How Much Wood Will My Fireplace Use?

Several considerations will determine the amount of firewood you will need to get through an entire heating season. Let’s discuss those factors and try to help you plan for the next couple of heating seasons.

THE IMPORTANT QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF:

  1. How much space are you trying to heat?
  2. Are you a serious wood burner or more of a recreational user?
  3. What type of fireplace or stove do you have?
  4. How large is your fireplace or stove?
  5. Where is your home located?
  6. How is it insulated and orientated?
  7. What type of wood are you going to use?

Let’s discuss each of these, and you’ll better understand how much wood you could expect to use.

CONSIDERATIONS:

Is your aim to heat your entire home or just a portion? Consider a centrally located wood-burning fireplace, stove, or forced air furnace if you want to heat your entire house.

Moving the air within your home is essential to get the air circulating to eliminate cooler and warmer spots within the house. You can accomplish this with ceiling fans, an oscillating floor fan, or maybe turning your conventional furnace fan to the “on” position.

Fireplaces, stoves, and furnaces come in lots of different sizes. Take note of the firebox size. The larger the firebox, expressed in cubic feet, the more wood it will hold, the longer the wood will last, and the more heat it will produce. Remember, this is not an exact science. There are lots of variables. But generally:

  • Fireboxes of 1.6 cubic feet and smaller will heat up to 1000 square feet.
  • Fireboxes up to 2.8 cubic feet will heat up to 2000 square feet.
  • The largest fireboxes, over 2.9 cubic feet, will heat up to 3000 square feet of well-insulated space.

(Because of so many unknown variables, note the operative words “up to” in the description!) Your WE LOVE FIRE expert is happy to assist you in determining the size of an appliance.

If you’re planning to heat the entire house, you will need to size the equipment for the winter worst-case weather scenario. Are you in northern Minnesota or southern Missouri? The northeast or the Pacific northwest? Obviously, your address will make a huge difference in product selection.

Maybe you’re more of a “recreational” wood burner? One that wants to enjoy an occasional fire on a weekend or while entertaining over the holidays. Likely, a smaller appliance will nicely suit your needs.

How Much Wood Will My Fireplace Use

OTHER POINTS TO PONDER:

Your house age and type of construction make a massive difference in the amount of wood you’ll use during a heating season. For example, is yours a 100-year-old stone two-story farmhouse? Maybe a 1970s or 80s ranch-style home? Then your heating needs will be significantly greater than a similar style house built within the past few years.

Of course, you can replace windows and seal cracks in an older home. Still, sidewall and foundation insulation are difficult and expensive to retrofit.

Orientation of the house can be important, too. Southern exposure with lots of winter solar gain can provide excellent daytime heating. Conversely, if you have a spectacular north view, plan accordingly and invest in good windows!

EFFICIENCIES vs LOOKS?

The efficiency of today’s EPA-certified wood-burning equipment is awe-inspiring. There are lots of great appliances on the market. Know that the manufacturers and equipment your nearby WE LOVE FIRE dealer represents are the best in the industry.

First, decide how you want to heat, either with a fireplace, stove, or furnace. We can help with the sizing issues described above if it’s a fireplace or stove.

Our advice: buy something you like the looks of.

Keep in mind this will be in your living or family room without a fire going for most of the year. So, purchase equipment and accessories that fit your décor and lifestyle. And if it’s a wood-burning furnace, who cares what it looks like? It’s going to be out of sight in the basement! Just buy a reliable, proven brand.

Different types and wood species produce similar amounts of heat, pound for pound. Since hardwoods are considerably denser than softwoods, they will burn for much longer.

How Much Wood Will My Fireplace Use - Bari Plus by Hearthstone

Wood Fireplace Bari Plus by Hearthstone

SO HOW MUCH WOOD DO I CUT OR BUY?

A cord is a wood pile cut and stacked and measures 4 feet (122 cm) high, 8 feet (244 cm) wide, and 4 feet (122 cm) deep with a volume of 128 cubic feet (3.62 m3).

If you are a serious wood-burner and plan to heat a 20-year-old, 2,000-square-foot house in a cold climate, prepare for 4 or 5 cords of dry hardwood. An occasional recreational wood burner should plan for one or two cords.

When figuring out how much wood you’ll need, estimate on the heavy side. Keep it covered, and whatever isn’t used this year can be first in the firebox next year!

As always, your friendly neighborhood WE LOVE FIRE expert provides free advice on how best enjoy your heating season.

