Seasoning time estimator
The calculator needs JavaScript. The worked example, formula and figures below show exactly how it works, so you can do the sum yourself. A guide, not advice. Check the figures against your stove's manual, your supplier and your installer.
Short answer
Pick the wood, the month you split and stacked it, and how it's stored. The estimator gives the window in which to start measuring with a moisture meter, using the seasoning range for that species or your own. Measure, don't guess: the logs are ready once a meter reads 20% or below on a freshly split face.
Worked example
| You enter | Value |
|---|---|
| Which wood? | Ash |
| Month you split and stacked it | March |
| The logs are split | Yes |
| Stacked off the ground with the top covered and the sides open | Yes |
Stacked in March: measure before you burn, and burn once a meter reads 20% or below
Show the working
How it works
- Seasoning range (months) = the range for your species when split and covered (species table, source to be confirmed), or your own
- Start measuring = the month you stacked it + the shortest time; keep measuring until the month + the longest time
- Ready when a moisture meter reads at or below 20% on a freshly split face
Measure, don't guess. Weather, log size and where the stack stands all change how fast wood dries. The range tells you when to start checking with a moisture meter, not when the logs are dry.
Whole rounds and uncovered stacks dry more slowly than the range shows. Split them, stack them off the ground, cover the top and leave the sides open.
Assumptions and sources
The figures this calculator starts from, and where each comes from. Your stove's spec plate, your supplier and your own meter readings come first: change any figure to match.
This calculator has no built-in defaults: every figure comes from you or your product's data.
| Table | Clause | Nations | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK firewood species Researcher to cite (e.g. Forest Research, Woodsure or a published species table) | Brief §3 species.json: species → density, seasoning time range, burn notes (RtV). No figures entered. | UK-wide | 0/18 values entered Not yet checked against the source |
Rules of thumb and reference figures are checked against their sources before launch; anything not yet checked is marked.
What to buy
A pin-type moisture meter with a wood setting tells you when the logs are ready.
FAQs
How long does firewood take to season?
It depends on the species, how it's split and stacked, and the weather. The estimator gives a range to start measuring; a moisture meter tells you when it's ready.
Does splitting logs make them dry faster?
Yes. Split logs dry much faster than whole rounds, because the wood is open to the air.
What's the best way to stack logs for seasoning?
Off the ground, with the top covered and the sides open so the wind can get through. See how to season firewood.
How do I know when the logs are ready?
Split one, let it reach room temperature, and use a moisture meter on the fresh face. At or below 20% they're ready. See our log moisture checker.
Guides
How to season firewood, and how long it takes
How to season your own logs: split, stack, cover, wait and measure. Why species and splitting change the time, and when to check.