Buying firewood online can be confusing when one product is sold in 22-litre bags, another in 60-litre bags and another as a 1.20m³ hand-stacked crate. The figures may look comparable, but they do not always measure the same thing.
This guide explains the difference between nominal bag capacity, stacked volume and loose volume, and compares the current kiln-dried log formats available from Dawsons Fuels.
Understanding those differences will help you choose the right quantity for your stove use, storage space and how you prefer to handle your logs.
Quick firewood size comparison
The table below shows the main formats in our current kiln-dried logs range.
| Format | Wood | Quantity | How volume is measured | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single boot bag | Birch or Ash | 1 × 60L | 60L nominal bag capacity | Occasional fires, top-ups and trying the logs |
| Comfort Flame carry bags | Birch | 64 × 22L | 1,408L combined nominal bag capacity | Smaller, lighter handled packs and restricted access |
| 60L boot-bag pallet | Birch | 24 × 60L | 1,440L combined nominal bag capacity | Individually packed logs and tidy storage |
| 60L boot-bag pallet | Ash | 24 × 60L | 1,440L combined nominal bag capacity | Steady-burning logs in individual packs |
| 40L boot-bag pallet | Oak | 40 × 40L | 1,600L combined nominal bag capacity | Long-burning Oak in smaller individual packs |
| Hand-stacked crate | Birch, Ash or Oak | 1 crate | Approx. 1.20m³ stacked volume | Regular burners, bulk buying and reduced packaging |
| Crate + kindling | Birch, Ash or Oak | 1.20m³ crate + 4 × 40L nets of kindling | 1.20m³ stacked log volume plus kindling | A bulk log order with dry kindling included |
Important: the litre figures shown for bagged products are the combined nominal capacity of the bags. They are not measurements of solid timber and should not be treated as exact loose-volume or stacked-volume equivalents.
What do firewood volume figures actually mean?
The easiest way to understand firewood quantities is to separate three different measurements.
1. Nominal bag capacity
A bag described as 22L, 40L or 60L refers to the nominal capacity of the bag.
For example:
- 64 × 22L bags = 1,408 litres combined nominal bag capacity
- 24 × 60L bags = 1,440 litres combined nominal bag capacity
- 40 × 40L bags = 1,600 litres combined nominal bag capacity
Our bagged logs are tightly packed, but every bag still contains spaces between individual logs. The stated litre figure therefore describes the packaging capacity rather than a solid block of timber.
2. Stacked volume
Our wooden crates are measured using the volume occupied by the logs while they are hand-stacked inside the crate.
The current medium crates contain approximately 1.20m³ of hand-stacked logs.
Hand-stacking reduces the amount of empty space between the logs compared with tipping the same logs into a loose pile.
3. Loose volume
If logs are removed from a tightly stacked crate and tipped into a loose pile, the pile occupies more space because larger air gaps form between the logs.
Our 1.20m³ hand-stacked crates are approximately equivalent to 1.7m³ of loose firewood.
This is an approximate comparison rather than an exact conversion. Firewood is a natural product, so log shape and thickness vary, and the amount of air in a loose pile depends on how the logs fall and settle.
Can I directly compare 1.44m³ of bags with a 1.20m³ crate?
No—not accurately.
A figure such as 1.44m³ on a bagged pallet describes the combined nominal capacity of the bags. A 1.20m³ crate describes the volume occupied by tightly hand-stacked logs.
Because the packing methods are different, simply comparing the headline cubic-metre figures can give a misleading impression of how much actual firewood is supplied.
Single 60L bags: ideal for top-ups and occasional fires
Our smallest parcel-delivered firewood option is a single tightly packed 60-litre boot bag.
You can choose:
A single bag is useful if you:
- Only light your stove or fire occasionally
- Need a convenient top-up
- Have limited storage space
- Want to try Birch or Ash before placing a bulk order
- Prefer tracked parcel delivery rather than receiving a pallet
The 60L stitched polypropylene bags do not have carry handles. For parcel delivery, each bag is placed inside an outer cardboard box.
64 × 22L Birch bags: the easiest packs to carry
Our Comfort Flame Kiln-Dried Birch Logs – 64 × 22L Bags are designed for customers who prefer smaller individual packs.