Below is a list of fireplace and grill stores that service ()

Auburn, AL

Top Hat Chimney Sweeps
1280 Financial Ct.
Auburn, AL 36830

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Elk Grove, CA

Custom Fireside Shops
9097 Elk Grove Blvd.
Elk Grove, CA 95624

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Sacramento, CA

Custom Fireside Shops
5455 Auburn Blvd.
Sacramento, CA 95841

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Durango, CO

Durango Outdoor Living
140 Rock Point Drive
Durango, CO 81301

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Durango, CO

Four Corner Stoves & Spas
3001 Main Avenue
Durango, CO 81301

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Grand Junction, CO

Stove Depot and Chimney Works
330 North Ave.
Grand Junction, CO 81501

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New London, CT

Family Hearth and Patio LLC
571 Broad Street
New London, CT 06320

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Ridgefield, CT

Yankee Doodle, Inc.
71 Ethan Allen Highway
Ridgefield, CT 06877

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Dover, DE

Byler's Stove Shoppe Inc.
1368b Rose Valley School Rd.
Dover, DE 19904

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Destin, FL

Doodlebuggers Service Network
36054 Emerald Coast Parkway
Destin, FL 32541

Bettendorf, IA

Fireplaces Plus, Inc.
1745 State Street
Bettendorf, IA 52722

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Post Falls, ID

Quality Stoves & Home Furnishings
569 N Syringa St
Post Falls, ID 83854

Rockford, IL

Advanced Chimney Systems, Inc.
3486 Lonergan Drive
Rockford, IL 61109

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Wauconda, IL

Grass Roots Energy, Inc.
28751 N Route 12
Wauconda, IL 60084

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Evansville, IN

Firemaster, Inc.
5300 E Morgan Avenue
Evansville, IN 47715

Jeffersonville, IN

Olde Towne Chimney & Fireplace Sales
915 Nachand Ln
Jeffersonville, IN 47130

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Overland Park, KS

Kansas City Fireplace Center
10470 Metcalf Avenue
Overland Park, KS 66212

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Erlanger, KY

TateBuilder's Supply, LLC
3511 Dixie Highway
Erlanger, KY 41018

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Littleton, MA

Woodstove, Fireplace and Patio Shop, Inc.
60 White Street
Littleton, MA 01460

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Seekonk, MA

The Fireplace Showcase
775 Fall River Ave
Seekonk, MA 02771

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Sudbury, MA

Woodstove, Fireplace and Patio Shop, Inc.
348 Boston Post Road
Sudbury, MA 01776

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Duluth, MN

Duluth Stove & Fireplace
2431 W Superior Street
Duluth, MN 55806

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Minneapolis, MN

Woodland Stoves & Fireplaces
2901 Franklin Ave. South
Minneapolis, MN 55406

Oakdale, MN

Energy Savers of Minnesota
6298 Highway 36 Blvd N
Oakdale, MN 55128

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Rochester, MN

Brekke Fireplace Shoppe
1904 S. Broadway
Rochester, MN 55904

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Walker, MN

Wilkening Fireplace Company
9608 State 371 NW
Walker, MN 56484

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Fargo, ND

Home Heating, Plumbing & A/C Inc.
701 28th Street South
Fargo, ND 58103

Omaha, NE

Fireplace By Design
13913 R Plaza
Omaha, NE 68137

Epping, NH

The Stove Shoppe
285, Calef Highway Rte. 125
Epping, NH 03042

Windham, NH

The Stove Shoppe
25 Indian Rock Road
Windham, NH 03087

Hamilton, NJ

Bowden's Fireside - Hearth & Home
1731 Nottingham Way
Hamilton, NJ 08619

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Voorhees, NJ

Rettinger Fireplace Systems, Inc.
476 Centennial Blvd
Voorhees, NJ 08043

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St. Henry, OH

Buschur's Refrigeration, Inc.
541 N Eastern Avenue
St. Henry, OH 45883

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Media, PA

Chimney Cricket
101 State Road
Media, PA 19063

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Rapid City, SD

Hebron Brick Company
1543 Deadwood Ave
Rapid City, SD 57709

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Sioux Falls, SD

Hebron Brick Company
2211 W. 50th Street
Sioux Falls, SD 57105-6525

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Vermillion, SD

Kalin's Indoor Comfort Inc.
710 Cottage Avenue
Vermillion, SD 57069

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Manassas, VA

Winston's Chimney Service
11301 Industrial Road
Manassas, VA 20109

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Barre, VT

Chimney Sweep Fireplace Shop
1284 US Rte, 302 Ste 10
Barre, VT 05641-2317

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Bennington, VT

Friends of The Sun
126 Hicks Avenue
Bennington, VT 05201

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Manchester, VT

Friends of The Sun
159 Depot Street
Manchester, VT 05255

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Shelburne, VT

Chimney Sweep Fireplace Shop
3113 Shelburne Road
Shelburne, VT 05482

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White River Jnct, VT

Home Comfort of New England
1255 VA Cut Off Road
White River Jnct, VT 05001

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Burlington, WI

Burlington Fireplace & Heating LLC
857 Milwaukee Ave.
Burlington, WI 53105

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Madison, WI

Top Hat
5117 Verona Rd
Madison, WI 53711

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Morgantown, WV

Rustic By Design
709 Beechurst Ave. Suite 15
Morgantown, WV 26505

Laramie, WY

High Country Stoves & Fireplaces
860 N. 3rd Street
Laramie, WY 82072


For more information, contact your local fireplace and grill store.

1 Response

  1. Amy Saunders
    Hi there! Thank you for reminding us to be mindful with our firewood consumption so it won't be overused or underused. It's getting colder now leading up to New Year's Day and I want to stay cozy in my living room. I'll keep this tip in mind so my family and I could remain comfortable amid the freezing weather.

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