How Many Logs Are in a Bulk Bag?
It's one of the obvious questions to ask when buying firewood online:
How many logs will I actually get in a bulk bag?
Unfortunately, there isn't one honest number that applies to every bag.
Two bulk bags with exactly the same outside dimensions can contain a different number of logs depending on the size of the individual logs, how they've been split and how they've settled into the bag.
That's why at Armstrong Country Store, we think there's a better question to ask:
How much firewood am I actually buying?
And that's where cubic metres – m³ – become useful.
Why Can't You Just Count the Logs?
Imagine filling two identical bags.
The first contains relatively chunky split logs.
The second contains smaller pieces.
The second bag could contain considerably more individual logs, but that doesn't automatically mean you're getting more firewood.
You're counting pieces rather than measuring the overall quantity.
It's a bit like asking how many potatoes are in a sack. Fifty small potatoes aren't necessarily more food than thirty large ones.
Firewood works in much the same way.
That's why reputable suppliers commonly sell bulk firewood by volume rather than by the number of individual logs. Current UK suppliers explicitly explain that their bulk logs are sold by volume, with bag dimensions or cubic-metre quantities provided to help customers understand what they're buying.
What Does m³ Mean When Buying Logs?
m³ means cubic metre.
It's a measurement of volume.
So:
0.7m³ means approximately 0.7 cubic metres.
1m³ means approximately one cubic metre.
1.7m³ means approximately 1.7 cubic metres.
This makes it much easier to understand the difference between firewood quantities than simply seeing names such as:
Builders Bag
Bulk Bag
Jumbo Bag
Super Bulk Bag
Those names can mean different things from one supplier to another.
A stated volume gives you something much more useful to compare.
Is 1m³ of Loose Logs the Same as 1m³ of Stacked Logs?
No – and this is another important detail when comparing firewood.
Logs tipped or packed loosely into a bag naturally have air spaces between them.
If you take those same logs out and stack them neatly in a log store, they occupy less space.
UK firewood suppliers discussing loose versus stacked quantities commonly explain this distinction. One current supplier says a cubic metre of loose logs may occupy roughly 60–70% of a cubic metre once neatly stacked; another gives approximately 1.7m³ loose as equivalent to around 1m³ stacked. These are useful illustrations rather than universal conversion factors, because log dimensions and stacking affect the result.
So when comparing prices from different firewood suppliers, check whether the advertised volume is:
Loose-filled volume
or
Stacked volume
Otherwise you may be comparing two completely different measurements.
How Many Logs Fit in a 0.7m³ Builders Bag?
There's no fixed number we can give you without potentially misleading you.
Our logs are a natural product. Individual pieces won't all have identical diameters and shapes.
What we can tell you is the quantity you're buying:
approximately 0.7m³ of kiln dried firewood.
That's far more useful than claiming you'll receive an exact number of logs that will inevitably vary from bag to bag.
What About a 1m³ Bulk Bag?
The same principle applies.
Our 1m³ Bulk Bag contains approximately one cubic metre of kiln dried firewood.
It contains more firewood than our 0.7m³ option, but we don't need to pretend every 1m³ bag contains an identical number of individual pieces.
You're buying the stated volume of firewood, not a guaranteed log count.
And the 1.7m³ Super Large Bulk Bag?
Our 1.7m³ Super Large Bulk Bag is aimed at customers who want to stock up with a considerably larger quantity in one delivery.
Again, the important number is:
approximately 1.7m³.
For regular stove users with suitable storage, buying a larger quantity can also mean fewer orders during the colder months.
Don't Confuse a “Ton Bag” with a Tonne of Firewood
This catches people out.
Large builders-style bags are often casually referred to as ton bags or tonne bags.
That does not mean the bag contains one tonne of firewood.
A bag originally designed to carry heavy materials such as sand or aggregates can hold a much lighter weight when it's filled with logs.
Current UK firewood guidance makes exactly this distinction: a builders/dumpy bag may hold around 0.7m³ of loose logs while weighing considerably less than a tonne.
So don't compare firewood based on the words “ton bag”.
Look for the actual quantity.
Does Log Length Affect How Many Logs Are in the Bag?
Yes.
Log dimensions affect how the pieces fit together and therefore the number of individual logs in a given volume.
At Armstrong Country Store, our standard firewood comes in mixed log lengths with a maximum length of approximately 10 inches.
Our individually packed woven bags contain shorter approximately 8-inch logs.
The 8-inch logs are suitable for all wood-burning stoves and are particularly convenient for smaller appliances.
Again, this demonstrates why counting individual logs isn't a reliable way to compare two different firewood products.
Does Moisture Content Affect the Amount I'm Buying?
Moisture content is a different measurement, but it's extremely important when assessing the quality of the firewood you're buying.
You don't simply want plenty of logs.
You want logs that are properly dry.
Our firewood is Woodsure Ready to Burn certified and kiln dried to a moisture content of below 20%.
