Loose logs vs stacked logs: why the volumes differ

Stacking removes some of the large random voids in a tipped load, so the same pieces occupy less space. The difference is real; the exact ratio is not fixed.

What changes the ratio

Log length, diameter, straightness and the proportion of round to split faces all matter. So does the delivery method. A bag filled by conveyor, a trailer tipped at the kerb and a crate packed by hand will not contain identical amounts of timber merely because their outer volume matches.

That is why this guide does not offer a magic “divide by 1.6” box. It would look precise while quietly moving the uncertainty into your store choice.

Get a useful personal conversion

If you repeatedly buy the same supplier's same load:

1. Note the seller's loose or bagged description.
2. Stack the complete delivery.
3. Measure the finished blocks in metres.
4. Multiply width × average height × depth for each block.
5. Keep that result as a supplier-specific planning figure.

After two deliveries you will know whether it is stable enough to use. Leave reserve capacity because log form still varies.

Compare stores on the same basis

Prefer clear internal dimensions. If a maker states capacity, look for an explanation of how it was derived. A product cannot credibly promise an exact number of logs without specifying log dimensions.

Sources

• GOV.UK guidance on domestic firewood sales — volume-based regulatory thresholds, checked 10 November 2026.