Campfire Wood Calculator
Calculate how much firewood you need for a camping trip based on number of nights, fire duration, and wood type.
Estimating firewood for a camping trip prevents two common mistakes: arriving with too little (cold nights, no cooking) or hauling far too much (heavy car, wasted effort).
A campfire burns through roughly 2–6 pieces of split wood per hour depending on the size of the fire and the density of the wood. This assumes standard split firewood pieces roughly 4–6 inches in diameter and 16 inches long — the common campfire log size sold at gas stations and camp stores.
Fire size guide:
- Small fire (ambiance, minimal warmth): 2 pieces/hour
- Medium fire (warmth, some cooking): 3–4 pieces/hour
- Large fire (group warmth, full cooking): 5–6 pieces/hour
Wood density matters. Hardwoods (oak, hickory, ash) burn longer and hotter per piece than softwoods (pine, cedar, fir). A hardwood fire of 4 pieces/hour produces more heat and lasts longer than a softwood fire at the same rate.
Bundled firewood sold at camp stores is typically 0.75 cubic feet per bundle, containing approximately 5–7 pieces. A bundle usually lasts 1.5–2 hours for a medium fire.
Safety note: Never leave a campfire unattended. Allow 20 minutes to fully extinguish a fire using the “drown, stir, drown” method before sleeping or leaving camp. Carry extra wood — you can always not burn it, but running out mid-night is miserable.
Altitude and conditions: Wind, rain, and cold significantly increase wood consumption. Add 30–50% buffer in exposed, cold, or wet conditions.