Understanding Load sizes
When buying firewood, comparing prices between loose loads, builder’s bags, and stacked crates can feel like solving a math puzzle.
Every reputable UK firewood supplier measures logs by volume in cubic metres () rather than weight or unstandardised terms like “a lorry load”. Because wood holds moisture, measuring by weight is misleading—a wet log weighs far more than a dry log, but yields significantly less heat.
However, not all cubic metres are created equal.
loose vs stacked volume: the key diffrences
A cubic metre of loose-tipped logs contains fewer actual logs than a cubic metre of neatly stacked logs.
When logs are hand-stacked in a crate, they fit tightly together with minimal air gaps. When tipped loose into a delivery truck or bulk bag, the logs fall randomly, creating air pockets.
The conversion rule
While conversion figures on the internet vary our rate is 0.71 we have calculated this acuratley as laid out below.
- 1m3 Loose Logs= 0.71 m3 Stacked Logs
- 1m3 of Stacked Logs= 1.42 m3 of Loose Logs
how the maths works: the real world test
To prove how loose volume converts to stacked volume, we tested our standard 25 cm (10-inch) logs taken directly from our 1 cubic metre loose load:
Take our verfied 1 cubic metre loose load of standard 25 cm logs.
Set up a stringline at exactly 1m high.
Stack the 0.25m long logs neatly
Measure the length of the completed stack: 2.85 metres
what to look out for when buying crates
Cratered wood imported from overseas often looks like a great deal, but buyer beware: check external vs. internal crate dimensions.
Many suppliers quote the external dimensions of the wooden crate. Once you account for the frame, pallet base, and lip, the internal volume (the actual wood you receive) can be up to 15% less than advertised.
Dodgy Dimensions: Many suppliers stack 25cm logs in 4 rows in a crate then quote a depth of 108cm, 8cm (8%) more than the combined depth of 4 logs. This is a common scam even large reputable national suppliers are guilty of it.
The Effect: If we had used the same trick when measuring our load we would have got:
Stacked Volume= 1.0m X 1.08m X 0.71=0.7668 m3
Always check the measurements before comparing prices per cubic metre.