparing the same thing. Keep reading this guide to firewood in Canada.
A cheaper load isn’t necessarily a better deal if it contains less wood, wetter wood or a different species than another supplier’s offering.
Questions to Ask a Firewood Supplier
Before ordering, consider asking:
- What species of firewood is included?
- Is it hardwood, softwood or mixed?
- How long has the wood been seasoned?
- Is the wood ready to burn now?
- What quantity am I purchasing?
- Is that quantity measured stacked or loose?
- What length are the pieces cut?
- Is delivery included?
- Is stacking available?
- Is there a minimum order?
- Where has the wood been stored?
You don’t necessarily need to ask every question every time.
But you should understand what you’re paying for before the truck arrives.
Buying your first load?
We’ve created an entire guide for this:
Read the CanFirewood Buying Firewood Guide →
2. Understanding Firewood Measurements
This is one of the most confusing parts of buying firewood.
You’ll hear terms such as:
Cord. Bush cord. Face cord. Stove cord. Pickup load. Trailer load.
They don’t necessarily mean the same thing.
What Is a Full Cord of Firewood?
A full cord is a stacked volume measuring:
128 cubic feet
A traditional stack is:
4 feet high × 4 feet deep × 8 feet long
That equals:
128 cubic feet of stacked firewood.
In Canada, you may also hear a full cord referred to as a bush cord.
What About a Face Cord?
This is where buyers need to pay attention.
A face cord is generally one row of firewood measuring approximately:
4 feet high × 8 feet long
But the depth depends on the length of the firewood.
For example, a row of 16-inch pieces contains much less wood than a row made from 24-inch pieces.
That means simply saying “face cord” doesn’t tell you everything you need to know.
Ask for the dimensions.
CanFirewood Tip: Compare the actual amount of wood you’re receiving—not just the name used for the load.
We break down cords, face cords, stacked volume and other common measurements here:
Firewood Measurements: Cord, Face Cord & More →
3. Choosing a Firewood Species
Different types of wood burn differently.
Some species are dense and produce long-lasting heat. Others ignite quickly and are excellent for starting fires or for shorter burns.
Common Canadian Firewood Species
Depending on where you live, you may encounter:
Maple
A popular hardwood with good heat output and reliable burning characteristics.
Oak
Dense hardwood that can provide long, steady burns when properly seasoned.
Ash
Traditionally valued as firewood because of its good burning characteristics and relatively straightforward seasoning.
Birch
Popular in many parts of Canada and easy to recognize. Birch can burn well when dry, although proper storage is particularly important.
Beech
Dense hardwood capable of producing excellent heat.
Cherry
Often appreciated for its pleasant burning characteristics and aroma.
Softwoods
Species such as spruce, pine and fir can also be useful firewood.
They generally ignite quickly and can be excellent for kindling, shoulder-season fires, outdoor fires and certain heating situations.
The idea that hardwood is always “good” and softwood is always “bad” is too simplistic.
The right wood depends on how you’re using it—and whether it’s properly dried.
Compare common species
Visit:
CanFirewood Firewood Species Guide →
4. Seasoned Firewood and Moisture Content
The word “seasoned” gets used constantly in the firewood business.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t always tell you exactly how dry the wood actually is.
Firewood dries through a combination of:
- Time
- Airflow
- Sun exposure
- Split size
- Climate
- Storage conditions
Simply cutting a tree several months ago doesn’t automatically mean the pieces are ready to burn.
How Dry Should Firewood Be?
A useful target for firewood is generally around 20% moisture content or less when properly tested.
A moisture meter can help take some of the guesswork out of the process.
For the most useful reading, split a piece of wood and test the freshly exposed interior face, rather than testing only the outside surface.
Dry wood matters.
Firewood that has been sitting outside for a long time isn’t necessarily dry firewood. How it was split, stacked and stored matters enormously.
Learn how to test your wood and understand seasoning:
5. How to Store Firewood Properly
You can buy excellent dry firewood and still create problems if you store it poorly.
Good firewood storage is about one thing above all:
Airflow.
Your woodpile should be able to breathe.
