How Big Is a Bulk Bag of Logs? UK Firewood Bag Sizes Explained

If you've been shopping online for firewood, you've probably come across bulk bags, builders bags, dumpy bags, barrow bags and jumbo bags of logs.

The problem is that these names don't necessarily tell you how much firewood you're actually buying.

A “bulk bag” from one firewood supplier can be a completely different size from a “bulk bag” sold by another.

So, if you're comparing firewood prices, don't compare the name of the bag. Compare the actual volume of firewood you're getting.

Here's what you need to know.

Is a Bulk Bag of Logs a Standard Size?

No.

There isn't one universal volume that every UK firewood supplier has to use when describing a product as a “bulk bag” or “builders bag”.

Current UK suppliers advertise builders/bulk bags with different dimensions and stated volumes. For example, some advertise bags around 85 × 85 × 85cm, while others sell larger volumes.

That's why simply seeing:

“Bulk Bag of Kiln Dried Logs – £XXX”

doesn't tell you enough to make a proper price comparison.

You need to know how much firewood is actually being supplied.

Look for m³ When Comparing Firewood

One of the easiest ways to compare quantities is to look for the volume stated in cubic metres (m³).

For example:

0.7m³ is a smaller quantity than 1m³.

Likewise, 1.7m³ is considerably more firewood than 0.7m³.

It sounds obvious, but when different suppliers use names such as builders bag, bulk bag, jumbo bag and ton bag, it's remarkably easy to compare two prices without realising the quantities aren't the same.

What About a “Ton Bag” of Logs?

This is another term that can cause confusion.

A builders-style bulk bag is sometimes casually called a ton bag because this type of bag is commonly associated with carrying building materials.

That doesn't mean you're necessarily receiving one tonne of kiln dried firewood.

The actual weight of firewood will vary considerably depending on the timber species, moisture content and other factors. Current UK firewood suppliers themselves warn customers that a so-called ton bag does not mean the bag contains a tonne of wood.

For firewood shopping, we'd concentrate on the stated quantity or volume, rather than assuming a bag name tells you its weight.

What Size Bag of Firewood Should I Buy?

That depends on three things:

How regularly you use your stove, how much storage space you have and how easy it is to move the logs from the delivery point to your log store.

Someone who lights their stove occasionally has very different requirements from a household burning logs every evening through winter.

And there's little point ordering the largest quantity available if you've nowhere suitable to keep it.

At Armstrong Country Store, we offer different quantities and packaging options because one type of firewood delivery doesn't suit every home.

0.7m³ Builders Bag

A 0.7m³ Builders Bag is a sensible option if you want a substantial supply of kiln dried logs without committing to one of the larger quantities.

It can also work well if your storage space is limited or you're working out how quickly your household gets through firewood.

1m³ Bulk Bag

Moving up to approximately 1m³ gives regular stove users a larger supply in one order.

If you've got suitable storage and regularly use your stove or fireplace, this can reduce how frequently you need to reorder.

1.7m³ Super Large Bulk Bag

For households that burn considerably more firewood, approximately 1.7m³ lets you stock up with a much larger quantity at once.

Before ordering a large bulk bag, though, make sure you've considered both delivery access and where you're going to store the logs.

Bigger isn't automatically better if getting the firewood from the delivery point to the log store becomes a nightmare.

What If I Have a Narrow Garden Path?

This is where Barrow Bags become interesting.

A big bulk bag can be convenient when your storage area is close to the delivery point.

But imagine your logs arrive at the front of your house while your log store is at the bottom of the back garden.

Suddenly you've got hundreds of individual logs to move.

Our Barrow Bag options divide the firewood between several smaller bags that can be moved individually by hand or using a suitable trolley.

We currently offer options including:

4 Barrow Bags – approximately 1.2m³ in total

and

6 Barrow Bags – approximately 1.75m³ in total

They're particularly useful for properties with side entrances, narrow garden paths or storage areas away from the delivery point.

Barrow bags are also an established firewood format in the UK, although — just like bulk bags — their dimensions and capacities aren't necessarily standard between suppliers.

What About Individually Bagged Logs?

Another option is to buy firewood in smaller woven bags.

These can make sense if convenience and handling are more important to you than having all your firewood in one enormous bag.

Our woven-bag firewood is cut to approximately 8 inches, making the logs suitable for all wood-burning stoves.

