2025-2026 Firewood Prices: The Complete Guide for Smart Buyers

The American firewood market is big business. The industry is valued at over $42 billion in 2025, fueled by the boom in outdoor living and backyard entertaining. Recreational demand — fire pit owners like you and me — is a major driver of that growth.

Whether you burn a cord a year or stock up for a full outdoor entertaining season, knowing the market helps you spend less and burn better. Let’s dig in.

Regional Firewood Prices: Where You Live Changes Everything

The single biggest factor in your firewood cost isn’t wood type or even quality — it’s your zip code. Prices can vary by 100% or more depending on your region. Here’s a snapshot of 2025-2026 firewood prices across the country for seasoned hardwood.

Urban areas consistently cost more than rural ones — usually 10–25% higher. That’s pure delivery cost and limited local supply hitting your wallet. If you’re a suburban fire pit owner getting wood delivered, that markup is almost unavoidable.

The Southwest’s wild price swings come down to wood species. Basic softwoods like Aleppo Pine start around $325 in Arizona, while specialty hardwoods — mesquite and pecan — run $800 or more per cord. They’re worth it if you care about aroma and long burn times. I’ve burned both, and the smell from mesquite on a cool evening is hard to beat.

Seasonal Timing: The Easiest Way to Cut Your Firewood Costs

If I could give one piece of advice to every fire pit owner, it’s this: stop buying firewood in winter. That’s the single most expensive time to buy. Firewood prices peak from late November through February when everyone needs wood at once.

Summer buying is where the real savings are. You can cut your firewood costs by 30–50% just by purchasing during the off-season and storing wood properly until you need it. The market is that predictable.

Firewood Measurements: Don’t Let a Vague Term Cost You Money

One of the most common ways buyers get shortchanged is through vague measurements. Terms like “truckload” or “bundle” mean different things to different sellers. A legal cord is a specific measurement — and it’s the only number you should use when comparing prices.

A full cord, when properly stacked, gives you about 70–90 cubic feet of actual solid wood. The rest is air space between splits. That’s enough for a full outdoor entertaining season if you’re burning weekly.

Face cords and “ricks” are roughly one-third of a full cord, but these terms aren’t legally standardized in most states. Always ask the seller to specify the exact dimensions — and measure the stack yourself when it’s delivered. I’ve done this more than once and caught short loads.

Wood Quality and Firewood Prices: What Moisture Content Really Means

Moisture content is the most important quality factor in firewood. It affects how the wood burns, how much heat it produces, and how much smoke drifts toward your guests. I’ve burned green wood by mistake exactly once — and once was enough.

Properly seasoned wood at 15–25% moisture burns efficiently and produces minimal smoke. Green wood at 50–75% moisture delivers about 45% less heat and creates thick smoke that drives everyone away from the fire pit. No price discount is worth that trade-off.

Kiln-dried wood costs 15–25% more than standard seasoned hardwood, but it’s worth it in certain situations. If you live somewhere wet, or you need wood immediately without seasoning time, kiln-dried is the right call. Just budget accordingly.

Wood Species and BTU Output

Not all hardwood is created equal. High-BTU species burn longer and produce more heat per cord — which often makes them worth their higher price when you do the math on burn time.

For fire pit use, oak and hickory are my go-to recommendation. They cost more upfront, but they outlast softwood by a significant margin. You’ll add logs far less often, which means more time relaxing and less time playing fire tender all evening.

What’s Driving Firewood Prices in 2025-2026

Several forces are keeping firewood prices elevated compared to historical norms. Understanding them helps you set realistic expectations for what you’ll spend this season.

Inflation and transportation costs continue to hit suppliers hard. Delivery charges now run $25–$100 per load depending on distance. That’s a real cost that gets passed to buyers — especially those ordering smaller quantities.

Weather disruptions are another factor. Western wildfires and hurricane activity have created periodic supply shortages in affected regions. When local wood supply dips, prices in neighboring markets often rise too.

Interstate transport restrictions limit how far wood can travel due to invasive species regulations. The “Don’t Move Firewood” campaign restricts transport to a 10–50 mile radius in many states. That means firewood markets are largely local — your options are your local suppliers, period.

Recreational demand keeps growing alongside the outdoor living trend. More homeowners investing in fire pits and backyard entertainment spaces means steady demand throughout the year, not just winter.

Smart Firewood Buying Strategies That Actually Save Money

Knowing the market is step one. Acting on that knowledge is where you actually save. These strategies have worked for me over six years of buying firewood for multiple fire pits.

A $20 moisture meter is one of the best investments a fire pit owner can make. Test wood before you accept delivery. If moisture reads above 25%, the seller hasn’t seasoned it long enough — and that’s your leverage to negotiate or walk away.

Always get a detailed receipt that specifies wood type, quantity by volume, and moisture content if possible. It’s your protection as a buyer, and any reputable supplier should have no problem providing it.

How Much Firewood Do You Actually Need?

Buying too little is annoying. Buying too much can mean wood sitting out all season without proper storage. Here’s a simple guide based on actual fire pit usage patterns.

A decent rule of thumb: recreational fire pit use burns about 1 cubic foot of wood per hour. A three-hour evening fire uses around 3 cubic feet. Do that twice a week and you’re looking at roughly 1.5–2 cords per outdoor season.

I use my fire pits two to three times a week during peak season. That puts me in the “heavy” category, and I plan accordingly every June.

The Bottom Line on 2025-2026 Firewood Prices

Firewood prices aren’t going back to where they were five years ago. Supply chain pressures, rising transportation costs, and strong recreational demand are keeping prices firm across the board. That’s the reality heading into this season.

The good news is that strategic buyers can still find real value. Buy in summer. Buy in bulk when you have storage space. Build a relationship with a reliable local supplier. And never, ever buy green wood just because it’s cheap — you’ll pay for it in frustration every time you light a fire.

Six years of buying wood for multiple fire pits has taught me that quality and timing matter more than anything else. Get those two right, and firewood season becomes something you look forward to — not dread.

Frequently Asked Questions

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