What Size Logs Do I Need for My Wood Burning Stove?
When buying firewood online, it's easy to concentrate on the price, bag size and moisture content and completely overlook something fairly important:
Will the logs actually fit in your stove?
Wood-burning stoves come in many different sizes, and so do logs.
A large stove may comfortably take longer pieces of firewood, while a compact stove can leave you trying to squeeze in a log that's simply too long for the firebox.
At Armstrong Country Store, we produce different log sizes, including approximately 8-inch logs and mixed-length firewood with a maximum length of approximately 10 inches.
So which should you choose?
Let's make it simple.
What Is the Best Log Size for a Wood Burner?
There isn't one perfect log length for every wood-burning stove.
The correct size depends primarily on the dimensions of your stove's firebox and the recommendations provided by the stove manufacturer.
Your logs need to sit comfortably inside the firebox without being wedged against the sides, glass or door.
That's why we'd always recommend checking the instructions for your particular stove before buying a large quantity of firewood.
Will 8-Inch Logs Fit My Stove?
Our approximately 8-inch logs are suitable for all wood-burning stoves.
They're particularly convenient for smaller and more compact stoves, where longer pieces of firewood can be awkward to position.
Eight inches is approximately 20cm, so these logs give you plenty of flexibility when arranging the fire.
They're also the size we use in our woven bags of kiln dried firewood.
That means if log length is a concern – perhaps you've recently bought a smaller stove or previously received logs that were simply too long – the woven-bag range is worth considering.
What About 10-Inch Logs?
Ten inches is approximately 25cm.
Our other firewood products contain mixed log lengths with a maximum length of approximately 10 inches.
These are a practical size for many wood-burning stoves, fireplaces and open fires.
However, don't assume that because somebody else's stove takes 10-inch logs, yours automatically will.
Check your firebox.
A couple of inches doesn't sound like much until you're standing in front of the stove holding a log that won't go through the door properly.
Should Logs Completely Fill the Stove?
No.
Bigger isn't automatically better when you're loading a wood burner.
Fire needs airflow.
Trying to cram the firebox completely full of oversized logs isn't the goal. Your stove is designed to burn with a particular fuel load and airflow.
Follow the stove manufacturer's instructions regarding the amount and size of fuel to use.
That also means you shouldn't assume that getting the biggest possible log into the stove will give you the best fire.
Why Do Smaller Stoves Benefit From Shorter Logs?
It's mainly about flexibility.
Imagine you have an internal firebox width of around 30cm.
A 25cm log doesn't leave a huge amount of room to position it.
An approximately 20cm log gives you more freedom.
Shorter logs can be easier to arrange alongside other pieces while leaving space within the firebox.
That's one reason our 8-inch woven-bag logs are particularly useful for smaller stoves.
How Do I Measure My Stove for Logs?
Don't just measure the outside of the stove.
What matters is the usable space inside the firebox.
With the stove completely cold, look at the internal dimensions and check the manufacturer's manual for the recommended maximum log length.
You're interested in the space where the logs actually sit.
If you're buying a new stove, the manufacturer or retailer should also be able to tell you the recommended firewood length.
And remember:
The maximum physical length that can be forced inside isn't necessarily the manufacturer's recommended log size.
Use the manufacturer's specification as your guide.
8-Inch vs 10-Inch Logs
The difference sounds small, but it can matter.
Approximately 8-inch / 20cm logs
These give you plenty of flexibility and are particularly useful for smaller wood-burning stoves.
At Armstrong Country Store, our woven-bag firewood is cut to approximately this length.
Up to approximately 10-inch / 25cm logs
Our standard firewood products contain mixed log lengths with a maximum length of approximately 10 inches.
These are a practical size for many wood-burning stoves and fires where the firebox has sufficient room.
Neither is automatically “better”.
The right answer is the size that fits your particular stove properly.
Does Log Thickness Matter Too?
Yes.
Length gets most of the attention because it's easy to measure, but firewood is a natural product.
Logs also vary in diameter, shape and split size.
You're not buying identical pieces of manufactured timber.
That variation is normal.
It can actually be useful when building a fire because different-sized pieces can be used as the fire develops.
The important thing is that the logs are appropriately sized for your appliance and properly dry.
Log Size Isn't the Same as Log Quality
This is worth stressing.
