Log store size calculator: turn your stack into dimensions

Measure the wood as a finished stack, then buy internal space at least 10–20% larger. That spare room absorbs rough stacking, bearer space and the awkward half-load that arrives before the old one is gone.

What the answer means

The calculator divides the volume you need by usable stack height and depth. It gives an internal width. Add posts, side panels and roof overhang before deciding whether the complete store fits the site.

width = stacked volume × reserve ÷ usable height ÷ usable depth

A nominal 2 m³ store is not necessarily capable of holding a 2 m³ loose delivery. Nor will every rectangular void be usable: sloping roofs, a kindling shelf and deep framing take space.

Measure the input without guessing

Stack one representative delivery and measure the occupied rectangle. For two rows, include both rows in the depth. Do not include the empty triangle beneath a pitched roof or the gaps beyond irregular end logs.

If the only figure you have is a “bulk bag”, ask the seller for the bag's filled dimensions and whether its figure describes loose or stacked wood. Bag names are not a national unit.

Pick a practical depth

For ordinary stove logs, a single row is easier to inspect and usually ventilates better than a deep heap. Set the calculator depth to the actual log length plus a little handling room. Two rows can save frontage, but only if both faces remain ventilated and the rear row can be reached.

Do not stack to the roof

Use the height you can fill safely while keeping air beneath the roof, not the tallest external point. Reaching above shoulder height with an unstable log is poor daily design. A lower, wider store is often easier to rotate and less vulnerable to a collapsing face.

Example

Suppose a neat stack measures 1.8 m wide, 1.25 m high and 0.45 m deep. Its rectangular volume is 1.01 m³. With 15% spare capacity, plan for about 1.16 m³ of usable space. At the same height and depth, that needs just over 2.0 m of internal width.

Questions people ask

Is the calculated width an external dimension?

No. It is clear internal width. Add the thickness of posts, panels and any divider bays, then check the maker's full external width and roof overhang.

How much spare capacity should I add?

Ten percent can work when deliveries arrive only after the store is nearly empty. Fifteen to twenty percent is calmer if delivery dates vary or you keep a reserve.

Can I enter loose cubic metres?

Not directly. Stack the load first or use a seller-specific conversion that explains its method. Log length and how randomly the pieces fall change the relationship.

Sources

• GOV.UK customer notice for wood sold in volumes of 2 m³ or more in England — checked 10 November 2026.
• Forest Research: Domestic heating with logs — storage and drying guidance, checked 10 November 2026.