A firewood bundle from a gas station, grocery store, or hardware store holds about 0.65 to 0.75 cubic feet of wood and typically costs $5 to $15. That sounds small because it is. At $7.99 for a 0.75 cubic foot bundle, you're paying about $10.65 per cubic foot, or roughly $1,360 for a full cord's worth of wood. Bundles are a fine way to get one fire going tonight. If you burn more than a handful of times a season, a delivered rack costs less per fire and saves you the trips to the store.
Key Takeaways
- Most firewood bundles hold 0.65 to 0.75 cubic feet, about three to five logs.
- Bundles typically sell for $5 to $15. A 0.75 cubic foot bundle at $7.99 works out to roughly $10.65 per cubic foot.
- Buying a full cord's worth of wood in bundles would cost about $1,360, versus $320 to $400 for a seasoned cord from a metro Atlanta yard.
- Bundle contents vary. Some are kiln-dried oak; others are fast-burning softwood mixes.
- A Retro Firewood oak rack is $225 with free delivery and placement, covering about 15 to 25 fires.
How much wood is in a firewood bundle?
Not much. Store bundles usually hold between 0.65 and 0.75 cubic feet. Home Depot sells a 0.65 cubic foot bundle (Home Depot), and Tractor Supply sells a 0.75 cubic foot bundle of kiln-dried oak (Tractor Supply). In logs, that's usually three to five pieces (Pro Tool Reviews).
For scale, a full cord is 128 cubic feet. You'd need about 171 bundles at 0.75 cubic feet, or about 197 at 0.65, to equal one cord.
How much does a bundle of firewood cost?
Most bundles fall between $5 and $15, with gas stations and campground stores at the top of that range. Tractor Supply's 0.75 cubic foot oak bundle is listed at $7.99. Here's what that price looks like at scale.
| Unit | Wood | Cost at $7.99 per 0.75 cu ft bundle |
|---|---|---|
| 1 bundle | 0.75 cu ft | $7.99 |
| Per cubic foot | 1 cu ft | About $10.65 |
| Face cord equivalent | About 43 cu ft | About $455 |
| Full cord equivalent | 128 cu ft | About $1,364 |
Compare that with metro Atlanta yards, where a full cord of seasoned hardwood commonly lists at $320 to $400 before stacking. By volume, bundles cost three to four times as much. The full local price picture is in our Atlanta cord price guide.
How many bundles does one fire take?
That depends on your fireplace and how long you burn, so we'll show the math rather than pretend there's one answer. A bundle is three to five logs. A relaxed evening by the fireplace usually runs a few hours, and most people add a log every 30 to 45 minutes once the fire is established.
If your evening takes two bundles, that's about $16 a fire at $7.99 a bundle. Three bundles is about $24. Softwood bundles burn faster, so they land at the high end. Now compare that with a delivered rack. Our oak firewood rack is $225 and covers about 15 to 25 fires, which works out to roughly $9 to $15 per fire, delivered and placed.
The break-even point arrives quickly. If you burn more than a handful of times between October and February, the rack wins on price before you count the store runs.
What's actually in a firewood bundle?
Read the label, because two bundles of the same size can burn very differently.
Species. Home Depot's 0.65 cubic foot bundle lists maple, ash, fir, pine, cedar, and juniper. That mix lights easily and smells nice, but the softwoods burn fast and throw sparks, which makes them better suited to a fire pit than a living-room fireplace. Tractor Supply's bundle, by contrast, is oak. If you're burning indoors, hardwood is worth seeking out. Wondering about the softwoods? We covered it in can you burn pine in a fireplace.
Dryness. Many bundles say kiln-dried, but few list a moisture reading. The EPA says wood burns most efficiently at 20% moisture or less (EPA Burn Wise). Bundles that sit in plastic wrap outside a gas station through an Atlanta summer can pick up moisture, so a hiss and a lot of smoke is a sign the wood is wetter than the label suggests.
Log size. Bundle splits tend to be short and thin. Great for kindling a fire, less great for a long burn.
When do firewood bundles make sense?
Bundles have their place. Buy them when:
- You need one fire tonight and nothing is in the house
- You're camping. Georgia's Forestry Commission asks campers to buy firewood at or near the campsite rather than bring it from home (Don't Move Firewood, Georgia)
- You live somewhere with no space to keep more than a few logs
- You burn once or twice a year
Outside those cases, bundles are an expensive habit. Ten fires a season at two or three bundles each adds up to $160 to $240, plus every one of those trips to the store, plus carrying bags of bark through the house.
When is a delivered rack the better buy?
When you burn regularly, especially for ambiance. If your fireplace or fire pit gets used on weekends through the season, a rack gives you more wood for less money per fire, and it shows up where you want it.
Every Retro Firewood rack includes:
- Kiln-dried hardwood at under 20% moisture, so it lights on the first try
- Logs cut to 16 inches to fit standard fireboxes
- A sturdy 2-foot by 4-foot wooden rack, or down-stacking into your existing rack
- Free delivery and placement on your deck, porch, garage, or up the stairs
Pick by how you burn. Oak ($225) is the steady all-rounder. Hickory firewood ($250) burns hottest and doubles as cooking wood. Cherry firewood ($275) brings the sweet aroma and bright flame people want for entertaining.
Sarah L. in Buckhead described the switch well: she used to dread firewood season, and now it "shows up ready to go, stacked in my garage." That's the whole idea. Order once, and the bundle runs stop.
FAQ
How much is a bundle of firewood?
Usually $5 to $15. Tractor Supply lists a 0.75 cubic foot kiln-dried oak bundle at $7.99.
How many bundles of firewood are in a cord?
About 171 bundles at 0.75 cubic feet each, or about 197 at 0.65 cubic feet. A full cord is 128 cubic feet.
How long does a bundle of firewood last?
A bundle is three to five logs. Depending on species and your fireplace, that's typically an hour or two of fire on its own.
Are firewood bundles kiln-dried?
Many are, but not all, and few list a moisture reading. Check the label for both species and drying method.
Do firewood bundles or a rack cost less?
By the rack, for anyone who burns more than a few times a season. A Retro oak rack works out to about $9 to $15 per fire with free delivery and placement, while a fire built from two or three bundles at $7.99 each costs $16 to $24.