Campfire Wood Calculator
Calculate how much firewood you need for camping based on number of nights, temperature, fire use, and wood type.
Plan your firewood supply before heading out.
Campfire firewood planning is critical for both warmth and enjoyment on camping trips. Running out of wood on a cold night is miserable — but lugging in too much is also a burden.
Average firewood use per campfire per hour:
| Fire Size | Use Per Hour | Typical Burning |
|---|---|---|
| Small (social / atmosphere) | 1–2 pieces | 2–3 hrs/evening |
| Medium (cooking + warmth) | 2–4 pieces | 3–5 hrs/evening |
| Large (cold night heating) | 4–6 pieces | 4–6 hrs/evening |
A “piece” here means a standard split log (about 30–40 cm / 12–16 inches long). One standard bundle sold at camp stores holds about 4–6 pieces and burns for 1–2 hours.
Firewood quantity guide:
| Nights | Social Fire | Cooking Fire | Heating Fire |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 night | 1 bundle | 1–2 bundles | 2–3 bundles |
| 2 nights | 2 bundles | 3 bundles | 4–5 bundles |
| 3 nights | 3 bundles | 4–5 bundles | 6–8 bundles |
| 1 week | 7–10 bundles | 10–14 bundles | 14–20 bundles |
Wood type and burn time:
| Wood Type | Burn Rate | Heat Output | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardwood (oak, hickory, ash) | Slow | High | Best for heat and coals |
| Fruitwood (apple, cherry) | Medium | High | Great aroma, good coals |
| Mixed hardwood | Medium | Medium-High | Most common campsite bundles |
| Softwood (pine, fir, cedar) | Fast | Medium | Lights easily, burns fast |
| Wet / green wood | Very slow | Low | Hard to light, lots of smoke |
Important rules:
- Never transport firewood across county or state lines — it can spread invasive insects (like the emerald ash borer)
- Buy firewood locally — always within 50 miles (80 km) of your campsite
- Never cut live trees — even deadfall may be protected in national parks
- Leave No Trace: let fires burn down completely and scatter cold ashes
How to estimate bundles:
1 standard bundle ≈ 4–6 pieces ≈ 1–1.5 hours of burning A typical camp fire runs 2–4 hours per evening. Most campers use 1–3 bundles per night depending on conditions.