The pallet contains:
- 64 individual bags
- 22 litres nominal capacity per bag
- 1,408 litres / 1.408m³ combined nominal bag capacity
- Built-in carry handles
- Approximately 24cm Birch logs
This format is particularly useful where logs need to be carried through a house, along a narrow path or to a storage area some distance from the delivery point.
Because the firewood is divided between 64 smaller bags, you can also move and store the logs gradually rather than dealing with a large crate immediately.
24 × 60L pallets: fewer, larger individual bags
For customers who want individually packed firewood but prefer fewer bags, we offer pallets containing 24 tightly packed 60L bags.
There are currently two wood choices:
- Pallet of Kiln-Dried Birch Logs – 24 × 60L Boot Bags
- Pallet of Kiln-Dried Ash Logs – 24 × 60L Boot Bags
Each pallet has a combined nominal bag capacity of:
24 × 60L = 1,440 litres, or 1.44m³.
Again, this is nominal bag capacity rather than loose-log or stacked-log volume.
The Birch and Ash 60L bags are tightly packed and stitched closed. They do not have carry handles, but dividing the order into 24 individual bags allows the logs to be moved and stored one pack at a time.
Choose Birch if you favour quicker lighting, lively flames and fast heat. Choose Ash if you want an excellent all-round firewood with a steadier, generally longer-lasting burn.
40 × 40L Oak bags: smaller packs for a denser hardwood
Our Pallet of Kiln-Dried Oak Logs – 40 × 40L Boot Bags uses a different bag size.
The pallet contains:
- 40 individual bags
- 40 litres nominal capacity per bag
- 1,600 litres / 1.60m³ combined nominal bag capacity
- Approximately 24cm Oak logs
Oak is denser and heavier than Birch or Ash, so the smaller 40L bag helps keep each individual pack more manageable.
Oak is particularly well suited to customers who prioritise a slower, sustained burn once the fire is properly established.
1.20m³ hand-stacked crates: bulk firewood with less packaging
For regular stove users and customers looking to stock up, our hand-stacked wooden crates provide approximately 1.20m³ of stacked kiln-dried logs.
They are available in:
- Kiln-Dried Birch Logs – 1.20m³ Crate
- Kiln-Dried Ash Logs – 1.20m³ Crate
- Kiln-Dried Oak Logs – Medium Crate (1.20m³)
The logs are stacked tightly inside the crate rather than tipped in loose. Once removed and tipped into a loose pile, the logs are approximately equivalent to 1.7m³ of loose firewood.
The loose-volume figure is approximate because natural logs vary in shape and thickness.
Crates are a good choice if:
- You burn logs regularly
- You have suitable dry bulk storage
- You are happy to unload and stack the logs after delivery
- You prefer less individual packaging
- You want one of our most cost-effective formats for stocking up
1.20m³ crates with four nets of kindling
If you need kindling as well as logs, each of the three crate species is also available with four 40-litre nets of dry softwood kindling.
- Kiln-Dried Birch Logs with 4 Nets of Kindling – 1.20m³ Crate
- Kiln-Dried Ash Logs with 4 Nets of Kindling – 1.20m³ Crate
- Kiln-Dried Oak Logs with 4 Nets of Kindling – Medium Crate (1.20m³)
The crate itself still contains approximately 1.20m³ of hand-stacked logs. The four nets of kindling are supplied in addition to the crate volume.
Kindling is included, but firelighters are not.
Which firewood format should I choose?
| Your priority | Format to consider |
|---|---|
| Occasional fires or trying a product | Single 60L Birch or Ash bag |
| Lightest individual packs with handles | 64 × 22L Comfort Flame Birch bags |
| Individually packed Birch or Ash in bulk | 24 × 60L boot-bag pallet |
| Individually packed long-burning Oak | 40 × 40L Oak pallet |
| Regular stove use and bulk storage | 1.20m³ hand-stacked crate |
| Bulk logs with kindling included | 1.20m³ crate + 4 × 40L nets of kindling |
The right format is not simply the one with the largest number of litres. Consider how often you burn logs, how far they need to be moved after delivery, how much storage space you have and whether you prefer individual bags or a bulk crate.