We offer different quantities, including:

24 woven bags
48 woven bags
72 woven bags
96 woven bags

The individual bags make it easy to move your firewood gradually and organise it in your storage area.

You can also bring one bag closer to the house when required rather than repeatedly carrying individual logs from your main store.

Bulk Bag vs Barrow Bags vs Woven Bags

There's no single “best” way to buy firewood.

It depends on your property.

Choose a Bulk Bag if:
You want a large quantity in one bag and have suitable access and storage.

Choose Barrow Bags if:
You want to buy in bulk but need to move your firewood through a narrow path, side entrance or to a storage area away from the delivery point.

Choose Woven Bags if:
You want smaller, individually manageable bags that are easy to carry, organise and store.

That's a much better way to choose than simply looking for the cheapest advertised “bag of logs”.

Does Log Size Matter Too?

Absolutely.

Volume tells you how much firewood you're buying, but you should also check whether the logs will suit your appliance.

Our standard mixed-length firewood has a maximum log length of approximately 10 inches, while our woven bags contain approximately 8-inch logs.

The 8-inch option is particularly useful for smaller stoves where longer logs can be awkward.

Before buying firewood from any supplier, check the advertised log dimensions rather than assuming every supplier cuts logs to the same size.

Current UK suppliers offer different log sizes, including approximately 8-inch and 10-inch options.

Don't Compare Firewood on Price Alone

Suppose Supplier A sells a “Bulk Bag of Logs” for less than Supplier B.

That doesn't automatically mean Supplier A is cheaper.

You need to compare what you're actually receiving.

Before ordering, check:

• Stated volume or quantity
• Moisture content
• Log length
• Whether the firewood is Ready to Burn certified
• Delivery charges and exclusions
• How the firewood is packaged
• Whether you'll actually be able to move and store it

A cheap bag isn't particularly good value if it contains considerably less firewood than the bag you're comparing it against.

Why Moisture Content Matters

Quantity isn't the only measurement worth checking.

You should also know how dry the firewood is.

Our kiln dried firewood is Woodsure Ready to Burn certified and dried to a moisture content of below 20%.

So when comparing suppliers, don't just ask:

“How big is the bag?”

Also ask:

“How dry are the logs?”

Produced by the Armstrong Family

There's another question worth asking when buying firewood online:

Who actually produces the logs?

Our firewood isn't simply finished firewood bought in and resold.

It's produced by the Armstrong family.

We locally source timber from FSC® 100% certified, well-managed forests before it is sawn, split and dried in our purpose-built kilns.

Once dried, the firewood is triple screened to remove excess bark and dust before being packed for delivery.

That gives us control over the process from the timber coming in to the finished logs leaving us.

Frequently Asked Questions

How big is a bulk bag of logs?

There is no single standard volume for every bulk bag of firewood sold in the UK. Check the supplier's stated dimensions or volume rather than relying on the words “bulk bag”.

Is a builders bag the same as a bulk bag?

The terms are often used interchangeably when selling firewood, but that doesn't guarantee two suppliers' bags contain the same volume.

Is a ton bag of logs actually one tonne?

Not necessarily. “Ton bag” is commonly used as a name for the type of large builders-style bag and shouldn't be taken as a guarantee that it contains one tonne of kiln dried firewood.

How should I compare bulk bags of logs?

Look at the stated volume, log dimensions, moisture content, certification, delivery costs and delivery method rather than comparing the product name alone.

Are Barrow Bags easier to move?

Their advantage is that your total order is divided into smaller individual bags. This can make them much easier to move from the delivery point to your log store, particularly where access is narrow.

What size logs should I buy?

Check your stove or appliance before ordering. Our woven bags contain approximately 8-inch logs, while our other firewood products contain mixed lengths up to approximately 10 inches.

Is kiln dried firewood ready to use when delivered?

Our firewood is Woodsure Ready to Burn certified and below 20% moisture, so it's ready to use when it reaches you.

The Bottom Line

When you're comparing firewood online, don't judge the deal by the words “bulk bag” alone.

Look at how much firewood you're actually getting.

Then consider the log size, moisture content, packaging, delivery and how you're going to get the logs from the delivery point into your store.

Whether a 0.7m³ Builders Bag, 1m³ Bulk Bag, larger 1.7m³ supply, Barrow Bags or individually packed woven bags suits you best will depend on how much you burn and your property.

Buy the quantity and packaging that work for your home — not simply the bag with the cheapest headline price.