A Good Firewood Stack Should Be:
- Raised from wet ground when possible
- Stacked securely
- Exposed to good airflow
- Protected from excessive rain and snow
- Accessible when you need it
- Located where it can be managed safely
Avoid wrapping an entire wet woodpile tightly in plastic.
That can trap moisture instead of helping the wood continue to dry.
A better approach is generally to protect the top of the pile while allowing air to move around the sides.
Think Ahead
Don’t wait until the first cold night of the year to think about firewood storage.
Have your stacking area ready before the delivery truck arrives.
Your future self will appreciate it.
For our complete storage and burning guide:
6. Burning Firewood Better
Good fires start long before you light the match.
They start with:
Good wood + proper drying + good storage.
When your firewood is dry and appropriately sized, starting and maintaining a fire becomes much easier.
A Few Good Habits
Use properly seasoned wood.
Start with smaller dry pieces and kindling.
Give a new fire enough air to establish itself.
Avoid trying to make wet wood burn by smouldering it for long periods.
And keep your wood-burning appliance and chimney properly maintained.
Your stove, fireplace or appliance manufacturer may also provide specific instructions about operation, fuel size and maintenance. Follow those instructions.
7. Buy Local. Burn Local.
There’s another important reason CanFirewood focuses on helping people find suppliers close to where they’re burning the wood.
Firewood is more than a heating product.
It’s also part of a forest ecosystem.
Insects and diseases can sometimes travel unnoticed in firewood, including beneath bark or inside pieces of wood.
Moving firewood long distances can therefore move more than just logs.
That’s why a simple principle makes sense:
Buy Local. Burn Local.
Whenever practical, source your firewood near the place where you intend to burn it.
You’ll support local businesses while also avoiding unnecessary transportation of firewood over long distances.
Before transporting firewood between regions, check current federal and provincial guidance that applies to your location.
Learn more:
What Should You Look for When Firewood Is Delivered?
Before the supplier leaves, take a quick look at the load.
You aren’t trying to perform a scientific inspection—you simply want to make sure the delivery reasonably matches what you ordered.
Check:
Quantity
Does the load appear consistent with the quantity you purchased?
Species
Does the wood appear consistent with what was advertised?
Piece Size
Are the pieces approximately the length you requested?
Condition
Is the wood reasonably clean and free from excessive dirt, debris or obvious rot?
Moisture
If dry or seasoned wood was promised, consider checking several representative pieces with a moisture meter.
And remember:
One piece doesn’t represent an entire load.
Check wood from several different areas.
Price Isn’t the Only Thing That Matters
It’s tempting to search for the lowest price per cord.
But firewood value is more complicated than that.
Consider:
Quantity + species + moisture + delivery + convenience + supplier reliability.
A slightly more expensive load of properly seasoned wood delivered by a dependable local supplier may offer much better overall value than a cheaper load that is wet, undersized or poorly described.
Good supplier information makes that comparison easier.
And that’s one of the reasons we’re building CanFirewood.
The CanFirewood Firewood Guide
You don’t have to learn everything at once.
Use this article as your starting point and dive into the subjects that matter to you.
🪵 Buying Firewood
Understand what you’re buying and what to ask before ordering.
🌳 Firewood Species
Compare common species and learn how different woods burn.
💧 Seasoning & Moisture
Learn how firewood dries and how to check moisture properly.
Explore Seasoning & Moisture →
📏 Firewood Measurements
Understand cords, face cords and how to compare quantities.
Explore Firewood Measurements →
🔥 Storage & Burning
Learn how to stack, protect and burn your firewood properly.
🍁 Buy Local / Burn Local
Learn why finding firewood closer to home matters.
Explore Buy Local / Burn Local →
Ready to Find Firewood Near You?
Learning what makes good firewood is important.
Finding someone local who sells it is the next step.
CanFirewood connects you with independent firewood suppliers in your area so you can compare what they offer and contact the business directly.
We don’t sell the firewood and we don’t get in the middle of the transaction.
We help you find it. Thank you for taking the time to read our complete guide to firewood in Canada.