Should I choose Birch, Ash or Oak logs?
Once you have chosen the most suitable pack format, consider the type of fire you want.
| Wood | Best for | Burn character |
|---|---|---|
| Birch | Fast starts and quick warmth | Easy lighting, lively flame and responsive heat |
| Ash | Regular everyday burning | Balanced, steady heat and a dependable all-round burn |
| Oak | Longer fires | Dense hardwood with a slower, sustained burn once established |
Our current regularly stocked range is Birch, Ash and Oak. Hornbeam may occasionally become available again when suitable supplies can be sourced.
For a more detailed species comparison, read our guide to choosing between Birch, Ash, Oak and Hornbeam.
Are Dawsons kiln-dried logs Ready to Burn?
Our current kiln-dried firewood range is Ready to Burn certified, with moisture content at or below the required level for certified firewood.
Properly dried logs are easier to light and provide a cleaner, more dependable fire than wet or insufficiently seasoned wood when burned in a suitable appliance.
For more information, read our guide to the Woodsure Ready to Burn scheme.
How are the different log formats delivered?
Single 60L bags
Individual 60L Birch and Ash bags are placed inside an outer cardboard box and sent by tracked parcel courier. Delivery is usually within three working days of dispatch, Monday to Friday.
Pallets and crates
Bulk bagged products and wooden crates are delivered on pallets. Free standard delivery is available to most UK mainland postcodes.
National pallet deliveries are normally made to the kerbside or nearest safe and accessible point. Pallet trucks require firm, flat and level ground such as concrete or tarmac.
Read our full delivery information and access requirements before ordering a pallet.
Storage
Whichever format you choose, keep kiln-dried logs somewhere covered, dry and protected from rain and ground moisture.
For detailed advice, see our guide to storing kiln-dried firewood.
Frequently asked questions about firewood volumes and bag sizes
What does a 60L bag of logs mean?
It means the bag has a nominal capacity of 60 litres. It does not mean that the bag contains 60 litres of solid timber because there will always be spaces between individual logs.
Does a 24 × 60L pallet contain 1.44m³ of loose logs?
No. The 1.44m³ figure is the combined nominal capacity of the 24 bags. The bags are tightly packed and the figure should not be treated as an exact loose-volume or stacked-volume measurement.
Does the 40 × 40L Oak pallet contain 1.60m³ of loose logs?
No. The 1.60m³ figure is the combined nominal capacity of the 40 individual bags. It is not an exact loose-firewood measurement.
How much loose firewood is equivalent to a 1.20m³ crate?
A 1.20m³ hand-stacked crate is approximately equivalent to 1.7m³ of loose logs. This is an approximate comparison because log size, shape and the way logs settle all affect loose volume.
Which bagged logs are easiest to carry?
The 22L Comfort Flame Birch bags are the smallest individual packs and have built-in carry handles. The 40L Oak bags are smaller than the 60L boot bags because Oak is a denser and heavier hardwood. The 40L and 60L stitched boot bags do not have carry handles.
Are crates better value than bagged logs?
Crates are generally our preferred format for customers prioritising bulk value and reduced individual packaging. Bagged products offer different advantages, particularly convenience, smaller individual quantities and easier distribution around your storage area. Check the current product prices when comparing your options.
Does the crate-and-kindling option contain less firewood?
No. The crate still contains approximately 1.20m³ of hand-stacked logs. Four 40L nets of dry softwood kindling are supplied in addition to the crate.
Do you currently sell Hornbeam logs?
Hornbeam is not currently part of our regularly stocked log range. We may stock it again in future if suitable supplies become available. Check our current kiln-dried logs collection for availability.
Which wood should I choose?
Choose Birch for easy lighting and quick, bright heat; Ash for a dependable all-round burn; or Oak for a slower, longer-lasting fire once properly established. Read our full wood-species comparison for more detail.
Shop kiln-dried logs
Browse our complete range of Ready to Burn kiln-dried Birch, Ash and Oak logs, including single bags, bagged pallets and hand-stacked crates.
Need help choosing? Call Dawsons Fuels on 015396 20210 or contact our team.
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