Firewood Storage Ideas: 7 Woodshed Designs That Stay Dry
The best firewood storage keeps wood off the ground, under a roof and open to the wind. A woodshed with a raised, slatted floor, a roof that overhangs the stack and slatted or open sides lets rain run off while air keeps drying the wood. Below are 7 woodshed designs, from a small A-frame shelter to a 24' drive-through barn, with the real sizes from each plan.
If you are still working out how big your shed should be, read our guide to firewood shed size and how much space a cord needs first.
What makes good firewood storage?
Every design in this list follows the same four rules. If you build your own, check for these:
- Off the ground. A raised floor, pallets or blocks stop moisture wicking up into the bottom rows.
- A roof with overhang. The top of the stack stays dry, and the overhang keeps blown rain off the front.
- Open or slatted walls. Wood keeps drying only if air moves through it, so avoid solid walls on all sides.
- More than one bay. Separate bays let you burn last year's dry wood while this year's wood seasons.
The EPA's Burn Wise program gives similar advice in its guide to building firewood storage.
Firewood storage ideas compared
Sizes and capacities below come from the plans. A full cord is a stack 4' high, 4' deep and 8' long, or 128 cubic feet.
| Design | Floor frame | Roof | Bays and extras | Capacity (from plan) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A-frame shelter | 7' 6" x 6' 0" | 60 degree metal A-frame | open front, kindling loft | small, not stated in cords |
| Modern lean-to | 12' 0" x 5' 4" | 3/12 single slope | 2 open bays, kindling and tool locker | not stated in cords |
| Lean-to with closet | 16' 0" x 6' 0" | 3/12 single slope | 2 open bays, closet with door | not stated in cords |
| Gambrel firewood barn | 12' 0" x 8' 0" | gambrel, ribbed metal | 2 open bays, overhead loft | not stated in cords |
| Gable 4-cord shed | 16' 0" x 7' 0" | 6/12 metal gable | 3 rotation bays, slatted floor | 4 cords |
| Saltbox woodshed | 20' 0" x 10' 0" | 6/12 metal saltbox | 3 bays on concrete piers | about 6 cords |
| Monitor woodshed | 24' 0" x 12' 0" | 8/12 center, 3/12 wings | 2 wings, drive-through aisle | 6-1/2 cords |
Small firewood storage ideas
For a fire pit, a single wood stove used on weekends or a small yard, a compact shelter near the back door is enough.
A-frame firewood shelter (7' 6" x 6')
Our A-frame firewood shed plan uses a steep 60 degree metal roof, crossed barge board horns and a slatted back. A small loft under the peak keeps kindling dry. The ridge sits at about 7' 10", so it reads as a garden feature rather than a shed.
Modern lean-to with kindling locker (12' x 5' 4")
The modern lean-to firewood shed plan pairs two open firewood bays with a closed locker for kindling and tools. Horizontal slats, knee braces and a two-tone charcoal finish suit a modern house, and the shallow 5' 4" depth fits against a fence.
Lean-to firewood sheds against a wall or fence
A lean-to has one roof slope. It is the simplest roof to frame, and placing the high side at the front gives you headroom to stack and reach the wood.
16' x 6' lean-to with kindling closet
The 16x6 lean-to firewood shed plan has two open bays and a kindling and tool closet with a door. The 3/12 roof drains to the back, away from where you stand when you take wood out. It suits households that heat with wood and want splitting tools in the same building.
Barn and gable woodsheds
Gable and gambrel roofs shed snow better than a low lean-to and leave room for storage above the wood.
Gambrel firewood barn with storage loft (12' x 8')
Our gambrel firewood barn plan stacks firewood in two open bays below and kindling and tools in a loft above. The front opening is 6' 4-1/2" tall, and the roof tops out at about 12' 4".
4-cord gable shed with rotation bays (16' x 7')
The 4-cord firewood shed plan is built for rotation: three bays, a raised slatted floor and a 6/12 metal gable roof. One bay can hold wood you burn this winter while the others season next year's supply.
Large woodsheds for 6 cords or more
If wood is your main heat source, size the shed for at least one full winter plus a second year of seasoning wood.
Saltbox woodshed with three bays (20' x 10')
The saltbox woodshed plan uses post-and-beam framing on concrete piers and a 6/12 metal roof with the ridge set 40" behind the front. Three bays let you season, burn and rotate about 6 cords under one roof.
Monitor woodshed with drive-through aisle (24' x 12')
Our monitor woodshed plan puts firewood in two side wings and leaves a covered center aisle with 10' 3" of clear height. You can back a trailer in, unload in the dry and use the aisle for splitting. The plan holds 6-1/2 cords.
How do you choose the right woodshed?
- Estimate how much you burn in a winter. If you are not sure, start with our firewood shed size guide.
- Add space for a second year of wood that is still seasoning.
- Choose the roof for your climate: steeper gable, gambrel or A-frame roofs shed snow better than a 3/12 lean-to.
- Place the open side away from the prevailing wind and rain, and keep the shed close to the door you carry wood through.
For drying times and stacking methods, see how to stack and season firewood, and browse all designs in our firewood storage plans collection.
Images are illustrative renders of the plan design.
FAQ
How do you store firewood outside and keep it dry?
Raise it off the ground, cover the top and leave the sides open to air. A woodshed with a slatted floor and back does all three, and stacking bark-side up on the top row helps rain run off.
Should firewood be covered on the sides?
Not fully. Cover the top and, if you can, the windward side, but leave the rest open or slatted. Wrapping a stack in a tarp traps moisture and slows drying.
How much firewood is a cord?
A full cord is 128 cubic feet, usually stacked 4' high, 4' deep and 8' long. A face cord is a single row 4' high and 8' long, and its depth depends on the length the wood is cut to.
How much firewood do I need for a winter?
It depends on your climate, your stove or fireplace and whether wood is your main heat source. Track how much you burn in one season, then size your shed for that amount plus a year of seasoning wood.
Can I store firewood against my house?
Many people keep a small supply near the door but store the main stack away from the house walls. A freestanding woodshed lets air circulate on all sides and keeps insects in the wood away from your siding.
About the author: KRMPLANS designs DIY building plans for backyard structures, from chicken coops and sheds to greenhouses and cabins. Each plan is an instant-download PDF with step-by-step drawings, a shopping list and a cut list.
