Firewood is sold by volume, and volume is where a lot of confusion and a fair bit of mis-buying happens. Knowing what a builders bag actually holds against a cubic metre of loose logs is the key to buying the right amount and comparing prices fairly. As a supplier of firewood and fencing and timber supplies in Clitheroe, we stock both formats, and this guide explains the volumes plainly so you know exactly what you are getting.
What the Volumes Actually Mean
A builders bag is a large bulk bag, and ours holds 0.6 cubic metres of logs. A cubic metre bag, our 1m3 hardwood option, holds, as the name says, a full cubic metre. The difference is not subtle: the 1m3 bag holds well over half as much again as the builders bag, so comparing the two on price alone without accounting for the volume is how people end up feeling short-changed when they were simply comparing different quantities. Always check the volume, not just the bag.
The reason firewood is sold this way is that logs are irregular and cannot be sold sensibly by neat count. Volume is the fair and standard measure, but it does mean you need to picture what a cubic metre looks like stacked. A useful mental anchor is that a cubic metre of logs makes a substantial stack, enough to keep a regular burner going for a good stretch of the season, while a 0.6 cubic metre builders bag is a more modest top-up quantity.
Loose Tipped vs Bagged
Logs delivered loose and tipped versus logs supplied in a bag come down to handling and storage. A bag keeps the logs contained, easy to move with the right equipment and tidy on delivery. The format you choose should match how you will store and move the wood once it arrives. Whichever you pick, the moisture content is what determines how well the logs burn, and our kiln-dried logs are supplied dry and ready to use rather than needing further seasoning. Our article on why moisture content of logs matters explains why that figure is the one that counts.
How Much Volume Do You Need
Working out your volume comes down to how often you burn and over how long a season. A household using the stove most evenings through a Lancashire winter will get through considerably more than one lighting an occasional weekend fire. Rather than guess, it helps to think in terms of a season and buy in volumes that match. Our guides on how much wood is in a load of logs and factors that affect how many logs you’ll need help you size your order.
Buying the Right Volume for Your Area
We deliver both the builders bag and the 1m3 bag across the BB postcode area, with free delivery over £150, so the larger volume often crosses that threshold and arrives free. Homes in towns like logs for sale Clitheroe and logs for sale Burnley are well within our delivery range. You can see the bulk options on our kiln dried logs delivered page.
Comparing Prices Fairly Between Suppliers
Because firewood is sold by volume, the only fair way to compare one price against another is to work out the cost per cubic metre, not the headline price of the bag. A bag that looks cheaper may simply hold less, and once you divide the price by the actual volume the picture often changes. It is also worth checking whether a quoted price is for dry, kiln-dried wood ready to burn or for wood that still needs seasoning, because a cheap bag of wet logs is no bargain when much of what you have bought is water that will boil off rather than heat your home. Comparing like for like, dry volume against dry volume, is the only way to know whether you are genuinely getting good value.
To work out the right volume for your home, call 01200 449930. We deliver builders bags and 1m3 bags across Clitheroe and the BB postcode areas, with free delivery over £150.
