The difference between seasoned and kiln dried logs

When buying firewood logs, it's always important to ensure that the wood you buy has been properly dried: a lower moisture content means that your firewood will burn consistently well with little smoke, and won't blacken the glass of your stove door. There are plenty of different options out there: two you will no doubt have come across are "kiln dried logs" and "seasoned logs". But what's the difference between the two?

Both are means of drying out firewood, reducing its moisture content to make it suitable for all types of stove and fire. Generally, you'll find that the moisture content of wood that hasn't been treated is around 30% to 45%: for the perfect burn, a moisture content of 15-25% is recommended.

Air-dried wood — seasoned the old fashioned way

Seasoned wood is wood that has been left to dry naturally. In order for it to be seasoned well, it should be split into smaller logs shortly after cutting. If left as whole logs with the bark on, the bark will trap the moisture, preventing it from drying out. Splitting the wood into smaller pieces increases the surface area and gives it more of a chance to dry out.


During air drying, the logs are split then stored under cover, in a way that as much air as possible is allowed to flow around them to dry them as quickly as possible. The time it takes to season firewood differs depending on the type of wood: softer woods such as ash and pine will dry quickly, while those such as apple and oak that are denser will take longer to dry.

Kiln dried firewood - let's speed the process up and achieve a guaranteed quality

Kiln dried logs, on the other hand, do exactly what it says on the tin. By drying wood in a kiln, the process is spread up, and the moisture is sucked right out of each log. The average moisture content of a kiln dried log is around 20%, which is the figure that is recommended by most stove manufacturers for the best possible burn.

Whether you choose seasoned or kiln dried logs is down to your personal preference, but there are big differences between the two. Take a look through our log selection to find the logs that are right for your needs.