A perfectly sized log that's soaking wet is still poor firewood.
Once you've established what length suits your stove, the next thing to look at is moisture content.
At Armstrong Country Store, our firewood is Woodsure Ready to Burn certified and kiln dried to below 20% moisture content.
That matters because you're buying firewood to produce heat – not to spend energy driving excess water out of wet logs.
What Does Ready to Burn Mean?
The Ready to Burn certification scheme helps customers identify wood fuel that meets the required moisture standard.
Our kiln dried firewood is Woodsure Ready to Burn certified and below 20% moisture.
The UK government's guidance for England states that wood sold in volumes under 2m³ must be certified under the Ready to Burn scheme, with a moisture content of 20% or less.
So when buying logs, there are really two separate questions:
Will they fit my stove?
and:
Are they properly dry?
You want the answer to both to be yes.
What Size Kindling Should I Use?
Before the logs go on, you've got to get the fire started.
Kindling consists of much smaller pieces of dry wood designed to catch quickly and help establish enough flame and heat for your larger logs.
Our kiln dried kindling is dried to below 10% moisture content and is Woodsure Ready to Burn certified.
We produce it ourselves and offer it in different quantities, including individual boxes and carrypacks.
The combination is straightforward:
Dry kindling to establish the fire → properly dried logs to keep it going.
Which Armstrong Firewood Has 8-Inch Logs?
Our woven-bag firewood range contains approximately 8-inch logs.
We currently offer quantities including:
- 24 woven bags
- 48 woven bags
- 72 woven bags
- 96 woven bags
These are particularly useful if you want the reassurance of shorter logs as well as the convenience of having your firewood divided into individual bags.
Which Armstrong Firewood Has Logs Up to 10 Inches?
Our larger loose-firewood options contain mixed log lengths with a maximum length of approximately 10 inches.
These include our Builders Bag, Bulk Bag, Super Large Bulk Bag and Barrow Bag options.
So if you're deciding between the products, log size can be part of that decision rather than quantity alone.
Produced by the Armstrong Family
Whichever size you choose, our firewood is produced by the Armstrong family.
We locally source timber from FSC® 100% certified, well-managed forests before processing it into firewood.
The timber is:
Sawn → Split → Kiln dried → Triple screened → Packed
Our logs are dried in purpose-built kilns before being triple screened to remove excess bark and dust.
Because we produce the firewood ourselves rather than simply buying finished logs for resale, we control the process before the logs reach your home.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the standard size of a firewood log?
There isn't one universal standard length for every supplier or every stove. Always check the log dimensions advertised by the firewood supplier and the recommended log length for your stove.
Will 8-inch logs fit a wood-burning stove?
Our approximately 8-inch logs are suitable for all wood-burning stoves and are particularly convenient for smaller fireboxes.
How long is an 8-inch log in centimetres?
Eight inches is approximately 20cm.
How long is a 10-inch log in centimetres?
Ten inches is approximately 25cm.
Are 10-inch logs too big for a small stove?
They may be, depending on the stove. Check the manufacturer's recommended maximum log length rather than guessing from the external dimensions of the appliance.
Should I buy the biggest logs my stove can hold?
Not necessarily. You need sufficient room to arrange the fuel correctly and operate the stove according to the manufacturer's instructions. Bigger logs aren't automatically better.
What size logs are in Armstrong Country Store woven bags?
Our woven bags contain logs cut to approximately 8 inches.
What size logs are in Armstrong Bulk Bags?
Our larger firewood products contain mixed log lengths with a maximum length of approximately 10 inches.
Are Armstrong logs Ready to Burn?
Yes. Our kiln dried firewood is Woodsure Ready to Burn certified and below 20% moisture content.
So, Should You Buy 8-Inch or 10-Inch Logs?
If you've got a smaller wood-burning stove, approximately 8-inch logs give you more room and flexibility inside the firebox.
If your stove comfortably accommodates larger firewood, our mixed logs up to approximately 10 inches may suit you perfectly well.
But don't guess.
Check your stove manufacturer's recommended log length before placing a large order.
Once you know the size you need, look at the other things that matter: moisture content, certification, quantity, packaging and delivery.
The biggest bag or biggest log isn't necessarily the right choice.
The right firewood is dry, properly sized for your stove and convenient for you to store and use.