Properly dried firewood means less of the fire's energy is being spent dealing with excess moisture in the wood.
So when you're comparing two suppliers, don't stop at:
“How much is the bag?”
Check:
How big is the bag?
What's the stated volume?
Are those measurements loose or stacked?
How long are the logs?
What's the moisture content?
Is the firewood Ready to Burn certified?
That's a much more meaningful comparison.
What About Firewood Sold in Individual Bags?
Cubic metres aren't the only useful way to buy firewood.
Some customers prefer knowing they're receiving a specific number of manageable bags.
That's why we also offer kiln dried firewood in woven bags, including:
24 woven bags
48 woven bags
72 woven bags
96 woven bags
These contain approximately 8-inch logs and allow you to move and store your firewood a bag at a time.
This can be far more convenient than receiving one enormous bulk bag, particularly if the delivery point isn't beside your log store.
Barrow Bags Are Another Option
If you want a larger volume but don't want to move hundreds of loose logs individually, Barrow Bags sit somewhere between a large Bulk Bag and small woven bags.
Our current options include:
4 Barrow Bags – approximately 1.2m³ in total
6 Barrow Bags – approximately 1.75m³ in total
The firewood is divided between several bags which can be moved individually by hand or using a suitable trolley.
If your log store is behind the house and you've got a narrow garden path or side entrance, that can make a significant difference.
How Do I Compare Firewood Prices Properly?
This is where people can get caught out.
Imagine:
Supplier A: Bulk Bag – £200
Supplier B: Bulk Bag – £240
Supplier A looks cheaper.
But what if Supplier A's bag contains approximately 0.7m³, while Supplier B's contains 1m³?
The £200 bag would cost about £285.71 per loose m³, while the £240 bag would cost £240 per loose m³.
Suddenly the apparently more expensive bag is actually cheaper for the volume of firewood you're getting.
That's why headline bag price alone is a poor comparison.
Calculate the Price Per Cubic Metre
Where suppliers give you comparable loose-fill volumes, there's a very simple calculation:
Price of firewood ÷ volume in m³ = approximate price per m³
For example:
£240 ÷ 1m³ = £240 per m³
and:
£200 ÷ 0.7m³ = approximately £285.71 per m³
This isn't the only thing that matters – moisture, log size, quality, delivery and certification matter too – but it's a far better starting point than comparing two products simply because they're both called a Bulk Bag.
Produced by the Armstrong Family
Quantity matters, but so does knowing what you're buying.
Our firewood isn't simply finished logs bought from another producer and resold.
It's produced by the Armstrong family.
We locally source timber from FSC® 100% certified, well-managed forests, before sawing and splitting it into firewood.
The logs are dried in our purpose-built kilns and then triple screened to remove excess bark and dust before being packed for delivery.
Our firewood is Woodsure Ready to Burn certified and below 20% moisture.
So when we tell you the volume of firewood you're buying, we also know how those logs have been produced.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many logs are in a bulk bag?
There isn't a fixed number. The number of logs varies according to their dimensions, shape and how they're packed. Volume is a more reliable way to compare bulk quantities of firewood.
How many logs are in 1m³?
Again, there isn't one universal number. Smaller split logs will produce a higher piece count than larger logs within the same overall volume.
Is a bulk bag 1 cubic metre?
Not necessarily. Bulk bags come in different sizes. Current UK suppliers advertise bulk firewood quantities ranging from around 0.7m³ upwards, so always check the stated volume rather than assuming “bulk bag” means 1m³.
Is a builders bag of logs one tonne?
No. The term “ton bag” refers to the style/capacity of bag associated with heavy building materials; it doesn't mean a bag filled with firewood weighs one tonne.
Is loose firewood the same volume as stacked firewood?
No. Loose logs have larger air spaces between them. Once they're neatly stacked, the same logs occupy a smaller overall volume.
Is it cheaper to buy logs in bulk?
Larger quantities can offer better value, but don't assume they always do. Calculate the price against the stated quantity and then consider moisture content, certification, delivery and log quality. Current UK suppliers also market bulk buying as a way to reduce the cost per log or avoid frequent smaller purchases.
What's the best way to compare two firewood suppliers?
Compare the stated volume, whether it's loose or stacked, moisture content, certification, log dimensions, delivery charges and final delivered price.
So, How Many Logs Are You Actually Getting?
If a supplier gives you an exact number of logs in a randomly filled bulk bag, treat that number as an estimate.
Firewood is a natural product. Logs aren't identical bricks.
For bulk purchases, the more useful figure is the stated volume in cubic metres.
Then check the quality of what fills that volume.
At Armstrong Country Store, that means kiln dried, Woodsure Ready to Burn firewood below 20% moisture, produced by the Armstrong family.
Compare the quantity. Compare the quality. Then compare the price.
That's how you work out whether a bag of logs is actually good value.